Just an hour’s scenic ferry ride from the mainland (direct trains from Glasgow to the CalMac terminal take just over 45 minutes), Arran feels a world away, yet is so accessible. The Scottish west coast island produces its own cheese, range of bath and body products, whisky, beer and more. You can visit distilleries, a brewery, a castle, a heritage museum and walk many different beaches with clear lapping water. The gulf stream ensures a mild climate with palm trees and makes Arran a great place to try some paddlesports and wild swimming, while the majestic peaks, such as Goatfell, are ripe for hiking.
Auchrannie Resort
Just minutes from the ferry terminal at Brodick (staff collect guests in liveried vans), Auchrannie is set beside a burn, in the shadow of the mountains. Choose to stay in the spa hotel (best for families), the old house hotel, in a multi-bedroom lodge catering to groups, or at the far reaches of the resort in a couples’ timber-built one-bedroom retreat with a wood burner, a wood-fired hot tub, fire pit and wilderness views. All are within walking distance of the facilities; three restaurants, two pools, two thermal suites, a children’s play barn, an activities centre and games hall and ASPA for treatments.
The Douglas Hotel
Even closer to the ferry (fewer than five minutes walk), The Douglas Hotel is a boutique property overlooking the sea, with just 19 bedrooms, two suites and a lodge catering for four. Its origins date back to 1782 when it catered for the aristocracy; the hotel later became a medical practice and the doctor’s home, but, after falling derelict, was taken on by Sean Henry in 2010. The decor is both classic and fashionable, with plenty of tweed and plaid to reflect local culture. It has a bar and bistro, with a large terrace for boat and seal spotting on warmer days.