Hotels in Isle of Arran

Where to base yourself on Arran usually comes down to whether you have a car and what you want the island to revolve around. Brodick, as the ferry port, is the easiest option for visitors arriving on foot, putting shops, a golf course and the castle grounds within walking distance and leaving the island's bus network on your doorstep for day trips further afield. It also has the widest spread of accommodation, from a large employee-owned resort with pools and spa facilities to boutique hotels a few minutes from the pier and long-established guest houses on quiet side streets.

Further round the coast, Lamlash offers a calmer alternative with sea views towards Holy Isle and a strong choice of places to eat, while Lochranza in the north suits anyone building a trip around the distillery, the castle ruins and the red deer that graze the golf course each evening. The west and south coasts, around Blackwaterfoot and Kilmory, are quieter again and better suited to golfers, families after a beach base, and visitors touring by car who don't need to be near the ferry. Wherever you choose, distances on Arran are short enough that no location puts the rest of the island far out of reach, so it is worth picking a base on character and view rather than worrying too much about central position.