Lochranza Golf
Isle of Arran
Scotland
KA27 8HL

Tel: +44 (01770) 830 273
Fax: +44 (01770) 830 600

Email: office@lochgolf.demon.co.uk
Web site: www.arran.net/lochranza/campsite/index.html

This site on the Isle of Arran is situated in the North of the Island and has its own golf course adjacent.
To get to Arran the easiest way is to sail from Ardrossan. The sail was a pleasant hour and I landed at Brodick on Arran just after 1600 hours. After a quick disembarkation it was off to the site at the northern end of the island.
The roads in the North are not in good condition. They are narrow and bumpy so progress with the van is slow. 20mph was fast enough most of the time. However I eventually arrived and checked in.
Initial impressions were good. The site and golf course is in a natural bay surrounded by hills and looking out to sea. This has the effect of a natural amphitheatre.
There are no formal pitches laid out at Lochranza and they are not numbered. Electric points and water standpipes are scattered round the site. The hard standing area is generally for the use of motor homes. The grass area at the rear is the tent camping area. There are no ehu points on this. The front area is where the caravans are parked. When I visited there were sheep on the site and golf course, although the owner advised me that they were due to be moved the following week. A bit of care is needed not to stand on droppings and get them in the van!
The toilets, showers and laundry are based in portakabin structures and there are also dishwashing facilities. Although the site was quite busy these were always extremely clean. They are a bit dated but provide good hot showers. Perhaps in high season they could get overstretched but I had no bother.
The site is fairly level and with a bit of manoeuvring I was able to avoid using blocks to level. It was bit soggy underfoot but apparently poor weather had preceded me.
The site owner is extremely helpful and runs a small shop with fresh bread and other basics. There is no shop in Lochranza village so for other requirements a visit to the supermarket in Brodick would be necessary. Apparently a travelling butcher visits a couple of times a week.

The Lochranza Hotel is one mile from the site gate and that is about it for the village apart from a ferry point to Tarbert and Claonaig. I walked down there on Saturday night and had a pleasant meal. I think the rest of the village was also there so it is obviously the entertainment centre as well!

North Arran is largely unspoilt. The area is an ideal one for walkers and wild life lovers and that is what the majority of the tent campers appeared to be there for.

For those interested in golf the course is an interesting challenge. The greens are split into two and there are 18 separate tees so you get an 18-hole course in a 9-hole space, if you know what I mean!

Arran itself is not what I expected! The main road runs all round the coast and all the villages are on the coast.
Brodick is the port of entry from Ardrossan and is about mid way down on the Eastern side. From Brodick there is a road cutting across the island to Blackwater Ford. The North is mountainous and unspoilt. The South is more populated and seems to be where the tourism centres are. I was expecting something like the Isle of Man but it is nothing like it.
I would be hard pressed to keep occupied on a week’s holiday but I am not a walker. One day the weather was damp and drizzly till late afternoon so I drove around the island. I would however visit again. I enjoy going to a site where there is a golf course attached.

David Cuff. CLIC. June 2005

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