A day out to Brodick
There’s so much to see and do in North Ayrshire we know that lots of you could happily spend all of your holidays just exploring the area. We know we’re biased, but we never get tired of the views from Crosbie Towers – thankfully we’re not alone in that!
You may wonder why we’re trying to send you further afield, but when it comes to the Isle of Arran we promise it’s worth it. You’ve probably heard Arran being referred to as ‘Scotland in miniature’ and it’s a fitting description.
You could easily spend your holiday exploring Arran, but you’ll want to get back to your caravan eventually, so we’d recommend taking the car and getting on the ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick. The crossing, via CalMac ferries, takes 55 minutes so you can stretch your legs and enjoy the scenery. You can even get yourself a cup of tea or some breakfast if you’ve set out early. The ferries start from 7am so you can really make a day of it. Watch the timetable though as the last ferry varies depending on the day – as lovely as Brodick is we wouldn’t want you to get stuck!
Scotland in Miniature
Brodick itself is a real gem with loads to do for all the family. We’d definitely recommend a visit to Brodick Castle. The castle itself is Victorian with beautiful displays of paintings, porcelain and sporting trophies among other things. It also has stunning landscaped gardens and the only island country park in the whole of the UK so you can wander around the woodland trails to your heart’s content. You might even find some waterfalls.
If you’re feeling particularly active you could go from the castle to Goatfell, Arran’s highest peak. The views are pretty good even if you don’t fancy the climb. If you’re a real ale fan with a designated driver you could also pay a visit to Arran Brewery to sample their wares or have a guided tour.
Arran is a real magnet for golfers with courses that can challenge even low handicap players. There’s an 18-hole course in Brodick with more courses further afield if you’ve the time.
If you need to entertain younger members of the family we hear that the Playbarn is great fun, with soft play, Wi-Fi, and a teen zone as well as refreshments for kids and tired parents.
The Isle of Arran Heritage Museum is also well worth a visit. The site itself once had a school but that made way for farm buildings which were eventually developed to house the museum. You’ll find exhibits showing the social history, archaeology and geology of the area. Lots of them are ‘hands on’ too.
When you’re ready for something to eat, Brodick has plenty of places to choose from. There’ll be something to suit, whether you’re in the mood for a simple café lunch, a family friendly pub or fine dining in a seafood restaurant or bistro. Of course, whatever you choose you can always pick up a takeaway in Ardrossan when you get off the ferry and enjoy it back in your caravan after a long and interesting day.
We hope we’ve inspired you to go exploring. If you find a lovely place that we haven’t mentioned we’d love to hear about it.