Scottish Places of Interest. Isle of Arran.

It’s a special way to arrive, pulling in to the wee village of Lochranza on the ferry. The Isle of Arran is one of our favourite places in Scotland – often referred to as ‘Scotland in Miniature’ because it truly has everything you might want or need from an iconic Scottish experience. Distilleries, castles, standing stones, beautiful vistas, stunning beaches. 

But half of what makes Arran so ideal are the villages spotted around this modest island. An island small enough, you can see it in a day – and we do on our 1-day A Day on the Island: Arran tour from Glasgow.  

Each lovely suburb you pass through is quaint in its own way. But we adore Lochranza for many reasons. First, the striking ruined castle that sits perched on the mud flats of the bay as you arrive by ferry. There are two ways into Arran but we have to say we have a soft spot for this arrival. 

Second, Lochranza houses its own 9-hole golf course. And since Scotland is where the fair game of golf was invented, we cannot suppose a better ‘must-have’ for our island of everything.  

And at the south end of the village, you’ll find what every Scottish experience requires: Lochranza Distillery. If you want to go home feeling like a true Scot, at least a visit to a distillery is required.