Island Hopping in Scotland

Arrival into Glasgow at Glasgow Prestwick airport where you can take the train to Ardrossan. Here you take the ferry to Arran. Ferries cross several times a day to Arran  and the trip lasts around 1 hour.

Today your walk takes you past Brodick Castle and up the valley to the top of Goat Fell, Arran’s highest peak at 874m. Then you descend down the neighbouring glen to Sannox.  Take a coffee in a local hotel before your short bus ride back to Brodick.  

A short transfer by public bus to Sannox. Today’s walk takes you along the rugged coastline from Sannox to Lochranza. Mostly right on the edge of the sea. Lochranza is a remote hamlet of a few houses and a tiny ferry port where you catch the ferry to the mainland. Lochranza is very romantic with its ancient castle sitting not far from the coast and often the setting for a fabulous photoshoot which is very typical Scottish.  Lochranza also has its own whisky distillery. On today’s walk, you can look for seals, porpoises and whales offshore. Transfer back by bus to Brodick. 

Start with a short transfer to Lamlash or Whiting Bay which is south of Brodick. If you start in Whiting bay you first set off around Kingscross point where the is an ancient cairn. You then follow the coastline around to Lamlash. If there is high tide there is an inland route option. Once in Lamlash take the optional ferry to Holy Island, the home of a Buddhist Monks Monastery/Retreat. The walk follows the coastline north back to Brodick through rolling coastlines.

Today you take the public bus with your luggage to Lochranza, across on the ferry to the Kintyre peninsular. Then a short bus transfer 8km to the other side of the peninsular before taking the ferry to Port Askaig on Islay. Once in Port Askaig, if you are booked into accommodation in Ballygrant then you shall take the public bus the short 3 miles/5 km journey to your accommodation.

Now on Islay, you will notice the influence of Gaelic – many landmarks of the Gaelic nature and some words become almost impossible to pronounce. You have today a choice between three Islay hikes. There are none or limited public bus services on Sunday’s

1. One option today takes you north to Bunnahabhain and past the distillery before heading inland in a circular fashion to Ballygrant. From Ballygrant we take an east route back toward Port Askaig via the little Loch Ballygrant. Distance 14.4 miles 23 km up 291m.
2. Our second option is a shorter walk. First a short transfer by public bus to Bridgend where the walk starts. The walk explores Bridgend woods near to Islay House. A pretty flat walk around a pretty lake before following a narrow footpath from the woods. On route you will have a chance to visit a working woollen mill (if open). Return to Ballygrant/Port Askaig by public bus. Distance 4.3  miles, 7km.
3. Our third option is on the other side of Islay but if you have any interest in Scottish whisky then it is well worth the journey across the island for the walk. Today first a journey by public bus to Port Ellen. Here your 3 distilleries walk starts along a tarmac path, you shall pass the distilleries, Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg. You return back on the same path but as Port Ellen comes back into view you can turn off slightly uphill and do a small detour walk to visit there separate standing stones monuments. Return back to Ballygrant/Port Askaig by public bus 8.2 miles, 13 km , 150 m up.
   
4. The forth option starts and finishes in Bowmore, the Islands main town and takes in Laggan Point. First today you take the public bus to Bowmore.  Bowmore has a whisky distillery which is well worth a visit. After the visit take the walk mainly along tracks and some pathless grassy sections to Laggan point. Many chances to view bird life and sea life on this walk. Some chances for a detour to a nice sandy beach. Distance 8.8 miles, 14 km up 90 m.

Your Scottish island hopping holiday is now finished, a taxi will pick you up at 8.15 am to take you to Port Ellen for the 9.45 am ferry to Kennacraig where you can take a coach back to Glasgow. The earliest you can reach Glasgow is around 15:00. Check on City Link for coach times.