Isle of Arran

I'm thinking of taking myself away from the hustle and bustle in September, up to bonny Scotland.  I was thinking of travelling across to the Isle of Arran for the scenery and birdwatching.

Does anyone have experience of the campsites across there, and also (perhaps especially) the options for wild camping.

Any input and help would, as ever, be most appreciated.

Thanks
Sally
x

Hi Sally.
There is a nice site at LOCHRANZA. Bus stop out side to Brodick. 150 yard walk to the ARRAN distelery, good food here.

The travelmoores

theTravelmoores wrote:Hi Sally.
There is a nice site at LOCHRANZA. Bus stop out side to Brodick. 150 yard walk to the ARRAN distelery, good food here.

The travelmoores

That sounds good. Near enough to totter back. 

I’ve heard talk that there is some anti motorhome/campervan feeling. Is it really that widespread all over the island?

Hi SAlly.

We had no trouble and every one was friendly. The roads are narrow hilly and winding so we became chickens.

have a look at=the travelmooresblogs.blogspot com

This may help. enjoy

theTravelmoores wrote:Hi SAlly.

We had no trouble and every one was friendly. The roads are narrow hilly and winding so we became chickens.

have a look at=the travelmooresblogs.blogspot com

This may help. enjoy

That sounds interesting!

Lochranza is full (and difficult to contact/get a response) so I’ll be checking other sites, and girding my loins for a bit of wild camping if I dare

I've stayed there a couple of times, and in my experience there are not a huge number of discrete places to wild camp on the island.

Both times I stayed at Seal Shore Campsite, right at the southern tip of the island, where, as the name suggests, you are likely to see seals (and otters, if you get up early enough). It's a small site that's nice enough but a little cramped, though they were adding new pitches when I was there last year, so probably a bit bigger now!

If you have the time Sally take the long route back via Argyll, the Mull of Kintyre has some lovely coastline  ,especially down near Machrihanish, nice wee beach campsite at Muasdale, ideal for Otter watching ,miles of sandy beaches for the dogs (if you're have the,)
Boaby

Roopert wrote:I've stayed there a couple of times, and in my experience there are not a huge number of discrete places to wild camp on the island.

Both times I stayed at Seal Shore Campsite, right at the southern tip of the island, where, as the name suggests, you are likely to see seals (and otters, if you get up early enough). It's a small site that's nice enough but a little cramped, though they were adding new pitches when I was there last year, so probably a bit bigger now!

 Was at Seal Shore last year. Agree with Roopert's assessment. Adjacent hotel serves a good dinner. Great view of Ailsa Craig.
Did indeed see 2 otters playing in the seaweed, for a good half hour, one morning - even a convenient bench to sit and watch. Almost as good a display as the otters at Bosherston Lakes in Pembrokeshire. Magic!

Cymro

Arran
Very nice when out of School & Grey seasons!!
Why not give Galloway a try?
Garlieston  CMC site had plenty of room last Sunday and the lunch in the Harbour Inn was great!
Plenty of locations here in the Rhinns for the one night wild camping.
Weather mixed as it is all over and with the September Oyster Festival in Stranraer as an added attraction, those who have passed us by may be pleasantly surprised. 
frederic

Cymro wrote:
Did indeed see 2 otters playing in the seaweed, for a good half hour, one morning - even a convenient bench to sit and watch. Almost as good a display as the otters at Bosherston Lakes in Pembrokeshire. Magic!

Cymro

Otters at Bosherston!! All we saw were waterlilies but we did have tea and scones at the old post office

Be careful when booking the Ardrossan/Brodick ferry, study the small print in the timetable, because although there are regular sailings throughout the day a lot of them are for cars only, on Fri/Sat/Sun. Nearly got caught out ourselves, had to alter our plans.

Sally, I’ve Just got round to reading this months MMM (August) and it has a whole article on visiting Arran with some helpful hints and contacts. Apologies if you’ve seen this already.

Askit wrote:Sally, I’ve Just got round to reading this months MMM (August) and it has a whole article on visiting Arran with some helpful hints and contacts. Apologies if you’ve seen this already.

I know that this is going to be a “doh” moment, but what is MMM?

Ignore that, I’ve just found the magazine .  Was it the August issue?

Ignore that, I’ve just found the index 

Well, all in all that was a jolly good trip.  Started off in a small independent campsite in Beadnell Bay for a few days, with visits to Bamburgh and Cragside (NT).  Then drove across to Ardrossan and overnighted in the car park, after getting shouted at by a very rude attendant for not parking in the right spot (the only unpleasantness in two weeks).

Ferry to Arran and stayed the first night at Lochranza, watching the red deer on the golf course 2 mins from the van.  Then wild camped at Black Water Foot, then another wild camp in a lay-by near the stone circles, bought a sheepskin rug for the van at The Old Byre, then 2 nights at Seals Shore (saw otters).  Then another wild camp at Whiting Bay, before the ferry back. 6 nights, 50/50 sites and wild camping, easy driving, great wildlife, some shopping, and some lovely tea and cake. Plus an amazing sausage roll at the Old Pier Head cafe, too big for me but delicious.

Left the ferry and drove straight to a small certificated site, Thomaston Farm, near Trump Turnberry.  Very basic but super views and very cheap, although yet again it’s another CS/CLS that has more than 5 vans.

Then onto Kirkcudbright for red squirrels (10 mins walk from the campsite).  Silvercraigs is a community run site, clean, great views, full of rabbits, with free WiFi.  2 nights there, taking in an amazing exhibition by Scarfe.  Superb.

Then home.  13 nights away, and I don’t want to go back to work.

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Great photographs, thanks for sharing. 

rogerblack wrote:Great photographs, thanks for sharing. 

My pleasure, it’s a lovely place, as is the west coast, and well worth a visit.  I’m glad you liked the photos. 

Sally
X

Great photos Sally, have you tried entering for the BBC country wise calendar?.
Did you encounter any midge, Arran is usually bad for them.
Boaby

burlingtonboaby wrote:Great photos Sally, have you tried entering for the BBC country wise calendar?.
Did you encounter any midge, Arran is usually bad for them.
Boaby

Hi Boaby - I’m not sure the photos are at that level, but thank you. 

Amazingly, I had a midge free week, apart from one walk I did from Whiting Bay up to the waterfalls in Galashiels forest. There was a small section where they were a bit manic, but other than that, nothing.  I was lucky, I know it can get really bad in places.

Yes, lovely photos, thank you.

It’s harrysp wrote:Yes, lovely photos, thank you.

Right time, right place. 

They are not as sharp as I wanted as the light was poor sometimes so I had to massively up the iso and it’s gone a bit grainy. The stags were taken in the rain, in gale force winds, sat down to avoid being blown over.  That’s me, not the stags.