Relax and enjoy Scotland’s splendour with Rabbie’s Tours. The Scottish Highlands and Islands are Europe’s last great wilderness so why not escape with Rabbie’s personalised small group tours. Small groups with a maximum of 16 passengers mean you can discover the real Scotland, get off the beaten track and onto the back roads that other tours cannot manage.Your educated driver/guide is there for you, dedicated to making your visit to Scotland memorable and enjoyable whatever your requests.
Full Day Tour – Tour Ref: SCO-GLBS-ARAN-1S
Imagine discovering something. A place so perfect it couldn’t possibly be real. We can only imagine what it must have been like for fishermen and hunters back in the Middle Stone Age, leaving mainland Scotland and exploring this tiny isle for the first time.
It had everything the mainland had. Lochs. Mountains. Beaches. Forest walks. Moors. All neatly tucked into this tiny paradise. And now that man has come to the isle, there are castles and standing stones and everything that makes a country like Scotland iconic.
ITINERARY:
Who doesn’t love saying that they’re heading to an island for the day? Now it’s your turn. Leave the bustling city of Glasgow behind for the day and head with us to Scotland in Miniature. The Isle of Arran has everything that makes Scotland lovable.
You depart Glasgow and head for the coastal town of Ardrossan where you jump on the ferry. This is a beautiful crossing, so get your cameras out, and see if you can spot jellyfish and dolphins along the way.
The ferry touches down in Brodick, Arran’s biggest collection of shops and restaurants. It’s a wee place, just like the whole island, but that’s what we love about Arran. A short drive down the road takes you to the gates of Brodick Castle, the ancient seat of the Dukes of Hamilton.
The castle’s interior could not be further from the surrounding gardens. Inside you’ll find rich Victorian decorations, dark wood, intricately decorated furniture, everything so dramatic and powerful. Make sure you have a chat with the staff inside, they’re full of stories about those who once lived there. For much of its life, the castle has been owned by the Hamilton family and some even say that, to this day, it is haunted by the ‘Grey Lady’, a woman who starved to death in the dungeons of the castle.
Not so cheerful. But then you step outside and explore both the formal garden and the beautiful woodland trails that hug you from all sides.
After a bite to eat, you hop back on the bus and are whisked away to explore more of this beautiful island. But where will you stop? Perhaps you’ll pop in at Lochranza, a quaint village that is home to a ruined castle. Or maybe you’ll swing via Blackwaterfoot, grab a pastry from the local bakery, and have a wee wander along the beach.
By the time you jump back on the ferry at Brodick later that afternoon, you’ll feel as though you know Arran a little bit better and you’ll certainly understand why so many love it fiercely. Maybe you’ll look back at the photos from the day, or perhaps you’ll snack on the cheese and chocolate you sourced from town, as you make your way back to Glasgow.
HIGHLIGHTS:
-Brodick and Brodick CastleHaunted by a ‘Grey Lady’, this Victorian castle is home to treasures both gold and green.
-Isle of ArranShe’s known as ‘Scotland in Miniature’. Why? You can find everything that makes Scotland lovable on this tiny and beautiful island.
LochranzaExplore this gorgeous seaside village, home to a ruined castle.
-BlackwaterfootSeaweed-covered rocks, the gentle wash of waves on a shore, the smell of pastry in the air, Blackwaterfoot is as quaint and quiet as they come.
DEPARTURE POINT:
Buchanan Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow, G2 3NW (Tours will depart from a stand between 23-32).
Inclusions:
Brodick Castle entrance
Exclusions:
Lunch, tips, other attractions
DEPARTURES:
03/05/24-25/10/24: Wednesday ONLY
Tour starts at 8.00hrs and finishes at 19.00hrs approx. (Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior departure time)
