Page 122 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

120  SC O TLAND REGION B Y REGION CENTR AL SC O TLAND  121

1 Firth of Clyde 2 Arran
Numerous counties west of Glasgow. North Ayrshire. * 5000. g from
3 Helensburgh and Dumbarton in Ardrossan to Brodick; from Claonaig
the north; Troon and Ayr in the south. (Mull of Kintyre) to Lochranza (Apr–
g from Largs to Great Cumbrae; Oct only). n Brodick (01770) 303774.
from Gourock to Dunoon. ∑ ayrshire-arran.com
n Helensburgh (01436) 820369.
Arran is thought to have been
As might be expected of populated as long ago as the
a waterway that leads from end of the last Ice Age. The
Glasgow, a former economic island’s Neolithic chambered
powerhouse of the British burial tombs, such as the one
Em pire (see p50), to the Irish at Torrylinn near Lagg in the
Sea and the Atlantic, the Firth south, indicate this. Bronze Age
of Clyde has many reminders stone circles can also be seen The snowy peak of Ben Lomond rising majestically over Loch Lomond, part of the West Highland Way
of its industrial past. Greenock, around Machrie on the west
some 40 km (25 miles) west The old harbour at Brodick, with the coast. Vikings arrived from about 3 Bute site of struggles be tween 4 Loch Lomond
of Glasgow, was once a ship­ Goatfell ridge in the distance AD 800 and exerted an influence Argyll & Bute. * 7,000. g from islanders and Vikings in the West Dunbartonshire, Argyll & Bute,
building centre. Few visit for the for more than four centuries. Wemyss Bay to Rothesay; from 13th century. Over the last Trossachs. 3 Balloch, Tarbet. @
town’s beauty, but the McLean the 1263 battle. A ferry service is After the Battle of Largs in 1263, Colin traive to Rhubodach. @ from 120 years or so, Bute has played Balloch, Balmaha. n Balloch. ∑ loch
Museum and Art Gallery, with offered to Great Cumbrae when Alexander III defeated the Dunoon. n Rothesay (01700) 507043. a more placid role as a popular lomondshores.com National Park
its exhibits and information Island, which lies just off the Norsemen, Scotland bought holiday resort. Visitor Centre, Balmaha: Tel (01389) 722
on the engineer James Watt coast. The main town on the Arran from the Vikings in 1266. Bute is almost an extension of One of Bute’s attractions is 100. ∑ lochlomond-trossachs.com
(see p28), a native of Greenock, island is Millport, which is built Today, visitors tend to come the Cowal Peninsula, and the Mount Stuart House, 5 km
is worth a visit. Princes Pier is around a picturesque bay. to Arran for outdoor pur suits. small ferry from Colintraive (3 miles) south of Roth esay. This Of Scotland’s many lochs,
a departure point for cruises The western side of the Golf is especially popular, takes only five minutes to cross aristocratic house, built in 1877 Lomond is perhaps the most
along the Clyde. Dumbarton, Firth of Clyde is much with seven golf courses the Kyles of Bute to Rhubodach by the third Marquess of Bute, popular and best loved. Lying
24 km (15 miles) from Glasgow less developed, bor­ on the island, including on the island. This route is is set in 18th­century gardens. just 30 km (19 miles) northwest
on the northern bank, dates dered by the Cowal 18­hole courses at a long drive from Glasgow, The features of this Gothic of Glasgow, its accessibility has
from the 5th century AD. Its Peninsula with its Brodick, Whiting Bay however, and most people edifice reflect the Mar quess’s helped its rise to prominence.
ancient castle perches on a rock hills and lochs. The and Lamlash. choose to travel via Wemyss Bay interests in mythology, religion The loch is the largest body of
over looking the rest of the town. only town of note Brodick is the on the Firth of Clyde across to and astronomy. fresh water in the British Isles,
The Firth itself is L­shaped, in this wild country island’s only real town. the island’s main town, Rothesay. 35 km (22 miles) long and 8 km
heading northwest as it opens is Dunoon. Again once a The more mountainous Just 25 km (16 miles) long + Rothesay Castle (5 miles) at its widest point in the
up beyond the Erskine Bridge. Victorian holiday resort, it parts offer some of the by 8 km (5 miles) at its widest Castle Hill St, Rothesay. Tel (01700) south, where there is a scattering
On reaching Gourock, just west still relies on tourism for its most spectacular hill point, Bute has been occupied 502 691. Open Apr–Sep: 9:30am– of over 30 islands, some with
of Greenock, the Firth branches income. For many years walking in Cen tral since at least the Bronze Age. 5:30pm daily; Oct–Mar: 10am– ancient ruins. Duncryne, a small
south to more open water. there was a strong Scotland. The Goatfell The remains of the chapel at 4pm Mon–Wed, Sat & Sun. & hill some 5 km (3 miles) northeast
Kip Marina at nearby Inverkip American influence in ridge to the east of St Ninian’s Point on the west ∑ historicenvironment.scot of Balloch on the southern
is a major yachting centre, while Dunoon due to the Glen Rosa and Beinn coast date from around the 6th + Mount Stuart House shore, gives an excellent view of
many towns on the Ayrshire US nuclear submarine Golfer on the Tarsuinn to the west century, while Rothesay Castle, Mount St. Tel (01700) 503877. the Loch. Much of the area
coast have served as holiday base at Holy Loch that island of Arran have a particular now ruined, is mostly a 12th­ Open Apr–Oct: 11am–5pm daily. & became Scotland’s first national
resorts for Glasgow since is now closed. rugged beauty. century structure and was the 8 7 - ∑ mountstuart.com park in 2002, fronted by a Visitor
Victorian times. Largs, site of the Robert the Bruce stayed on Centre in Balmaha. In Balloch, the
clash between Scots and Vikings E McLean Museum and Art Arran on his return to Scotland Loch Lomond Shores complex
in 1263, has a multimedia centre Gallery in 1307. His followers had has shops and restaurants.
about the Vikings in Scotland, as 15 Kelly St, Greenock. Tel (01475) already been harassing the In general, the western shore
well as a modern monument to 715624. Closed until Aug 2018. garrison at Brodick Castle, then is the more developed, with
occupied by supporters of the villages such as Luss and Tarbet
King of England. Legend states attracting many visitors. The con­
that it was from Arran that Bruce trast between the Loch and Ben
saw a signal fire on the Ayrshire Lomond, 974 m (3,196 ft), high
coast that told him it was safe above its eastern shore adds to
to return to the mainland and the spectacle. Many walkers pass
launch the campaign against this way since Scotland’s most
the English (see p47). Parts of popular long­distance foot path,
the Castle still date from the the West Highland Way (see p199)
13th century, though it has from Glasgow to Fort William,
had many later additions. skirts the eastern shore. Boat
trips around the loch operate
+ Brodick Castle regularly from Balloch Pier. The
Brodick. Tel (01770) 302202. Open area is also good for watersports
May–Sep: 11am–4pm (to 3pm Apr & enthu siasts – speed boats, kayaks
Largs seafront, the departure point for ferries to Great Cumbrae Island Oct); gardens all year. & 7 « View of Bute with 14th-century Kames Castle, at the head of Kames Bay and jet skis can all be rented.
For hotels and restaurants see pp175–6 and pp186–7

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