You can guess how I feel about Arran when – as a travel writer who has been to over 100 countries – I choose to head back across the water to this most magical of islands every year. If somehow you’ve never been, or just haven’t been for a while, 2022 is a great year to sweep off to this special all-rounder island. There is loads going on, from old favourites, to new attractions and one-off events. What are you waiting for?

1. Arran is Scotland in Miniature – Yes, ok you may just think this is just a tourist slogan, but Arran really is. The Highland Boundary Fault surges right through Arran. To the north the earth is forged into hulking hills, tumbling glens and raging burns and rivers. Ease south and nature takes on a gentler Lowlands hue. We’re talking an oasis of sandy beaches, rolling hills, dense forest and fertile farmland.

2. To hear a good story – Arran is an island that swirls in stories and legend. Was it on Arran in the ‘King’s Cave’ that Robert the Bruce saw the determined spider that inspired him to forge on and liberate his country from English dominion? We’ll probably never know, but it’s certainly the most dramatic setting of any of the contenders I’ve seen. Arran is celebrated as offering a rich palette for artists to play with, but it also inspires storytellers so it’s an ideal place to head during this designated Year of Stories Scotland 2022. Keep an eye out on events on Arran to mark this special year – they will be flagged up on the What’s On section of this website and also in the Arran Banner newspaper.

3. Soar off snorkelling – Did you know you can snorkel off Arran? Or that there are designated snorkelling trails? To be fair I didn’t until last year when my family were some of the first people ever to try them out. It was brilliant fun! The new Isle of Arran Snorkel Trail is the brainchild of COAST (The Community of Arran Seabed Trust) and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Half a dozen sites are dotted around the island, each offering its own swathe of flora and fauna. To learn more check out either of those aforementioned websites, or read my snorkel blog.

4. Tackle your own Tour de Arran – Arran is paradise for cyclists. Roll off the ferry in either Brodick or Lochranza and you are right on the circular road that hugs Arran’s coast right around, with only a few short forays slightly inland. It is 56 miles all the way round, so manageable in a day if you are reasonably fit. I recommend staying longer and splitting your trip to allow time to properly explore. If you’re setting off south from Brodick then Blackwaterfoot is a good overnight base out west, or if you’re fit, scoop up over The String mountain road back to Brodick at the end of day one, before returning to Blackwaterfoot to start on the second day. The hilly hinterland and the forests also offer great mountain bike opportunities.

5. Savour Great Food – I’ve been waxing lyrical about how great Arran is for food for years and it really just gets better and better. The legendary Drift Inn has just had a great revamp with a superb outdoor area, while creative seafood restaurant Mara Fish Bar & Deli is a real star in Corrie. At the hotels Auchrannie has the best range of dining on Arran, while I’m a huge fan of the Kilbrannan Restaurant at the Kinloch in Blackwaterfoot. Learn more about the island’s world-class produce – everything from award-winning cheese and ice cream, through to those delicious wee ‘oaties’ - from Taste of Arran.

6. Savour Great Drinks – Arran’s drinks producers are catching up with the island’s foodie pioneers. As well as the established Lochranza Distillery in the north, the same people have opened the new Lagg Distillery in the south, focusing more on richly flavoured peaty malts. Both distilleries offer visitor experiences and great eats. Then there are a brace of breweries: old timer Arran Brewery near Brodick Castle, and the new Seagate Brewery next door to the Drift Inn in Lamlash. On the shore near Brodick Castle Arran Botanical Drinks offer their own gin and cassis at the island’s only beach bar.

7. Arran is Scotland’s Events Island – Yes, I know Covid has ravaged many an event across the world in recent years. But when they can take place Arran is home to some brilliant events. Look out for music festivals – these range from the Arran Music Festival and Music Arran, through to the Arran Folk Festival, with culture vultures attracted by the McLellan Arts Festival in September and the Arran Drama Festival each February. Arran Open Studios throw open the creative spaces of local artists in August so you can meet them in their places of work. On the sporty front we’re talking trail runs, ultra marathons, Arran Sportive, Rugby 7s and Cricket 6s! The island even has its own football team, who play regularly in Brodick, and don't forget Arran Farmers' Show and Brodick Highland Games in August.

