Brodick: Popular gateway town to Isle of Arran, Scotland



Brodick with snow-capped Goat Fell in distance.

This evening, I am focusing on Brodick, principal town on the Isle of Arran with population of less than 1000.

The name ‘Brodick’ is derived from the Old Norse for 'Broad Bay' and points to the period up to the mid-13th century when large tracts of the West of Scotland were under Norwegian control.

Video clip of Brodick Bay, Arran.



Arran is often called ‘Scotland in Miniature’ and attracts large numbers of visitors who arrive at Brodick via a 1 hour ferry ride from Ardrossan on the mainland, in turn relatively close to Glasgow.

The key attractions and facilities at/near Brodick include:
  • Scenic bay.
  • Key ferry link to the island, from Ardrossan on the Scottish mainland.
  • Shopping: The widest range of shops on Arran.
  • Brodick Castle: Dates from the 13th century and together with extensive grounds is open to visitors.
  • Goat Fell: A mountain which dominates the local scenery. This is accessible to most hikers. The name derives from the Old Norse for ‘goat hill’. The rugged peak is a function of frost shattering during the last ice-age when Goat Fell and some other peaks on Arran remained above the ice sheets.
  • A wide range of lodgings including hotels, B&Bs and Guest Houses.
  • Craft beer producer.
  • Golf: An 18 hole links course.
  • Some well- preserved examples of prehistoric rock art.
  • Arran Heritage Museum featuring social history, genealogy, archaeology, archives, Viking heritage and geology.

Ferry approaching Brodick


Brodick Castle


Goatfell (2,867ft).


View from Club House at Brodick Golf Club


Isle of Arran Brewery

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more