Island of the Week: Arran

THE third part in our ‘Islands of the Week’ series focuses on the Isle of Arran, the ‘geologist’s paradise’ and inspiration for Hergé, the creator of Tintin.

Location: Firth of Clyde

Population: 5,058 (2003 census)

Gaelic name: Eilean Arainn (although the origin of ‘Arran’ is possibly from the Brythonic for “high place”)

The Isle of Arran (not to be confused with the Irish island of Aran) is the largest of the islands situated in the Firth of Clyde and is geographically very similar to the Hebrides, although the Kintyre peninsula separates Arran from the Hebrides. The island was initially colonised by Goidelic Irish, during which it became a focal point of religious activity. During the Viking Age however, Arran was under Norwegian rule, until it became part of Scotland in the Middle Ages. The widespread clearances throughout Scotland in the 19th century led to significant depopulation of the island, along with the demise of the Gaelic language.

History

Arran has ‘changed hands’ as it were a number of times, passing through colonisation by the Irish, through Norwegian rule before ending up under Scottish rule in the 13th century. A number of Bronze Age and Iron Age sites have been discovered on the island, and excavated. The most famous of these is ‘Ossian’s Mount’ near Clachaig. Several relics have been found in the sites, including a bronze dagger and a gold fillet.

Arran is also the location of the cave where Robert the Bruce is said to have taken shelter in the 14th century, and watched the spider spinning its web that inspired him.

The island was also subject to attacks from the English - there are reports of Brodick Castle being captured by the English during the 13th century Wars of Independence, before being reclaimed by the Scots in 1307. The same castle came under attack from English forceds in 1406.

The island was initially a seat of Clan Stewart of Menteith, but passed over to the Boyd family in the mid-15th century.

Attractions

Most notably, there are two castles - Brodick Castle, which features on some £20 notes, and Lochranza Castle, which was the inspiration for ‘The Black Island’, one of the books in the Tintin series by Belgian author Hergé. The Arran distillery offers tours and tastings, and walkers and climbers will enjoy Arran’s rocky landscape, especially the highest peak, Goat Fell, which is one of four corbetts on the island.

How to get there

Caledonian MacBrayne run two car ferries to the island; from Ardrossan in Ayrshire, to Brodick, which has around 5 services a day outwith winter, and from Claonaig in Kintyre, to Lochranza. The Ardrossan sailing takes about an hour, with the Claonaig service around 30 minutes.