Sitting off the Ayrshire coast, Arran is often described as Scotland in Miniature. It is easily reached by a 50 minute ferry crossing from Ardrossan to Brodick. It was a popular day out for Glaswegians in the C19th and still attracts day visitors in their thousands as well as those coming for a longer stay.
Arran is dominated by its mountains and particularly Goat Fell. Most of the settlement along the coast. There is quite a lot of commercial coniferous forestry but pastoral farming is still important and the lower slopes are green and fertile. Many of the mountain tops are bare.
The main road follows the coast around the island. There are only two east west roads. The B880, known as The Sting, runs through a valley across the north of the island between Brodick and Blackwaterfoot.
This northern loop is a popular circuit for tourists with views dropping down to the coast with across to the Mull of Kintyre.
The A841 runs north up the coast with views across to Mull of Kintyre. Apart from a few small villages along the coast, there is little settlement.
The Twelve Apostles are a terrace of beautifully maintained cottages in Catacol. Originally built to house crofters cleared from the interior, most are now holiday cottages
Lochranza with its ruined castle and distillery is based around a sheltered bay at the north of the island.
To the south, an unclassified road crosses from Lamlash to between Sliddery and Lagg.
Although Lamlash is the capital, Brodick is the main visitor centre with its ferry terminal.
Arran is dominated by its mountains and particularly Goat Fell. Most of the settlement along the coast. There is quite a lot of commercial coniferous forestry but pastoral farming is still important and the lower slopes are green and fertile. Many of the mountain tops are bare.
The main road follows the coast around the island. There are only two east west roads. The B880, known as The Sting, runs through a valley across the north of the island between Brodick and Blackwaterfoot.
This northern loop is a popular circuit for tourists with views dropping down to the coast with across to the Mull of Kintyre.
The A841 runs north up the coast with views across to Mull of Kintyre. Apart from a few small villages along the coast, there is little settlement.
The Twelve Apostles are a terrace of beautifully maintained cottages in Catacol. Originally built to house crofters cleared from the interior, most are now holiday cottages
Lochranza with its ruined castle and distillery is based around a sheltered bay at the north of the island.
To the south, an unclassified road crosses from Lamlash to between Sliddery and Lagg.
Although Lamlash is the capital, Brodick is the main visitor centre with its ferry terminal.
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