Helen Rose Diary

Eight years’ ago, I wrote about the Island of Arran but I never tire of it and I am a regular visitor. Last summer I spent a weekend there with the group of outdoorsy people organised by my friend Kathleen. This is an annual event and always very enjoyable. This time we stayed at the National Trust bunkhouse in the grounds of Brodick Castle which very comfortably slept twelve of us and had a lovely sitting room with picture windows looking onto the forest. It also had a large porch suitable for lolling about on for drinks or afternoon tea. We were near the shore and it was a pleasant stroll along the beach and the golf course to Brodick. Arran is a beautiful  island and often described as Scotland in miniature with very picturesque mountains and many climbing routes.

It is about an hour’s drive from Glasgow to Ardrossan and then an hour on the Macbrayne  ferry with ample time for the famous roll and sausage. The bus connects to the ferry at Brodick and dropped us at Shore Lodge to unpack and settle in. We had a lovely stroll into Brodick to shop for the barbeque food for the next night. The communal dinners are good fun with everybody mucking in and plentiful wine flowing.  We saw the stars from the garden around the bunkhouse. There is  less light pollution here and the galaxy is much brighter. As always we had good weather. We cannot account for the fact that every time we have the July weekend in Arran, the weather is fine. We were back in time from Brodick for afternoon tea at the bistro next door.

As we don’t take the cars over on the ferry, we are completely reliant on the local bus service and all walks and outings have to be co-ordinated with the bus times. On Saturday some of us met up with the Glasgow HF Club to do a circular walk at the Corbett on the north west of the island. We met the club day trippers from the ferry in Brodick and all bussed round to the walk. The walk encompassed the ridge so we ascended the mountain on a good path but the descent was more difficult in rougher ground carrying on to almost complete the ridge and descend towards the road further along. Although the road was in sight it was difficult to reach due to the number of steep sided burns running down to the sea. However, we made it just in time for the bus with me as usual, the Thanks to Frances Rickus for the photos proverbial ‘coos tail’. The BBQ went well in the evening under the stars.

On Sunday some went cycling, some on low level walks, some on the ridge scrambling but I took the ‘tourist route’ up Goatfell,  the highest mountain on the island just short of a Munro. The weather was fine and sunny and the tourist path very busy with people of all ages. When we reached the top, it was time for a little relaxation lying around, enjoying the views and soaking up the sunshine. On the descent, we had views all the way over sea towards the mainland and could see Holy Isle peeping round the corner. As it was the last night, we went out to a local acclaimed seafood restaurant for dinner. Everyone enjoyed the meal and there was no clearing up to do!

The following morning we caught the bus to Brodick and the cyclists returned their hired bikes. The weather was beginning to deteriorate and as usual we mused  we had been so lucky having a fine weekend. We are booked to go over again this July.  Arran is really becoming a home from home! 

Coming attractions; weekends at Glen Nevis and  Corran/Ardgour, the Greenock Cut and wherever else I happen to go!

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