And your holiday really does begin here.

Friendly staff, great fresh coffee, dog friendly and that amazing feeling of 'leaving it all behind' and heading off to one of Scotland's most accessible islands.

Caledonian MacBrayne operate regular daily trips to and from the Isle of Arran from the port at Ardrossan in North Ayrshire, and fares are now substantially reduced. Cars are over 50% cheaper (compared to a standard single) whilst passengers are nearly 30% better off.

Beach, fell, forrest or path, it's going to be a good one, and Arran certainly has something for everyone no matter what your ability is. The mighty Goatfell rising to 874 meters or the gentle flat stroll along 'Fisherman's Walk' and many more in-between

Kit out the children (yes it might rain!) and they'll forget their game wizards and iboxes (sic) as they get immersed in the wonderment of waterfalls and wildlife.
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Yes, Arran does a fantastic job with locally produced fare, but don't think our island is behind the times when it comes to creating mouth watering contemporary dishes in great surroundings.

Wherever you are on Arran you will not be far away from a cafe, bistro or restaurant that prides itself on preparing fresh ingredients with a touch of creative flare.

Do check on opening times if you are visiting out of season!

And you have so much to choose from!

The north of the island, in and around Lochranza, you are bound to come across Red Deer.These will be either roaming the fell on the way to 'Fairy Dell' or on the golf course, and if you are really lucky you may just get a glimpse of the Golden Eagles by the distillery.

Although found in other areas of the coast, Seals are best discovered on the outcrops of rock in the south at Kildonan Bay.

In Brodick, on the 'Fisherman's Walk', you could be only meters away from one or two Herons, and really the list goes on; Red Squirrel; Sea Otters; Harriers; Dolphins; Gannets . . . 

I don't think I'm going to shatter anyone's illusions by saying that if you visit Arran in Autumn you may get a shower or two!

The great thing about island weather, is one minute is never the same as the next and sunshine with rain equals rainbows. If you're fortunate you may get a full panorama like this one, or maybe a double arc heavily saturated against a moody black sky.

Enjoy them!

I let our dogs out a night or two ago, for a last wander before bed. The sky was clear with abundant stars, and over the field, in the glow from our outside light, the owl was skimming the bracken.

I watched for a minute or so, spotting his/her return, passing the end of our house to the favourite perching place on the barn opposite.

Now I'd like to think that this is a pose to camera, but 'Robin' does appear in this photograph to sadly only have one leg, throwing balance out, hence the quirky lean to the left. If anyone knows otherwise (that owls have a unique way of resting a leg out of sight) I'd love to know!

GH.

As I pulled back the curtains last Sunday morning, grateful for the extra hour in bed, it seemed I was not the only one!

Clearly visible in the daylight, not one, as before, (see earlier blog post) but two Barn Owls, eyes closed snoozing away the morning. I ran upstairs to our son's room, which is virtually opposite their wall hole, and captured this amazing image.

I'd love them to be one male and one female. They can then be affectionately known as 'Robin' and 'Virginia' after our guests who spotted we had an Owl the week before. Anyone reading this who knows anything about Owl gender please let us know! (Quite liking the idea of an Owl called 'Robin'!).

GH

We had been hearing strange 'rasping' noises outside our barn for a week or two, usually around dusk. I had been meaning to go and take a look, but it was our guests in Green Brae who pointed out that we had an Owl in residence!

The next evening I set up camera/tripod/flash with the longest lens I had available (300mm), pre-focused on the hole - where I was told it appeared from - and waited . . . 

As the light fell I started to see a blurred shape emerging from behind the rock. With still just enough ambient light available, the view through my lens revealed the character you see here and, as he/she(?) peered out I capture this image.

A moment or two later and the Owl moved forward and took flight from the barn, a picture I missed.  As it circled above in the still clear azure twilight, a silhouette of outstretched wings, I felt so privileged to witness such a creature for the first time. 

With virtually no light left to see by and, as I had moved the camera no chance to focus again on the hole, I thought I caught the presence of another shape. A second Owl? But more of that later!

Yesterday, while out with the dogs in Brodick, we took a stroll down 'Fisherman's Walk', the meandering pathway that many will find on their first time on Arran. A warm day. The light jacket already retired to the rucksack.

We sat on the shore drinking coffee from the flask and munching on salted caramel cookies just purchased from the Co-op. Effie (our Airedale) busily digging around me so I'm left on a small mound of sand and Lenny (a Giant Schnauzer) relaxes in the first few metres of the gentle sea.

On our return, two swans majestically glide overhead and make a graceful perfect landing on the waters of the calm inlet that rises and falls during tides. I'm blown away. I love seeing ducks land on water and these two giant Royal birds of the air descending in front of me is a moment to savour.