Lochranza, Arran
Lochranza is a village located on the Isle of Arran, in the firth of clyde. the population, somewhat in decline, is around 200 people.
Lochranza is the most northernly sited of Arrans villages and is located in the north-western corner of the Island. The village is set on the shore of Loch Ranza, a small sea loch. Ferries run from here to Cloanaig on the mainland.
The area around Lochranza castle is a favoured spot to observe red deer, as the village is home to a healthy red deer population and, on the northern shore, grey seals are found year-round. Otters and golden eagles are also spotted in the area.
A new pier was constructed in 2003, allowing larger vessels easier access with the possibility to disembark passengers for a short tour of the village. Regular vessels which use the pier include the paddle steamer Waverley and the Lord of the Glens,
a small cruise ship.
Lochranza is the site of the Arran Distillery, built in 1995 and producing the Arran Single Malt. The distillery is one of the major industries of the island.
Lochranza castle is a fine ruin of a 16th century L-plan castle, across the road from the Lochranza youth hostel.
There is also a field study centre, where schools from all over the United Kingdom come to study the locality's interesting geology and the nearby Hutton's Unconformity to the north of Newton Point, where the father of modern geology James Hutton found his first example of an angular unconformity during a visit in 1787.
Lochranza is reputed to have the least hours of sunshine of any village in the United Kingdom since it lies in a north-facing valley on an island with a particulary high level of rainfall.
Lochranza, Isle of Arran
Lochranza, Isle of Arran
Lochranza Castle, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
This video was shot in the village of Lochranza on the north of Arran. Its a lovely coastal village with this castle situated on the outskirts. Lochranza is also home to Isle of Arran Malt Whisky distillery. Check out my photo selection for more on this location.
Lochranza Castle Arran
A view of Lochranza Castle Arran 2012
Machrie Bay Golf Course, Isle of Arran, 1st Tee
The opening Tee shot an Machrie Bay Golf Course on the beautiful Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK - A tough golf shot with Out of Bounds on BOTH sides
Machrie Bay Golf Course, Isle of Arran, 1st Tee
1st Tee Shot at Machrie Bay Golf Course, Isle of Arran, Scotland. Out of Bounds on both sides. Double rainbow in view.
Brodick Golf Course, Isle of Arran
Jim Martin on the 15th hole at Brodick golf course. Hitting over the water. Splash!
The Arran Team - Isle of Arran's Local Holiday Home Letting
A promotional video of The Arran Team and the Isle of Arran. The Arran Team provides self catering holiday homes and property management services and are locally based in Brodick. You can view all our properties at
This video was made by Felt Tip Films, and the music was supplied by Kenny Miller.
The Northern Lights, Lochranza, Isle of Arran
Taken by GlenSloss.com on the 20-21st December 2015, the Aurora still managed to shine bright against the moonlight.
Isle of Arran - Scotland
Isle of Arran - Scotland in Miniature.
ARRAN -The Glens Walk - a rock gully descent into Glen Sannox where bog cotton & wild orchids await.
[2007] Arran Glens Walk - Ardrossan train then ferry over to Brodick followed by the 2 km 'String' bus journey to the foot of Glen Rosa for the contrasting Arran Glens walk. The 'Glen Rosa Hippos' rock formation is passed en route to the saddle where the panoramic Arran course granite mountaintop skyline unveils itself.
These northern granite peaks are the resultant eroded remnants of the great mass of molten material that welled up from the fiery interior of this planet, pushing up the existing layers of rock to form a gigantic blister. Protected by the upper layers from the chill of the air the mass cooled so slowly as to produce the large crystals characteristic of granite. Subsequently cooled and hardened this rock eventually became exposed to the air when the older softer rock above it eroded, unveiling the Arran granite skyline that we now know.
To the east of the saddle on this approach Goatfell, North Goatfell along to Ciogh na h-Oighe ('The Maiden's Breast') is the view while to the west Cir Mhor ('The Great Comb') and Caisteal Abhail ('The Castle of Death') along to the striking Ceum na Caillich ('The Witch's Step' / 'Step of the Carlin') undoubtedly steals the attention. Indeed, a great place for lunch when the sun breaks through.
It was Bryce who stated that up until 1822 this ('Glens Walk' ) route was known as practicable only by shepherds, some of whom occasionally used it - and that the first non-shepherd thro-hikers credited with this successful hike were a Miss Alison and a Miss Crooks from near KIlmarnock!
A minor rock climb into Glen Sannox where bog cotton (common cottongrass) and wild orchids flank the path [as can adders] as the route now heads beyond the old graveyard to the Sannox Bay Hotel beer garden and the bus back to Brodick Pier. The old burial ground and remains were dedicated to St.Michael and contain the interred body of Rose, the victim of the Goat Fell murder for which John Watson Laurie became the longest serving prisoner in Scotland.
An anchor found in Glen Rosa and the old place name of 'The Ferry Glen' suggests that this boggy glen was once under water. 'Glen of the Horse River' and 'The Red Glen' are other place names by which this Glen was referred to while place meanings for Glen Sannox include 'Glen of the Sandy Bay' and 'Glen of the River Trout'. Sannox Bay is still synonymous with the nearby disused barytes mine, but more importantly in this walk - for refreshments and getting the bus back to Brodick!
As regards the barytes mine it was originally opened in 1839 and was worked until 1862 before re-opening again in 1918. At the graveyard passed on this walk a chapel once stood before the Reformation. It has been stated that the chapel or rather the lands of Sannox and the churches in 1357 were granted to the Abbey of Kilwinning by Sir John Monteith.