8. Arran’s New Farmers' Market – This is a great new idea from the bright, creative team at Bellevue Farm in the Shiskine Valley, Arran’s farming heartland. They themselves bring some superb produce to the table from their cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. They are bringing swathes of Arran’s great produce under one roof from other suppliers too in their impressive new barn. Check out their website for dates.

9. See the Wildlife Big Five – Arran is the only island in Scotland where you can see all of Scotland’s wildlife ‘Big Five’ in the wild. For harbour seals I recommend heading to the wee bays around Merklands Point, while for red squirrels there is an ace new hide in the grounds of Brodick Castle that attracts these cute bushy-tailed stars. For red deer Lochranza is spot on as you often see stags wandering down from the hills as far as the golf course and even the shore. Glen Rosa is my top tip for golden eagle spotting, but anywhere in the hills often offers up a good chance of a sighting. Otters are the most elusive of the quintet – I’ve spotted them most regularly on the west coast between Machrie and Pirnmill. Even beyond the Big Five you can look out for massive sea eagles, dolphins, whales and basking sharks.

10. There’s somewhere to stay to suit you – Accommodation on Arran these days runs the whole gamut. There is campervan capacity in Brodick and campsites around the island. The east coast is alive with B&Bs and also home to the only real resort in the Scottish isles at Auchrannie. I’m a big fan of Kinloch Hotel in Blackwaterfoot with its friendly welcome, swimming pool and ace views out over the Kilbrannan Sound. A wildcard is glamping with Arran Alpacas at Balmichael. This family-friendly oasis is run by a lovely young couple. Choose from wooden pods, or treat yourself to a more luxurious safari-tyle tent. They’ve got a wood-fired hot tub and, yes, alpacas too.

You can guess how I feel about Arran when – as a travel writer who has been to over 100 countries – I choose to head back across the water to this most magical of islands every year. If somehow you’ve never been, or just haven’t been for a while, 2022 is a great year to sweep off to this special all-rounder island. There is loads going on, from old favourites, to new attractions and one-off events. What are you waiting for?

1. Arran is Scotland in Miniature – Yes, ok you may just think this is just a tourist slogan, but Arran really is. The Highland Boundary Fault surges right through Arran. To the north the earth is forged into hulking hills, tumbling glens and raging burns and rivers. Ease south and nature takes on a gentler Lowlands hue. We’re talking an oasis of sandy beaches, rolling hills, dense forest and fertile farmland.

2. To hear a good story – Arran is an island that swirls in stories and legend. Was it on Arran in the ‘King’s Cave’ that Robert the Bruce saw the determined spider that inspired him to forge on and liberate his country from English dominion? We’ll probably never know, but it’s certainly the most dramatic setting of any of the contenders I’ve seen. Arran is celebrated as offering a rich palette for artists to play with, but it also inspires storytellers so it’s an ideal place to head during this designated Year of Stories Scotland 2022. Keep an eye out on events on Arran to mark this special year – they will be flagged up on the What’s On section of this website and also in the Arran Banner newspaper.

3. Soar off snorkelling – Did you know you can snorkel off Arran? Or that there are designated snorkelling trails? To be fair I didn’t until last year when my family were some of the first people ever to try them out. It was brilliant fun! The new Isle of Arran Snorkel Trail is the brainchild of COAST (The Community of Arran Seabed Trust) and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Half a dozen sites are dotted around the island, each offering its own swathe of flora and fauna. To learn more check out either of those aforementioned websites, or read my snorkel blog.

