Mountainscapes

Arran is an extraordinary island. Despite its small size it boasts spectacular and distinctive mountains with soaring peaks and serrated ridges. In a day you can climb up from lush, tropical woodlands in the grounds of Brodick Castle to the summit of Goatfell, Arran’s highest peak at 875 metres. From here you can look across the northern mountain ridges to the highlands of mainland Scotland and the islands of Jura and Mull, or over the south island’s undulating moors to the coasts of Ayrshire and Northern Ireland.

Centuries of human landscapes along the coast

Most of Arran’s population live around the narrow coastal strip where the raised beaches are still rebounding from the last Ice Age. Whilst the island’s complex geology is revealed in walks around the fascinating and ever-changing coast, the story of human history on the island is told in stone circles, ancient field systems, ruined clachans and whitewashed cottages.

Close encounters with Arran wildlife

Most visitors to the island experience close encounters with Arran’s varied wildlife, and September is a particularly active month in the natural world. An atmosphere of expectation is pervasive as the herds of wild red deer approach the annual rituals of the rut, when the stags will parade and challenge their competitors. Red squirrels, seals, otters, golden eagles and hen harriers (amongst many other creatures) are all common sightings on the island. Arran also boasts its own unique trees: the Arran whitebeams in the northern hills.

Discover more about wild Arran by visiting the Arran Natural History Society's website: www.arranwildlife.co.uk.