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Arran is an island that is worth exploring. There are all sorts of ways to get around
whether or not you have a car.
Roads
Finding your way around the island is easy since there are only three main
roads – and one of them goes in a cirlce making it impossible to get lost! Although numerous potholes can make
cycling an adventure the roads are generally in good condition. The Ross Road
which cuts across the southern part of the island is a single lane road with
passing places but the other main roads standard, two-lane roads.
Shore Road – The A841
The A841 has the distinction of being the only circular A road in the UK. This 90 kilometre road (56 miles) circumnaviages the island and doing this drive is a great introduction to all the island has to offer.
The String Road – B880
The String Road runs the 19 kilometres (12 miles) from Brodick on the east coast of the island to Blackwaterfoot on the west coast. It climbs over the Gleannan t-Suidhe. About 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) from Brodick the a smaller road branches off to Machrie.
The Ross Road
The Ross Road is about 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) in length. It is a single lane road with passing places which runs from Lamlash to Lagg and gives spectacular views of Glen Scorodale.
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Hiring a Car
Getting around the island is easiest by car and a great solution is to travel to Arran as a foot
passenger and hire a car once you get here. But, be warned, there is only one car hire outlet on the
island. It is privately owned and they are usually fully booked during the summer months so,
if you are considering hiring a car on the island contact them early.
Bay Garage, Brodick
Tel: 01770 302839
They are located immediately opposite the ferry terminal in Brodick so it's very easy to
pick up your car as soon as you leave the ferry.
Parking
Compared to most metropolitan areas, parking on Arran is a breeze. There are no parking meters or "pay
and display" car parks. There is a large amount of "on street" parking in Brodick and Lamlash
has two car parks which are free of charge. Opposite the ferry terminal in Brodick is a small
car park with a one hour time restriction. On the rest of the island just park on the side of the
road. Yes, it's that simple.
Bus
The bus service on Arran is run by Stagecoach and although the it is not frequent it is
realiable and the bus drivers all go out of their way to look after their passengers.
Bus Schedule
The full bus time table is available at the Stagecoach website.
To see the full time table on the Stagecoach website just select Arran from the "Location"
drop-down list and then click on "Search".
Taxi
Arran has a number of independent taxi drivers but no taxi company per se. Although taxis often
meet the ferry there is no formal taxi rank. Therefore, it is always advisable to book your
taxi in advance, if at all possible. Here is a list of some of the Arran taxis:
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Arran Private Hire, Lamlash |
01770 600903 |
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A & C Hendry, Brodick |
01770 302274 |
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Douglas Private Hire, Brodick |
07899 906642 |
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Ian McCallum, Whiting Bay |
01770 700417 |
The list and/or the contact details are likely to change from time to time so please let us
know if you find any of the above information to be incorrect.
Bicycle
Arran is a great place to explore by bicycle. Just watch out the for pot holes and be aware that
there are some pretty challenging hills!
Bicyle Hire
If you haven't brought your own bike there are a number of places on the island where you can hire one.
They have bikes for children as well as adults and can sometimes arrange delivery to your hotel.
Cycle Routes and Information
There is lots of cycling information at the
Arran Bike Club website.
Also, have a look at
www.cycle-route.com which has a whole selection of proposed Arran cycle routes.
Cycle Parts and Repairs
You don't need to worry about problems with your bike when your here because parts and repairs are available.
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