Description
This Arran hiking break is the perfect opportunity to get away from city life and enjoy a few days of great hiking amongst some of the West coast of Scotland’s finest scenery. There is the chance to see a variety of wildlife and some fantastic high and low level hiking in wonderful surroundings. Arran is sometimes described as Scotland in Miniature and it is an island with a huge amount to offer, packed into a small space.
The Isle of Arran, in Scotland, is one of the most southerly of Scottish islands and sits in the Firth of Clyde between Ayrshire and Kintyre. Arran is 19 miles long by 10 miles wide but has a remarkable diversity of landscapes and seascapes. The pretty villages on Arran’s beautiful coastline are complemented by a rugged and mountainous interior in the north and green rolling hills and woodland in the south.
Isle of Arran hiking break accommodation
Our accommodation is a winner of the prestigious Green Tourism Business Goldstar Award 2011, and is ranked as one of the UKs top ten greenest businesses. Lochranza Hostel offers excellent group accommodation, a spacious self-catering kitchen and lounge with extensive views of the Loch and hills.
The Hostel is situated on the banks of Loch Ranza, opposite a 13th-century ruined castle in beautiful countryside. The youth hostel garden is a great spot to watch wildlife, including red deer, red squirrel, grey seals, otters and golden eagles.
Lochranza distillery is 5 minutes walk from our Hostel is arguably the best in Scotland, and utilises the smooth water that trickles into the glen. After our walk on Sunday, we have reserved a slot on one of the popular tours of the distillery to learn how Scotland’s most famous drink is made and enjoy a sampling.
You can learn more about where we are staying and the village of Lochranza on undiscovered Scotland here.
Hiking
During the Arran hiking break we will hike to the summit of Goat fell, the highest peak on the island, giving spectacular views of the other mountains, glens and coastline. We will also take in a beautiful coastal walk along the north east coast of the island which gives wonderful views out to sea and the mainland, Our final full day walk is a spectacular glen walk taking us through two of the islands most beautiful glens and the main route between the highest mountains. On our departure day we still have time for a morning walk to the mystical and atmospheric standing stones at Machrie and a final short coastal walk.
Our Arran hiking break is an extended weekend of four days hiking giving us a great opportunity to get to know this beautiful island.
Read our Blog Post here of our September 2017 Isle of Arran Hiking Trip.
There is such a great variety of hikes to choose from we are truly spoilt for choice. However, we have chosen three walks which we feel show the scenic variety of the island and offer a good mix of challenge and scenery.
Saturday – Goat fell summit from Corrie
Distance: 7 miles
Height gain: 874m
We take a bus transfer to the village of Corrie and then head up a well marked track through the glen, until we reach the ridge of Goat Fell. The path now becomes steeper and more rocky and some easy scrambling is required in order to reach the summit. We descend by a different route to the small town of Brodick.
Sunday – Coastal walk around the Cock of Arran
Distance: 9 miles
Height gain: 150m
We again take a bus transfer to the start of our walk at Sannox, where we then follow the coastal path north all the way to our hostel. This a fine coastal walk with great scenery throughout and interesting rock formations on the way.
Monday – Glen Sannox to Glen Rosa
Distance: 10 miles
Height gain: 550m
We get dropped off at Sannox to start our hike through two of Arran’s finest Glens. This is a fairly straightforward walk on mostly good paths, but with some short scrambling over the saddle which separates the glens. The saddle separates the two highest mountains on Arran, so we get great views of the rocky summits as well as great scenery lower down the Glens.
Tuesday – Standing stones of Machrie and coastal walk to the Kings Cave
Distance: 5 miles
Height gain: 50m
We take a short hike to visit the standing stones which are in a great position surrounding by the high mountains. Its a wonderful and atmospheric location and the stones date back to Neolithic times and make a great photo opportunity as well. We then return to the coast to make a hike to visit the Kings cave, which was a hiding place for Robert the Bruce and is set in spectacular cliffs.
Note: The walks schedule may be changed depending on weather conditions at the time.
As winner of the prestigious Green Tourism Business Goldstar Award 2011, Lochranza Youth Hostel is ranked as one of the UKs top ten greenest businesses. Lochranza Youth Hostel offers excellent hiking accommodation for groups with private rooms, a spacious self-catering kitchen and two lounges available. For this hiking break, we have private dormitory style rooms sleeping no more than 4. We also have two twin ensuite rooms and these are available at a supplement of £35 per person for the trip.
Lochranza Youth Hostel is situated on the banks of Loch Ranza, opposite a 13th-century ruined castle in beautiful countryside.
