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    | Machrie Moor Standing Stones

    Wilderness Walking

    Arran: Scotland in Miniature

    20 reviews


    Deposit From: £516£516
    Region: West Highlands including Knoydart
    Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
    Confirmed: When 3 Travellers Book

    All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.

      From: £1,965 View Prices & Dates

      Trip Overview

      Created by: Rachael Gavan


      Join us on a fantastic walking trip that explores the beautiful Isle of Arran. Located off the west coast of Scotland, lapped by turquoise water and with mountains that rise high with rugged, rocky peaks – this stunning isle, home to a little bit of everything, is often referred to as ‘Scotland in Minature’.

      Joined by an expert Wilderness guide, spend an unforgettable week discovering its many instances of natural beauty. Hike up its highest mountain, ribbon along its silvery shores, visit caves, neolithic ruins, a historic castle, and a local distillery.

      Having been continuously inhabited since the early Neolithic period, the Arran’s history, heritage, and culture run deep. With a landscape peppered with standing stones, hut circles, and hidden chambered cairns, it’s an engaging and evocative place to explore on foot. Also home to incredible wildlife, take the opportunity to look out for seals, otters, red squirrels, golden eagles, and an abundance of red deer.

      As the amber hues of sunset cast a deep, golden glow across the sea, moor, and mountainside, relax each evening in charming accommodation, enjoying fresh seasonal food and warm hospitality. With every day curated to unfold at the ideal pace, enjoy the magic of Scotland distilled into one perfect package.

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      Day by Day
      Itinerary

      Day 1 – Welcome to Arran Read Less

      Day 1

      Welcome to Arran

      Meet your guide at Ardrossan Harbour Station this afternoon and head west to take the ferry across the Firth of Clyde to the wonderful Isle of Arran. Once you have arrived, enjoy stretching your legs on a beautiful stroll that winds its way through birch woodland and provides stunning views of Goat Fell. Settle into your charming hotel, which is nestled in the village of Lamlash and looks out across the glittering bay. Enjoy a drink in the sunshine and a delicious dinner before turning in for a good night’s sleep.

      Meals Included: Dinner
      Walk Details: 5 km / 3 miles | 200 m / 656 ft | Approx: 2 hrs

      Day 2 – Glenashdale Falls & Giant's Graves Read Less

      Day 2

      Glenashdale Falls & Giant's Graves

      Wake to the sound of breaking waves and enjoy a delicious breakfast. Afterwards, head out with your guide for a cracking circular walk which climbs its way through a wooded glen for a wonderful view of a double cascading waterfall (known as the Eas a’ Chrannaig in Gaelic) and then onwards to two chambered cairns looking out over Whiting Bay. In the afternoon, set out to the southern shores for a walk on Kildonan Shore, looking out for the footprint of a large reptile from around 240 million years ago.

      Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
      Walk Details: 10 km / 6 miles | 150 m / 492 ft | Approx: 4 hrs

      Day 3 – Boat Trip to the Holy Isle Read Less

      Day 3

      Boat Trip to the Holy Isle

      Today, lace up your boots and head out for a short boat trip to the Holy Isle. Situated just off Arran’s easterly shores, the island has a fascinating spiritual history dating back to the 6th Century. Once ashore, walk to St Molaise’s Cave, where you can see rock carvings of crosses and ancient Norse runes. As seabirds wheel against the sea-blown sky, chat with your guide about the island’s fascinating history. Back on Arran this afternoon, take a tour of the local brewery, absorbing the sights and smells of the traditional beer-making process and enjoying a taste of their finest beers.


      Walk Details: 7 km / 4 miles | 470 m / 1,542 ft | Approx: 3.5 hrs

      Day 4 – An Ascent of Goatfell Read Less

      Day 4

      An Ascent of Goatfell

      This morning, set off into the hills to summit the highest peak on Arran – Goat Fell. Starting from the village of Corrie, enjoy ribboning your way through forests and across open moorland before beginning the main part of the ascent. The push to the summit can be a little challenging, but the views make it all worthwhile. Impressive granite ridges of the neighbouring peaks stand tall above the skyline, while panoramic views stretch all the way to Ireland on a clear day. Return to your hotel this evening and enjoy a cool drink in the historic walled garden.

      Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
      Walk Details: 10 km / 6 miles | 330 m / 1,083 ft | Approx: 4 hrs

      Day 5 – Explore the Northern Coast Read Less

      Day 5

      Explore the Northern Coast

      After a relaxing breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive north for a beautiful coastal hike. Begin by meandering your way across the moors, which stretch boundless and wild towards the horizon. The landscape here is mountainous and rugged, so keep an eye out for golden eagles and hen harriers. Descend to a remote cottage and follow a path along the coast, being rewarded with stunning views of Lochranza Castle. Afterwards, enjoy a visit to Lochranza Distillery, an independent venture which produces amazing whisky.

      Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
      Walk Details: 11 km / 7 miles | 330 m / 1,083 ft | Approx: 4 hrs

      Day 6 – Machrie Moor Standing Stones Read Less

      Day 6

      Machrie Moor Standing Stones

      As the soft morning light slips across the water, set out for a lovely walk that visits some large eerie caves on the coast. Chat with your guide about the story of Robert the Bruce and the Spider as you wander up the path to King’s Cave. After lunch, visit Machrie Moor to explore the rich archaeological landscape, including stone circles, standing stones, burial cairns, and cists. Later this afternoon, enjoy wandering around Brodick Castle and indulging in a cream tea to celebrate another lovely day on sea-soaked shores.

      Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
      Walk Details: 10 km / 6 miles | 280 m / 919 ft | Approx: 4 hrs

      Day 7 – Brodick Bay & Depart Read Less

      Day 7

      Brodick Bay & Depart

      After breakfast, enjoy a morning walk with your guide. Stroll along the tranquil sands of Brodick Bay, listening to the raucous calls of seabirds and spotting red-throated divers and great northern divers off the shore. Stop at Arran Aromatics and the Isle of Arran Cheese Company. Smelling delicious – well, a delicious mix of herbal hand lotion and blue, brie, and camembert cheese – nosy back to the terminal to catch the ferry back to the mainland. Your guide will drop you off at Ardrossan Harbour Station this afternoon, where your trip will conclude.

      Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
      Walk Details: 5 km / 3 miles | 30 m / 98 ft | Approx: 2 hrs

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      Wilderness Walking
      Arran: Scotland in Miniature

      To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:

      Fields marked with * are mandatory

      The phone number field is not required but if you would like us to give you a call to help find the trip for you, then enter your telephone number including the country code.

      Trip Dates & Prices

      All payments taken in local currency GBP

      Trip Dates for 2025AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      10th May - 16th May 20256 place(s) leftAvailable £1,965Book Now
      21st Jun - 27th Jun 20257 place(s) leftAvailable £1,965Book Now
      19th Jul - 25th Jul 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £1,965Book Now
      2nd Aug - 8th Aug 20258 place(s) leftAvailable £1,965Book Now
      6th Sep - 12th Sep 2025Trip FullGuaranteed £1,965

      Make This Trip Private

      Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your preferred departure date and we'll take care of the rest.

      Enquire Now
      X
      Wilderness Walking
      Arran: Scotland in Miniature

      For private departure enquiries, please complete the form below:

      Trip Details

      Accommodation Read More

      The Glenisle Hotel is an award-winning boutique hotel nestled in the charming village of Lamlash and boasting a beautiful location looking across Lamlash Bay toward the Holy Isle.

      Single Rooms

      There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you request a double room for single occupancy, a supplement of £425.00 is charged.

      Due to the nature of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

      Meals Read More

      All meals are included from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on the final day, except for dinner on Day 3. Included dinners are two courses as standard.

      Throughout the journey, varied local produce will be served in hearty and imaginative meals. Seafood is a speciality with beef, lamb, and venison also popular. Of course, any special dietary requirements can be catered for.

      Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations.

      Inclusions Read More
      • Six nights accommodation in a beautiful hotel.
      • Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
      • Boat trip to Holy Isle.
      • The services of an experienced and knowledgeable Guide/Driver throughout.
      • All transport throughout the trip, starting and finishing in Ardrossan.
      Grading Read More

      Blue Graded 4-6

      Blue graded walking holidays are suitable for fit and experienced hikers. We walk at a good pace and you can expect to be out for 6-8 hours a day. You will not always be on a path and the terrain underfoot can be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. Daily distances will be typically up to 16km but may be longer occasionally. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

      Travel - Arrival and Departure Read More

      Your guide will meet you at Ardrossan Harbour Station at 12:30pm on Day 1 of your trip.

      You will be returned to Ardrossan Harbour Station by 2:00pm on the final day of your trip.

      Ardrossan Harbour Station is easily accessed from Glasgow. Hourly trains from Glasgow Central Station take around 50 minutes. Please note that there are three stations in Ardrossan; the Harbour Station is the final one at the end of the line.

      If you would like to use your own vehicle on the trip, please contact our team to discuss.

      Speak to an Expert

      Jane Gillies

      Our friendly office team hail from across the world but share a passion for the outdoor and wild spaces of Scotland. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service and are more than happy to chat through options and provide help and advice. Get in touch to find your perfect adventure.

      Ask Jane a Question

      Difficulty Grades Explained

      Blue Graded 4-6

      Blue graded walking holidays are suitable for fit and experienced hikers. We walk at a good pace and you can expect to be out for 6-8 hours a day. You will not always be on a path and the terrain underfoot can be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. Daily distances will be typically up to 16km but may be longer occasionally. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.

      Find Out More

      Trip Reviews

      Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 20 review(s) of Wilderness Walking – Arran: Scotland in Miniature

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      Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.

      That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.

      KH

      Kay Hall

      Reviewed on 30/05/2024

      Age: 60 - 70
      Country: United Kingdom
      Trip Date: 18/05/2024
      Trips Taken: 2

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      The trip was wonderful, and very well organised. The Island was beautiful and we had a very happy time walking each day. We enjoyed it all very much and will certainly consider another trip with Wilderness Scotland

      MB

      Maggie Bellis

      Reviewed on 27/05/2024

      Age: 70 - 80
      Country: United Kingdom
      Trip Date: 18/05/2024
      Trips Taken: 2

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      Amazing trip. Lives up to the island's marketing - Scotland in miniature!

      JP

      Jane Patterson

      Reviewed on 27/05/2024

      Age: 60 - 70
      Country: UK
      Trip Date: 18/05/2024
      Trips Taken: 2

      The Bottom Line

      The Bottom Line

      Thank you . A wonderful trip. Lots of fun too!

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