Isle of Arran - tour description
Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, is known as 'Scotland in miniature'. Some of the best hill walking in Britain, indeed in Europe, is found in the north of the island where a massif of steep and wild granite peaks is penetrated by deep glens, natural home of the red deer.

Our individually researched and carefully described walks include the famous Goat Fell (2866 feet), the glacially-scoured U-shaped valleys of Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, coastal trails along the 'raised beaches' of the north and west of the island where you are likely to encounter more seals basking on the inter-tidal rocks than humans on the trail, the high and little-visited hills above Pirnmill on the west coast and the amazing array of prehistoric stone circles and standing stones at Machrie. One year two of our customers saw an otter.

Arran, the remnant of an eroded volcano, is a wonderland for anyone interested in geology, and one of our walks takes you past the famous 'unconformity' recognised near Lochranza by the pioneer James Hutton in the 18th century. While at Lochranza you will also have a chance to visit Scotland's newest Malt Whisky distillery.

Previous clients have remarked on the very high quality of our accommodation in Arran - an important factor for the occasional day when the cloud is down on the hills, or when you just want to relax and admire the scenery out of the lounge room windows.

' The walks are very [well] described and chosen...The accommodations...might have been a bit less luxurious and still very acceptable'.. [we saw] lots of deer, seals, an otter, gannets'. Ms A Oegema.

Isle of Arran (Scotland) - tour details 2004
A Discerning Traveller self-led hiking holiday
Duration. 6 nights.
Tour code. A6.
Dates. May to September.
Grade/qualifications. Demanding. The days are not long but the terrain and climate make this tour for experienced hikers only. Single travellers not accepted. Basic skill with map and compass is essential - and a good pair of boots!
Nearest international airports. Glasgow and Prestwick. Linked to Ardrossan by regular train service(1 hour).
Train station. Ardrossan on Scottish mainland, then regular (4 or 5 services per day) ferry to Brodick on Arran.
Overnight stops. 1, 2 Sannox or Corrie; 3, 4, 5, 6 Lochranza.
Accommodation. Guest houses/small hotel. On the basic tour en suite/private facilities are not guaranteed. However on payment of a supplement en suite/private facilities can be guaranteed throughout the tour.
Meals included. 6 breakfasts. Other meals can be obtained locally. At Sannox one evening meal may be pre-booked; customers then pay for this meal on arrival.
Extra nights. Our programme contains more carefully described walks than can be completed in one week! Why not stay a bit longer! Extra nights can be included at time of booking. Please enquire for rates.
Factsheets. These are more detailed information sheets, one for each tour, which can be obtained from The Discerning Traveller before booking. The factsheet code for our self-led Isle of Arran tour is FSA. Enquiry form

Isle of Arran (self-led) - tour price 2004

£295 per person on basis of two people in double or twin-bedded rooms. 6 nights bed and breakfast, with baggage transfer, maps and route directions.
Single traveller supplement. Not available for single travellers.
Supplements for en-suite/private facilities throughout. Please enquire.

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Isle of Arran (Scotland) - escorted tour 2004
A Discerning Traveller escorted hiking holiday
Duration. 6 nights.
Tour code: A6E.
The Discerning Traveller also offers an 'escorted' (i.e. guided by a leader) version of the Isle of Arran hiking holiday. The duration (6 nights) is the same as for the self-guided tour but the whole trip is based in one centre, close to the beautiful inlet of Lochranza. The hiking routes are essentially the same as for the self-guided tour, with five full days hiking on offer, but the sequence of days may be different and the programme is in any case subject to modification on account of weather conditions.
Included in the tour price are bed and breakfast, services of a leader throughout the tour, and local transport costs in connection with the walks. Other meals can be obtained locally without pre-booking.
Customers will be met off the ferry at Brodick on arrival and returned to the ferry at the end of the tour. In 2004 we are offering one fixed date for this tour, starting on the afternoon of Sunday 5th September and ending on the morning of Saturday 11th September.
Single travellers are accepted.
On this occasion we will run the tour with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 10 customers, but ready made groups of 4 or more (maximum 10) interested in the escorted tour on any other date during our season (May to September) should enquire as to availability.

Isle of Arran (escorted) - tour price 2004

£385 per person on basis of two people in double or twin-bedded rooms. 6 nights bed and breakfast, local transfers during the tour, services of leader.
Single traveller supplement: £60.
Supplements for en-suite/private facilities throughout. Please enquire.

Other walks for experienced hikers are our Lake District Mountains and Highland Wilderness tours.
Also in Scotland are the following Discerning Traveller tours:
West Highland Way North and Highland Wilderness
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Our postal address is The Discerning Traveller, 38 Canal Street, Oxford OX2 6BQ, United Kingdom. Telephone and Fax 0(044)1865 515618. E-mail:info@discerningtraveller.co.uk