The youth hostel is also located on the Cock of Arran trail, which provides a beautifully scenic low level trek. The youth hostel garden is a great spot to watch wildlife, including red deer, red squirrel, grey seals, otters and golden eagles. Lochranza Youth Hostel benefits from a great bus connection and the bus stop is only 5 minutes walk away. A nearby distillery to Lochranza Youth Hostel is arguably the best in Scotland, and utilises the smooth water that trickles into the glen.
This is a link to the trip advisor page for Lochranza Hostel.
This is the link to the SYHA website for the hostel.
Friday
16:30 Pick up from Glasgow airport & transfer to Ardrossan Harbour
18:00 Ferry to Brodick on Arran
18:55 Arrive on Arran and transfer to Lochranza Hostel
19:45 Approx check-in at Hostel
20:30 Home cooked dinner at the hostel
Saturday
08:00 Breakfast
09:45 Depart for Goat Fell walk
16:00 Approximate arrival in Brodick from our walk
16:30 Drinks and dinner arranged in a local pub (not inc in price)
19:00 Return from Brodick to our hostel in Lochranza
Sunday
08:00 Breakfast
09:30 Depart for full day coastal walk
15:30 Return from coastal walk
16:00 Optional Whisky distillery tour (not inc in price)
19:00 Home cooked dinner at the hostel
Monday
08:00 Breakfast
9:30 Depart for full day glen walk
16:30 Approx. arrival in Brodick for end of hike refreshment
17:30 Return transfer from Brodick to hostel
19:00 Dinner at a local traditional Scottish restaurant offering locally caught fish and Scottish game (not inc in price)
Tuesday
07:30 Breakfast
09:00 Depart for 1/2 day walk to standing stones & coastal walk
13:30 Transfer to Brodick for ferry
15:15 Ferry to Ardrossan
16:15 Minibus transfer for Glasgow Airport
17:15 Arrive Glasgow Airport
Note: The transfer to and from Glasgow airport and Ardrossan harbour will be by private minibus. All local transfers on the island will either be by private minibus or by local public bus.
Total cost for the 4 night break £320
Note: This is inclusive of return transfer from Glasgow airport to the Hostel. The transfer includes return travel from Glasgow airport to Ardrossan Ferry, the Ferry crossing, transfer from ferry to hostel, plus all local transport to the start and end of walks.
Twin ensuite supplement : £35 per person
We anticipate these will get booked first, so please book early
(4 places available : please check if this is available before booking – ideal if you are coming with a friend or your partner. Also available for people coming on their own and we will pair you up with another person of the same sex)
Small group size : 16
To book, click add to basket, to pay your deposit of £70.
The balance will be due 8 weeks before the start of the break, and you should arrange a bank transfer for this.
Bank details are below :
Bank Account Mountain Hikes
Sort Code 40 40 01
Account No 02406950 (please quote ‘Arran’ plus your name)
Your place is only confirmed once full payment is received.
Included: Guided walks on all days, dinner on two days, breakfast and packed lunch on all days and accommodation in private bunk rooms sleeping no more than 4 each room, return transfer from Glasgow airport to the Ferry, Ferry crossing, transfer from ferry to hostel, plus all local transport to the start and end of walks.
Not included: Two evening dinners when we will eat in a local pub/ restaurant, Travel to Scotland, airport transfer (unless taken with transfer option), whisky distillery tour £6 approx
Getting There
Travel to the village of Lochranza on the Isle of Arran is via Glasgow airport, then minibus pickup at 16:30 to the ferry port at Ardrossan. The ferry lands at Brodick on Arran, where we will arrange another group pickup to the hostel.
Transfer from the airport to Ardrossan takes about 45 minutes, the ferry crossing takes about 55 minutes and then the transfer from Brodick to Lochranza takes 40 minutes.
Suggested flights are not yet confirmed at time of writing, so we will add this when confirmed. However flights to Glasgow are frequent and available from many airports and airlines.
You are free to travel to Glasgow airport by whatever transport you wish but the group pick up will leave promptly at 16:30, so please ensure you are scheduled to arrive no later than 15:30 to allow for luggage collection and minor delays.
Virgin trains also operate a service direct from Euston to Glasgow where you can then transfer to the airport for pick up.
We can only offer one group transfer from the airport and it will leave promptly at 16:30 in order to catch the ferry crossing at 18:00.
Note: The price is inclusive of minibus transfer to and from Glasgow airport, ferry, all transfers to the start & finish of walks on the island.
Suggested Outward Flight Fri 14/09
We are not suggesting or recommending flights for this trip, as there are so many ways to travel and reach Glasgow.
Getting back
The return mini bus transfer will arrive at Glasgow airport at 17:15. We therefore recommend you book a return flight departing after 19:15.
Suggested Return Flight : Tue 18/09
Again we are not suggesting or recommending flights apart from the time of flight departure.