Arran is a frontier isle. It is not one of the Hebrides, although on its western fringe one feels the Hebridean atmosphere. It has nothing in common with the Ayrshire coast which is clearly seen fron its shores in fine weather. Arran is the last of the highlands which stretch south, many a long mile, from Cape Wrath and the Butt of Lewis by way of Skye, Mull, Jura and Islay, and Loch Inver, Gairloch, Ardnamuchan, Lorne and Kintyre, to the mountainous island which rises from the sea at the entrance to the Firth of Clyde.
From the 1935 'Highways and Byeways in the West Highlands' Seton Gordon continues: The Fianna of Ireland hunted the red deer on Arran. The name of at least one hill is their memorial to-day. Suidhe Fhearghais (the Seat of Fergus) is one of the peaks [and is pronounced Swi-e Fergus] which rise from Glen Sannox. Fergus of the True Lips was the poet of the Fianna.
An ancient Irish poem describes Arran thus:
Arran of the many stags
The sea strikes against her shoulders,
Companies of men can feed there
Blue spears are reddened among her boulders.
Merry hinds are on the hills,
Juicy berries are there for food,
Refreshing water in her streams,
Nuts in plenty in the wood
Fisherman's walk- Brodick, Isle of Arran | A walk in a minute
The Fisherman's walk will normally take you about 35 mins. Here is the 1 minute video version!
Arran by bike - The String Road - Brodick to Blackwaterfoot
Compilation of cycling clips from me crossing Arran on the String Road by bicycle. Had some stunning weather and the trip itself was glorious. Watching this video, the bit where i reach Blackwaterfoot, I get a real sense of elation :D I love Arran and will be back over there very soon.
Not sure if this video will be of interest to anyone, maybe it will, maybe it wont :D
Isle of Arran April 2015
Filmed whilst on holiday on the Isle of Arran using my Phantom 2 Vision+ UAV.
Blackwaterfoot on the beautiful Isle of Arran, Scotland
Green Brae holiday cottage is set on relaxing Blackwaterfoot, at the heart of the scenic South West coast of Arran. Well catered for, the village offers THE Shiskine golf club, with an accessible to all café overlooking the sea and the Mull of Kintyre, the Kinloch hotel restaurant, a shop - post office, a butcher, a baker, a garage where one can rent bikes from, stables, shops for toys, souvenirs and frames, a hairdresser.
Arran from the Air
Aerial perspectives of Brodick seafront, the Fisherman's Walk, Brodick Golf Course, the Big Wooden House, Arran Hockey Team, Corrie Shore, Marvin Elliott's seal, Lochranza Castle and The Twelve Apostles ~ famous fishermen's cottages at Catacol.
© POSITIVE PICTURES 2017
Lochranza, Isle of Arran, Scotland
October 2010
I woke up early to catch the sunrise in the village of Lochranza, on the Isle of Arran. It's a place that's truly unforgettable.
Catacol, Whiting Bay, Kildonan, Isle of Arran.
CATOCAL: is a small village located on the north west side of the island, just a few miles along the coastal road from Lochranza. It derives it's name from the old Norse, referring to the 'gully of the cat'. This may have been a reference to Glen Catacol, the steep valley it lies at the bottom of.
Catacol is home to the Twelve Apostles, a picturesque row of cottages dating from 1863. They were built to house those people cleared from the surrounding countryside, when much of the interior of the island was set aside for deer. The theory was that these former farmers would turn to fishing, and with this in mind, each of the 12 cottages had a differently shaped first floor window. This would allow the woman of the house to signal by placing a candle in the window to her husband while he was out fishing in the firth of Clyde. The husband would know who was being signalled by the shape of the window. In reality, most of the dispossessed moved away to other parts of the island in protest against their eviction.
The village also houses a hotel.
WHITING BAY: is the third largest of the Isle of Arran's settlements after Lamlash and Brodick, and is named after the bay it runs along for over two miles near the southern end of Arran's east coast.
At one time all that existed here were a eries of tiny settlements either on the shore or just above it. Their names still exist and help explain why what is by no means a large village seems to be divided into a considerable number of separate districts.
The transformation of a group of tiny settlements into the Whiting Bay we see today began with the establishment of a ferry to Saltcoats in 1790. This was followed from the 1830's by the arrival of steamers from Glasgow and elsewhere in the clyde Estuary.
Clearance of Arran's inland crofting areas from the 1830's produced a demand for more accommodation on the coast, here and elsewhere on the island. But of all Arran's villages, Whiting Bay seems to have attracted the most upmarket clientele, and the result was a succession of fine villas being built along the landward side ot the road running behind the bay. Meanwhile, a golf course was established in 1895, as were tennis courts, a bowling club and a putting green.
KILDONAN; is a village on the south coast of Arran. The name Kildonan derives from Saint Donan who is reputedly buried in the village. The modern village originated from a few small buildings in the district, with the majority of local people engaged in farming. Overlooking the smaller islands of Pladda and Ailsa Craig in the far distance, Kildonan is a small thriving community with a much used and much loved village hall. There is a large sandy beach the length of the village, which is unusual for the geology of Arran where rocky beaches are far more common.
2014 Tomatin Pro Am
Play three of Scotland’s top golf courses in a PGA Professional Tournament
Tarn in Arran
Filmed by Mr Searle. A few turton members in a tarn in the isle of Arran. It was warmer than expected.