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Where: Torrylin Cairn on the Isle of
Arran
When: July 2013
Who: Mark, Louise, Lee and Millie the
dog
Why: Visiting Ayrshire so a day out to
Arran
Weather: Sunny
Distance: about 1 mile round trip
The image below is of the Arran ferry
Caledonian Isles arriving at
Ardrossan. It costs about £8 per
person for a day return on the ferry, and
about £33 per return for a car, so
many people park in the large car park next
to the pier for a few pounds per day,
rather than take the car. If you are taking
a car at weekends or in the school holiday
season, it is best to pre-book, as the
ferry can be fully booked then.
We were being given a tour round the
south side of the Island by relations, to
the Glenashdale Falls at Whiting Bay, the
Torrylin Cairn at Kilmory on the southwest
side of the Island, and to Blackwaterfoot
for the beach, so took the car.
The image below is from the ferry car
park right next to the pier, it only costs
between 2 and 3 pounds per day to park
here.
Ardrossan Train Station is situated less
than half of a mile south of the ferry
terminal. You can normally buy train/ferry
tickets together with a discount. Train/Ferry
Map.
The first ferry normally departs
Ardrossan at 07.00 and the next at 09.45.
Afternoon ferries leaving Brodick are
normally 16.40 and 19.20. In summer, there
is also a smaller ferry that runs so there
will be more crossings available. Price
checks and timetables for the ferry can be
found at the ferry website:
calmac.co.uk/destinations/arran.
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The image below is of one of the
restaurants on board the ferry. The
crossing takes about 1 hour to Brodick, so
we had plenty of time for breakfast.
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The image below is from the ferry when
approaching Brodick. There should be buses
waiting at the Brodick Ferry Terminal for
the all the larger ferry crossings if you
do not take the car. Note, there are no
buses that run to suit the first early
ferry though?
The bus stops are right next to the
ferry terminal and there should be three
buses sitting waiting. One goes north to
Cladach, Brodick Castle, Corrie, Sannox,
Lochranza and round to Blackwaterfoot.
Another goes straight over to
Blackwaterfoot via the mountain road, and
the other goes south to Lamlash, Whiting
Bay, Kildonan, Kilmory, Lagg and round to
Blackwaterfoot.
Bus
Website
If you miss the bus, or are on the early
ferry, A.R.C. Private
Hire are based in Brodick. Tel: 0777
608 2752.
Lamlash based Taxi and mini bus hire
call George on 07967 587 481.
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The image below is of the Public Hall
and car park at Kilmory, on the southwest
of Arran, about 17 miles from Brodick. We
went to the Glenashdale Falls at Whiting
Bay then round the south coast of Arran to
here.
You can park the car at the hall here,
and there are bus stops in Kilmory and at
the Lagg Hotel about 200 hundred yards down
the road.
There is now a trail from the Public
Hall out to the Torrylin Cairn with the
information board stating that trail can be
wheelchair friendly. Kilmory Google
Map
Arran Attractions Map
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The image below is from about 200 yards
down the road from the Kilmory Public Hall
showing the Kilmory Stores and Post
Office.
The main trail for the Torrylin Cairn
starts here with the sign stating it is 800
yards out to the cairn.
We decided to leave from here as that
was the trail I had read about.
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The image below is after clearing the
trees on the woodland path and seeing the
Torrylin Cairn and the Isle of Ailsa Craig
in the distance.
We passed a path on the left on the
trail out, that was probably the path from
the Kilmory Public Hall joining this main
trail.
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The image below is of the Lagg Hotel
just over the bridge from the Kilmory
Stores, about 50 yards. The Hotel has a
large beer garden, ideal for refreshments
after a walk.
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The walk to the Torrylin Cairn from the
Kilmory Stores is steady uphill following
the woodland path, then levels out the rest
of the way. The Trail from the Kilmory
Public Hall will probably be more level all
the way.
It was back in the car after this walk
and a refreshment, then up the west coast
to Blackwaterfoot for a couple of hours at
the beach.
For more information on Arran, Lagg and
Kilmory, visit the Tour of
Arran Page.
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