Taking in ‘Scotland in miniature' on my trip to Arran
'This clean, green island has long been a rich place of abundance.' I couldn't agree more – I come to Arran every year seeking my own sustenance, my own affirmation in this deeply special island.
For me, with Scotland's seventh largest island, it's personal. One side of my family hails from the south of the island and I still have relatives in Shiskine. The majority of my childhood holidays were spent doon the watter and now I take my own children to revel in Arran's charms too. I didn't realise until I started travelling the globe just how special our 'Scotland in Miniature' really is.
Arran is an island that rewards repeat visits as there is always something different to discover. This may be around my fiftieth visit, but it's the first time I've actually seen the famous 'Doctor's Bath' on the shoreline at Corrie –patients were once prescribed saltwater bathing cures here. You can still ease down the steps that were cut into the sandstone rocks to help you enter the 'bath'.
READ MORE: Wildfire 'bigger than five football pitches' near Scottish town
I've not got out to (James) Hutton's Unconformity near Lochranza either. So I eke around the dramatically rugged coastline in search of the rock formations that were pivotal in how we understand geology and the age of - and indeed the ageing of - the earth.
Geology is big news still in Arran as last month the island was officially recognised as a Unesco Global Geopark. This puts the official stamp on this unique island's already remarkable geology, which is the root of those 'Scotland in Miniature' epithets. The Geopark status really puts Arran on the map as there are only three in Scotland and 10 in all of the UK. It will attract attention globally and help in Arran's continued determination to plough a sustainable development furrow.
I don't take the plunge in the Doctor's Bath, but I do get in the chilly spring sea in Whiting Bay. A helping hand comes from Stonesthrow Sauna. Their mobile sauna sets up on spectacular stretches of Arran's coastline. The idea is that you warm yourself up in the wooden sauna and then brave the Firth of Clyde, that hot and cold Scandinavian health vibe. It's brilliant fun and a spirit-soaring success that leaves me buzzing all day. It's said to have all kinds of health benefits and takes the joy of wild swimming to another level.
Another positive experience comes with the aforementioned Zoë. She is an expert forager and looks the part, waiting for me in the woodlands draped in a cloak and carrying a wicker basket. Soon what just looks like a forest to me becomes nature's supermarket and I'm snacking on leaves and shoots under her watchful guidance. 'There is food everywhere,' Zoë tells me. 'Arran is a nourishing island if you know where to look and I teach people that on my tours.'
I enjoy food of a more conventional kind at the superb Drift Inn. I've watched over the last few decades as this waterfront oasis on Lamalsh Bay has grown from a simple pub into a classy eating venue with driftwood-style tables, a glazed front section and waterside seating too. The views over the water to Holy Isle are sublime. They deliver on the plate too: perfectly seared scallops spiced with a chorizo crumb sets my tastebuds tingling, before a satisfying main of beer battered langoustines and chips.
I eat very well at two other venues on this visit. I love what the dynamic guys at the Corrie Hotel have done to the place since they took over in 2022. Their latest project is having a seal fashioned from local granite to replace 'Clyde', the old wooden seal who used to sit on a rock in the waters just outside, fooling many a tourist driving by. Their kitchen works with the excellent Bellevue Farm on their meat sourcing, with serious quality produce. The bedrooms are tasteful too at a boutique bolthole I really rate.
I also enjoy dinner at the Ormidale Hotel. It is very Arran – it's been in the same family for 70 years and you can feel the pride and passion. They only have seven rooms. I tuck into a delicious scampi and chips, followed by homemade apple crumple and Arran Dairies' ice cream. It's a satisfying feast served at a wooden Arran-shaped table peering out towards Goatfell, Arran's iconic mountain.
READ MORE: Scottish Greens call for end to monarchy ahead of major pro-Republic rally
With the swish new ferry, the Glen Sannox, now up and running, Arran's ferry woes seem finally to be easing. This new Clyde-built vessel is a joy to sail on, so there has never been a better time to ease over and enjoy Arran's multifarious charms. I've still not yomped out to Carn Ban, not yet hiked the new trail from the Ross Road to Shiskine or seen what the Arran Butcher has done with his second premises in Brodick. Arran is a naturally rich island that just keeps on giving.
CalMac (calmac.co.uk) ferries to Arran sail from Troon and Ardrossan on the mainland, with a third route from Claonaig on the Cowal Peninsula.
