Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

Brodick Bay with Goat Fell, Isle of Arran, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on the Isle of Arran which is located off the west coast of Scotland and relatively close to Glasgow. Arran is often described as ‘Scotland in Miniature’.

Most visitors arrive via the approximately one hour ferry crossing from Ardrossan which arrives at the island’s principal town of Brodick . Once disembarked visitors are free to explore the many facets of this compact island which includes:

• Geology: Arran is one of the world’s classic geological locations which attracts many students of the subject. In the distance past Arran has variously formed part of the ocean bottom or massive continents now gone.
• Prehistory: Good examples of stone circles and rock art with Machrie Moor  and Stronach Wood respectively being the prime examples.
• Castles: Lochranza  and Brodick.
• Walking Routes: There is a continuous path around the island which includes stretches of roadway, forest track, coastline and mountainous terrain. It is also possible to scale Goat Fell, the islands tallest mountain.
• Wildlife and Sightseeing Tours: Boat trips around Arran and nearby islands.
• Isle of Arran Heritage Museum: Learn about the way of life from the remote past to the 1920s.
• Isle of Arran Distillery: Tour one of Scotland’s youngest whisky distilleries.
• Island Products: Include cheese shop, chocolate shop, fish smokery, brewery and aromatics.
• Golfing: Seven courses plus driving range and pro-shops.
• Holy Island : A small island accessible from Arran which is now, primarily, a Buddhist retreat.
• Cycling: Coast road for road cycling plus ideal terrain for mountain biking.
• Wildlife: Red squirrels, seals and deer can be spotted with diligence.
• Photography: Seascapes, landscapes, wildlife and castles all provide good subjects.
• Beaches: Sandy beaches facilitate swimming- in summer time.

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  Lochranza Castle, Arran, ScotlandDeer at Lochranza, Scotland

Machrie Moor, Standing Stones, Arran

Highland Cow, Arran, Scotland

 

Clearly, Arran’s diverse range of attractions and interests will satisfy the needs of many visitors.

Deer on Rannoch Moor in Winter

This evening, I am focusing on the somewhat bleak and rugged Rannoch Moor which lies south of the Great Glen fault below Glencoe. Key features:

• Comprises a plateau at 1200 ft surrounded by mountains rising to between 2500ft and 3500 ft.
• Underlain by granite and features a number of small, irregular lakes which were formed by severe glacial erosion. These lakes are separated by collections of glacial debris.
• The Moor was where the last major ice sheet to cover Scotland began to form about 25,000 years ago and also where it was finally extinguished about 10,000 years ago.
• The ice moved along the valleys which radiate out from Rannoch Moor to the north-east (Speyside), east (Tayside), south (Firth of Clyde) and west (Loch Linnhe).
• Each year hundreds of thousands of visitors traverse this Moor travelling to/from Glencoe  many of whom may not appreciate the geological significance of the site.

As will be evident from the images provided here, the winter does present excellent opportunities for landscape photography when the right combination of weather conditions are present.

Photographing Rannoch Moor in Winter

Winter Landscape, Rannoch Moor, Scotland

Winter Scene, Rannoch Moor, Scotland

Winter Scene, Rannoch Moor, Scotland

Mountain View from Ranoch Moor, Scotland