Hiking in Arran

Arran – a real adventure and great value.

Date of trip: August 2024.

Total cost: £880 including ferry for 2 cars, all fuel on the island, campsites, all food and treats.

We had our own tents, sleeping bags, cooking kit, paddleboards and snorkels.

Number of party: 7 (4 adults, 3 children). 1 dog.

I was torn over which trip to write up first. Perhaps a skiing adventure or the magic of Lapland, maybe a warmer adventure soaking up the wildlife in Sumatra or a gastronomy adventure in Italy. I have decided to talk about our hiking and semi wild camping trip to Arran with two of our close adult friends, making a party size of 7, age ranges 7 – 47 and our pup, Ella.

This trip is what I call a real adventure and great value. It was essentially a walking holiday suitable for adventurous kids with a dash of extras thrown in, including wild swimming in waterfalls and crystal clear sea, paddleboarding, wildlife, delicious food and games.

Arran, an island to the West of Glasgow in Scotland is a real gem. We followed the Arran Coastal Way, a coastal route circumnavigating the island with only slight undulation. Eight days walking with a rest day in the middle. We took two vehicles so we could skip long road sections and focus on the highlights for our party. Having two cars meant we could leapfrog our camping kit and supplies each day which avoided large weight carrying and kept younger members lightweight and free to play and explore. We wanted the kids to enjoy the trip and not view it as a long slog.

The walk was diverse enough to keep even the youngest child engaged. No carrying was necessary. I would definitely repeat this trip, the kids were happy and it ticked all my boxes for beauty, interest, treats and was peaceful. This was the sort of trip that refills your wellbeing cup. My 7 year old daughter said her favourite thing was the adventure and the swings. The children were also proud that they had completed their first wild camp and couldn’t wait to tell their friends about it.

The weather was fair and mostly hot during our trip which made camping easy with only one day of rain. We were prepared with waterproof jackets and trousers and warmer layers in case the weather turned but didn’t need these. The famous Scottish midges made an appearance in earnest, twice. The kids were amazed at the numbers at sunset. It wasn’t too bad before that and we all snuggled away in the tent playing card games and used head nets and ran if we needed to leave the tent. During the day, they were fine. We also learnt to get the tent up before dusk. We tried the usual tricks – citronella candles and Avon’s skin so soft. Our dog picked up quite a few ticks but no people picked any up. To reduce any risks associated with ticks, it is a good idea to stick to paths, avoid long grass/bracken and check yourself and kids every day. Tick tweezers are great for removing them and keep an eye out for signs of lymes disease (rash, flu symptoms). If you don’t fancy the camping aspect, there are many options for house rentals, hotels or hostels. Book in advance, these sell out during peak times.

This trip is great for those who like peace and quiet and outdoor activities and not many people around. We had our cars available to hide in if need be, go shopping or change plans. We discussed the route each day and what to expect with the whole group and answered any questions and reflected on the route with the map at break points with the whole group. The kids have slept in our tent and used their sleeping bags many times and have a set order to avoid stress and issues. This trip worked well with both our ASC and ADHD party members.

Travelling with our close friends and watching them do yoga with the children in the evenings, learning to paddleboard from our son, chatting about games they love to play and building closer relationships was a big win for me. The group got on well and enjoyed each other’s company. The presence from other adults eased the strain on us to need to entertain or referee. With a more adult centric group, the young members naturally stepped up.

Route

There are lots of descriptions of the Arran Way available online and route guides so I will focus on the highlights for us and what kept the kids engaged.

We spent 8 days walking, with a day rest in the middle. We tried to keep walking times to around 3 hours with plenty of rests, snacks and drinks. Then time to set up camp, evening games or beach play. We found it easy to plan distances and car parking spots using an OS Map. Navigation was simple.

We wild camped and used campsites. There are some excellent places to wild camp, please follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC). There are free public toilets along the route but a donation is recommended to support their continued upkeep. These were all clean and well looked after.

The terrain was a mix of muddy paths, board walks, bridges, rocky paths, grass, sand, pebbles and boulders.

Ferry

We had booked our Ferry from Troon – Brodick. This cost us £69.40 to take the car across for a return ticket. The journey over went like clockwork but our return boat was cancelled. The ferry company automatically allowed us to transfer to a different boat departing from Lochranza to Claonaig and refunded the difference whilst we were on board. Although it added an extra 2 hours of driving time to our journey, we were not too worried as we had a scenic drive through the mountains passing Loch Lomond and quirky towns.

Campsites

Glen Rosa Campsite looks beautiful. No showers. Quite wild looking but does have running water and toilets.

Bridgend campsite is handy for the west of the Island with really nice showers and you can book online.

Lochranza caravan and camping site is a large site with plenty of space, a shop onsite and located next to the whiskey distillery shop and tours.

These were all child and dog friendly sites.

We loved the look of seal shore camping on the coast with ample wildlife and the sea breeze apparently keeps the midges away but the site only accepts small 2 man tents. On this trip we all wanted to be together in our 4 man tent.

Highlights

Fudge shop at the start of our trip in Brodick.

Bring your own snorkel and mask and have a go at the Arran snorkel trails. Follow recommendations and trails here Snorkel Trails | Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Cladach beach house selling cocktails was a great mid-way stop on the first day. Children are welcome until 3pm. Dogs welcome. We enjoyed rustic seating overlooking the beach. There were non-alcoholic cocktails as well which the younger members enjoyed. There is a bus stop just outside as well.

Mara fish bar and deli for upmarket sea food. The adults enjoyed the interesting flavours and dishes but beware, this is not a fish and chip shop and our younger kids preferred to eat elsewhere. We are always keen for our children to try new food but those with limited palates may wish to check the menu in advance.

The sandwich station in Lochranza was a favourite for all. Jim says the best sandwich he’s ever had and I don’t think any of us would disagree.

Seals sunbathing in the South of Arran.

Random swings to rest at.

King’s Caves with stacked up stone. We enjoyed adding to the stacks.

Kildonan Hotel. After the most difficult (and beautiful) section of the route on a hot day where the path disappeared into a scramble then a mix of boggy paths and beach, this was an excellent location for a few ice cold drinks. The midge free outside seating overlooking the beach created an excellent spot for recounting tails of the week.