For more information see visitarran.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
3 hours ago
- STV News
Recall of Flamingo Land resort plans 'a disaster', say campaigners
Campaigners say the decision to re-examine the proposals for a Flamingo Land resort on Loch Lomond are 'tragic' and a 'disaster'. The future of the major tourist attraction on the banks of the loch is in doubt after the Scottish Government decided to recall the plans. It comes weeks after the Government's planning reporter upheld an appeal from the theme park operator but added 49 conditions to the application. Public finance minister Ivan McKee said on Tuesday that the application raises issues of national significance due to its impact on the national park area. McKee previously said that the Government backed the 'impartial, expert opinion that was based on evidence' which led to planning permission in principle being granted – overturning the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park's decision to reject the proposals. The final outcome will be now be decided by Scottish ministers. John Urquhart, chair of conservation group the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, said the U-turn is a 'potentially tragic' and a 'disaster'. 'The development offers so much in terms of economic development, but also in conservation terms', he told STV News. 'Not many people seem to understand that because they've been fed a lot of nonsense by individuals like Ross Greer, who's an expert in manipulating social media. Putting out stories that there's going to be a theme park here. 'It's going to destroy Loch Lomond? Rubbish. It's actually going to bring lots of benefits.' STV News John Urquhart, chair of conservation group the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Under the £43.5m proposals, Lomond Banks would see two hotels, more than 100 lodges, a waterpark and monorail built on the site at Balloch, West Dunbartonshire. However, concerns have been raised by environmental and conservation campaigners who have long opposed the development and say it will lead to the 'irreversible' loss of woodland. The Scottish Greens say more than 50,000 people have used a portal on their website to write to McKee. Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer said: 'This is the right move by ministers and a huge victory for the fifty thousand people who joined the Scottish Greens' campaign for the decision to be recalled. 'I am glad that Ivan McKee has decided to do the right thing and use his power to intervene to protect Loch Lomond from destruction. 'The evidence of the damage it would do to one of Scotland's most iconic locations is overwhelming. Once ministers consider the flood risk, loss of ancient woodland, hundreds of additional cars which would be brought onto notoriously congested roads and the litany of other devastating impacts it would have, I am sure they will reject the mega-resort application and finally end this decade-long saga. 'People across Scotland expect their Government to protect our natural heritage. 'Given previous mistakes, including the approval of Donald Trump's golf course despite local objections and serious environmental concerns, this is an opportunity for Ministers to show that they have learned and will now put people and planet ahead of greedy developers.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Searches for Scotland's standing stones spike for summer solstice
The approaching Summer Solstice on Saturday, June 21, is thought to be behind the sudden interest in Scotland's prehistoric monuments - which dot the land from the furthest-flung islands to the Borders. Internet searches for 'summer solstice' have jumped by 136 per cent in the past month, while interest in 'standing stones' in Scotland has risen by 101% during the past quarter. Tapping into this growing trend, tourist agency VisitScotland has launched a refreshed guide to the country's most atmospheric stone circles, helping travellers experience the Solstice in places that feel truly off the beaten path. 'Believed to have been places of ceremony, gathering, and spiritual connection, they continue to inspire awe and curiosity thousands of years after they were first raised. 'As interest in these ancient sites continues to grow, especially around the Summer Solstice, more people are discovering just how special they are. 'Whether you're watching the sunrise over a stone circle or simply standing still in the landscape, these are moments that stay with you, a reminder of how deeply connected we are to Scotland's past.' The standing stones at Nether Largie in Kilmartin Glen, Argyll, Scotland. The foreground stone is decorated with prehistoric cup-and-ring carvings. (Image: theasis) Here are some of the highlights being showcased by the national tourist agency: Kilmartin Glen, Argyll: The ancient area of Kilmartin Glen in Argyll is home to more than 350 ancient monuments, including both the Nether Largie Standing Stones and the Temple Wood Stone Circle. The Nether Largie Stones are among the most significant prehistoric monuments in Scotland. Believed to be over 5,000 years old, the stones are thought to align with key astronomical events, including the midsummer sunrise. Set against a backdrop of green hills and misty moorland, the site offers an evocative space to experience the Solstice. The Neolithic Standing Stones on Machrie Moor (Image: Keith Fergus) Machrie Moor, Isle of Arran: Recently named as an official UNESCO Global Geopark, the Isle of Arran boasts one of the most remarkable ancient landscapes in Britain. Situated on the west coast of the Isle, Machrie Moor is home to six stone circles, each with its own formation, age and story. The tallest stones, some rising over four metres, create a striking silhouette against the open sky. Reached via a one-mile path across moorland, this wild and windswept setting offers an atmospheric Solstice experience. As the sun dips or rises over the hills, the scale and symmetry of these ancient stones take on an otherworldly glow. Sueno's Stone, Moray Speyside: Towering at nearly 7 metres tall, Sueno's Stone is Scotland's tallest and most intricately carved Pictish monument. Situated on the eastern edge of Forres in Moray Speyside, this monumental cross-slab dates from the late 9th or early 10th century and was most likely designed to be a landmark, visible from a great distance. The stone still remains in its original location, a rarity among early medieval carved stones. Clava cairns are a collection of over fifty Bronze Age Standing Stones and circular chamber tomb cairns. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Clava Cairns, Inverness: Only a 20-minute drive from Inverness, Clava Cairns is one of Scotland's most hauntingly beautiful prehistoric sites. This well-preserved Bronze Age cemetery complex features ring cairns, passage graves and standing stones, nestled in a quiet woodland setting. Built over 4,000 years ago, it's thought the site may have been aligned with the midwinter sunset, but its spiritual atmosphere makes it a special place to visit at any seasonal turning point, including the Summer Solstice. Achavanich, Caithness: In the far North Highlands lies Achavanich, one of the country's most enigmatic and distinctive prehistoric sites. Dating back over 4,000 years, this unusual horseshoe shaped arrangement sees its stones positioned with their broadest faces turned inward toward the centre, an orientation rarely seen in other stone circles across Scotland or beyond. Perched on a plateau near Loch Stemster, Achavanich offers a sense of scale and solitude that's hard to match. Its remote location, dramatic skies, and curious construction make it an immersive place to reflect during the Summer Solstice. With minimal light pollution and few visitors, it's one of the most peaceful places in the country to mark the turning of the seasons.
The Courier
5 hours ago
- The Courier
Full list of Stirling road closures for Scottish independence parade
A series of roads through Stirling are set to be closed during a Scottish independence march. Eighteen roads in Raploch, the city centre and St Ninians will shut on a rolling basis during the All Under One Banner procession on Saturday June 21. The march leaves from Old Stirling Bridge and ends at Bannockburn Field. The restrictions will be in place between 11am and 12.30pm, with police officers and signs alerting drivers to the closures. Stirling Council says no diversions will be in place during the closures as they will only be on a temporary, rolling basis. The full list of roads that will close is as follows: It comes as several other processions are set to take place in and around Stirling that day. That includes the Cambusbarron gala day procession, which takes place between 11.45am and 12.30pm, affecting several roads. And between 7pm and 8pm, the Stirling Protestant Boys flute band is marching in Kings Park.