4. Tackle your own Tour de Arran – Arran is paradise for cyclists. Roll off the ferry in either Brodick or Lochranza and you are right on the circular road that hugs Arran’s coast right around, with only a few short forays slightly inland. It is 56 miles all the way round, so manageable in a day if you are reasonably fit. I recommend staying longer and splitting your trip to allow time to properly explore. If you’re setting off south from Brodick then Blackwaterfoot is a good overnight base out west, or if you’re fit, scoop up over The String mountain road back to Brodick at the end of day one, before returning to Blackwaterfoot to start on the second day. The hilly hinterland and the forests also offer great mountain bike opportunities.

5. Savour Great Food – I’ve been waxing lyrical about how great Arran is for food for years and it really just gets better and better. The legendary Drift Inn has just had a great revamp with a superb outdoor area, while creative seafood restaurant Mara is a real star in Corrie. At the hotels Auchrannie has the best range of dining on Arran, while I’m a huge fan of the Kilbrannan Restaurant at the Kinloch in Blackwaterfoot. Learn more about the island’s world-class produce – everything from award-winning cheese and ice cream, through to those delicious wee ‘oaties’ - from Taste of Arran.

6. Savour Great Drinks – Arran’s drinks producers are catching up with the island’s foodie pioneers. As well as the established Lochranza Distillery in the north, the same people have opened the new Lagg Distillery in the south, focusing more on richly flavoured peaty malts. Both distilleries offer visitor experiences and great eats. Then there are a brace of breweries: old timer Arran Brewery near Brodick Castle, and the new Seagate Brewery next door to the Drift Inn in Lamlash. On the shore near Brodick Castle Arran Botanical Drinks offer their own gin and cassis at the island’s only beach bar.

7. Arran is Scotland’s Events Island – Yes, I know Covid has ravaged many an event across the world in recent years. But when they can take place Arran is home to some brilliant events. Look out for music festivals – these range from the Arran Music Festival and Music Arran, through to the Arran Folk Festival, with culture vultures attracted by the McLellan Arts Festival in September and the Arran Drama Festival each February. Arran Open Studios throw open the creative spaces of local artists in August so you can meet them in their places of work. On the sporty front we’re talking trail runs, ultra marathons, Arran Sportive, Rugby 7s and Cricket 6s! The island even has its own football team, who play regularly in Brodick.

8. Arran’s New Farmers' Market – This is a great new idea from the bright, creative team at Bellevue Farm in the Shiskine Valley, Arran’s farming heartland. They themselves bring some superb produce to the table from their cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. They are bringing swathes of Arran’s great produce under one roof from other suppliers too in their impressive new barn. Check out their website for dates.

9. See the Wildlife Big Five – Arran is the only island in Scotland where you can see all of Scotland’s wildlife ‘Big Five’ in the wild. For harbour seals I recommend heading to the wee bays around Merklands Point, while for red squirrels there is an ace new hide in the grounds of Brodick Castle that attracts these cute bushy-tailed stars. For red deer Lochranza is spot on as you often see stags wandering down from the hills as far as the golf course and even the shore. Glen Rosa is my top tip for golden eagle spotting, but anywhere in the hills often offers up a good chance of a sighting. Otters are the most elusive of the quintet – I’ve spotted them most regularly on the west coast between Machrie and Pirnmill. Even beyond the Big Five you can look out for massive sea eagles, dolphins, whales and basking sharks.

10. There’s somewhere to stay to suit you – Accommodation on Arran these days runs the whole gamut. There is campervan capacity in Brodick and campsites around the island. The east coast is alive with B&Bs and also home to the only real resort in the Scottish isles at Auchrannie. I’m a big fan of Kinloch Hotel in Blackwaterfoot with its friendly welcome, swimming pool and ace views out over the Kilbrannan Sound. A wildcard is glamping with Arran Alpacas at Balmichael. This family-friendly oasis is run by a lovely young couple. Choose from wooden pods, or treat yourself to a more luxurious safari-tyle tent. They’ve got a wood-fired hot tub and, yes, alpacas too.