Why Choose Arran...?

An Inspirational  Beginning and A Grand Finale to your Scottish Islands Tour.

However you  approach the unique and  incomparable Isle of Arran, the sharp-peaked mountain skyline will command your gaze. Wherever you go when you are on the island, wide views of west coast islands and the hills of the mainland, as well as the Irish coast, will open up their glories. From Lochranza, the Claonaig ferry can set you on a journey of  highland and island touring, taking you to  Kintyre, Gigha, Islay and Jura, as well as to the Cowal peninsula and the Isle of Bute. For those who wish to travel no further there is much to see and do on Arran itself.

Arran is the most southerly of Scottish Islands, warmed by the Gulf Stream, and within easy reach of the towns and cities of the Central Belt. However, it is a world apart  in terms of its unspoilt peace and beauty. Most visitors agree that the popular description of Arran "Scotland in miniature" is a highly appropriate one, which encapsulates the variety of landscapes to be found on this 20 x 10 mile island.

The variety is created by the Highland Boundary fault which crosses the island, giving the North a Highland  character of serrated mountain ridges  and steep-sided glacial valleys, with pretty, whitewashed villages stretched out around the coast. Ruined clachans bear witness to the Clearances. The South is similar to the lowlands with lush wooded valleys and open moorlands that attracted settlers of ancient tribes 6,000 years ago and more.  The complex and fascinating geology of the island draws visitors from all over the world, along with the rich and abundant wildlife. It is not uncommon to see red deer. red squirrels, seals, otters and even basking sharks as you travel round the island's perimeter road.

Tourism began on Arran in Victorian times when West Coast families came over for summer seaside holidays, so Arran has a long history of welcoming travellers. Most of the shops and cafes are independent family businesses offering lovely home-made food and products. A Taste of Arran has become a highly successful national business exporting Arran produce far and wide. There are also 7 golf courses  around the island, each one with its own challenges and character.

Visitors come to Arran for its scenery, its interesting culture, its peacefulness and its wildlife. Most who come return again and again.

Arran is stunning at all times and in all seasons.

Speaking Scots

Some Scots words are well-known to English speakers e.g. a burn (stream), a loch (lake) and a glen (valley). The word for small: "wee" is one of various Scots words that have been "borrowed" into English. Another is "dreich" which captures a sense of dismal weather perfectly.

People born on Arran from the early 20th century on have grown up  speaking Scots. Scots is the language of lowland Scotland and the Northern Isles. It is also the language that Robert Burns, the national poet, used when he wrote many of his songs and poems. His stirring "Auld Lang Syne", sung all around the world at Hogmanay, is Scots and it translates into modern standard English as "old long since". (Incidentally, the new Robert Burns museum in Ayrshire is well worth a visit on your way to Arran. You won't be able to stop singing his songs when you leave!) The origins of the Scots language go back to the 7th century when the Angles dominated the region that is now south-east Scotland and north-east England. Over time, with different peoples settling in Scotland, new words were "borrowed" into the Scots language. Gaelic arrived with the original Scots from Northern Ireland and became the dominant language of north and west Scotland for many centuries whilst the language of the native Picts disappeared without trace. The Vikings also settled in the Scottish islands and their influence remains in many of Arran's place names.

Norse place-names include:

Sannox        Norse: sand vik         sandy bay

Goat Fell     Norse: geit + fiall    goat mountain

Catacol        Norse: katta + gil     ravine of the wild cats

Gaelic place-names include:

Corrie          Gaelic: coire         cauldron

Cioch na h-Oighe    Gaelic: cioch + oighe          breast of the virgin

Glen Rosa        Gaelic: gleann + Norse: hross-a    horse-river valley

To find out more, visit: www.scottishslanguage.co.uk