The Ferry to Arran

And so to a trip that I first took this week in 1980 when I was about 2 months old; The ferry from Ardrossan in Ayrshire to the isle of Arran. Arran is an island in the firth of Clyde (i.e. an island on the outlet of the river Clyde.) Arran is about 50 miles around, and about 10 miles across. It has it’s own island called the Holy Isle, and it’s most prominent point is a peak called Goatfell (874m). You can see Arran from most of Ayrshire, and much of Scotland (I’m told one of the peaks you can see from Ben Lomond is Goatfell)

It is a popular holiday destination for tourists. Among these tourists are my parents. My family went to Arran every year from 1980 to about 1991. I’ve been back a few times as a teenager with a tent and a case of beer, but this is the first time I’ve been to Arran with my parents since 1991. They are over for 2 weeks, but I’m just taking a visit for the weekend. I’ve realised that 1991-2005 is 14 years. I feel old. That’s pre-Pearl Jam.



The ferry itself brings back so many memories. You get the ferry form Ardrossan, which is barely 45 mins from home, yet once you are on the ferry, it feels like you are going to a different country. Even now, stepping foot on the ferry felt so exciting, the smells, the sounds etc. I remember once you were on this ferry as a kid, you felt completely detached from home life.(This was pre mobile phone).

The ferry to Arran is probably the closest place to my home where you can find a wealth of Scottish voices. It’s proximity to Glasgow, means that it is a feasible day trip. Arran is sometimes referred to as “Little Scotland”, because you can get a little taste of everything – mountains, Lochs, distilleries, beaches, castles, fishing, golf, history – everything.



Slowly Ayrshire disappears in the slipstream of waves behind the ferry, and Arran slowly emerges from the cloud. I am standing looking over the whole of Arran, as the Foo Fighters blast on my iPod. I am full of Adrenaline at this island of memories coming closer to me – I forgot how beautiful it was. This really surprised me – I’ve seen this so many times, that I just wanted to sit down and read my Daily Record, but there’s not time for that. Maybe I’ve got a Scotland deficiency problem due to the flatness of Holland. There must be a herbal remedy you can take – I would imagine it is alcohol.