Mountain Walking Holiday on the Isle of Arran, Scotland

Meeting Time: From 9am - your Large Outdoors host will meet you in Glasgow, or at the Ferry Terminal in Ardrossan - please see Pickup options below.

Pickups (Day 1): when booking you can let us know which of the two Pickup locations below you’d like to be collected from.

Glasgow City Centre (Hotel) 9am at the ibis Styles, Glasgow Central, 116 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 7DN. Please note: a discount code for this hotel is available if you plan to stay in Glasgow the night before/after the trip - details will be shown on your booking confirmation email.

Glasgow International Airport 9:15am at the Pick-up & Drop-off area located outside the main terminal building in Car Park 2.

Ardrossan Ferry Terminal 11am at the main entrance/ticket office, Ardrossan, KA22 8ED. If you’re planning to drive this is a convenient option - especially when coming from the south - that avoids going into the centre of Glasgow. Long-stay parking (charges apply) is available at the Ferry Terminal. We can meet you here and transfer your luggage to the Large Outdoors vehicle before check-in for the ferry.

Returning to Glasgow (Day 4): We can return you to Glasgow on the final day. We aim to be back in Glasgow between 4-5pm and can drop you back in the city centre or at the airport. Please book onward travel accordingly, to allow for flexibility with the return time to the city centre or airport - we (sadly!) can’t control the traffic.

Please note in in January / February each year the ferry times are released and this may result in some slight changes to these times.

We’ll base ourselves at the excellent Lochranza Youth Hostel for this getaway, heading out each day on in the Large Outdoors vehicle to explore Arran. The hostel accommodation offers comfortable rooms, shared living and dining area, a handy drying room and Wi-Fi.

Bedding and a towel is provided, but don’t forget to bring your own toiletries.

Room Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin Room (en-suite)

At this hostel there are primarily Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared). There are also some Twin Rooms with two single beds, which sleep up to two participants booking together (bathrooms are en-suite).

Included:

• Pickup service from Glasgow or you can meet us in Ardrossan - see the Meeting Location & Time section above.

• 3 nights’ accommodation at Lochranza Youth Hostel.

• A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you and deal with the logistics for your experience.

• Guided walks on 3 days of the trip.

• A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).

• A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Days 2 & 3.

• Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.

• Bedding and towels - but don’t forget your own toiletries.

• The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

• Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

Not Included:

• Travel to and from the meeting locations.

• Dinner on 3 evenings - we’ll book a table at a local pub or restaurant to enjoy dinner as a group and you can purchase whatever you fancy from the menu available.

• Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost, e.g. visitor attractions.

• Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

• Alcoholic drinks - there’ll be opportunities to pick up some local tipples during the trip.

• Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

• Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

As with all ferry travel, departure is reliant on timetables, which sometimes do have to change after publishing and/or after we have made bookings and communicated timings with you. Travel is also subject to suitable weather conditions, so it is possible that unforeseen delays or cancellations may occur.

If our outward journey to Arran is delayed or cancelled, meaning we must stay an additional night(s) in or near Ardrossan, Large Outdoors will attempt to arrange accommodation and the relevant costs will be charged to you (or you are welcome to source your own accommodation).

If our return journey to Ardrossan on the mainland is delayed or cancelled, meaning we must stay an additional night(s) on Arran, accommodation and food will be arranged by Large Outdoors and the relevant costs will be charged to you.

Large Outdoors cannot accept responsibility for any delays to onward journeys, or additional costs incurred by ferry changes or cancellations. Please ensure you have suitable travel insurance in place to enable you to recover such costs, as per our Terms & Conditions.

Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.

The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.

• What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is graded as Active Plus. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.

• Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

• I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian meals, vegan meals, provide meals with gluten* free ingredients, and/or provide dairy* free meals - these options can be selected when booking. This particular experience offers a little more flexibility catering wise, as evening meals are taken at local restaurants, so please contact us if you’d like to check whether it is suitable for your dietary needs.
*Please see our general FAQs for more information about dietary options.

• What transport is provided during this experience?
We offer transport with a Pickup service (see Meeting Location & Time section above) and transfers from the accommodation to the activity start points.

• Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.

The Isle of Arran is the most southerly of Scotland’s Hebrides islands. Often referred to as ‘Scotland in miniature’, Arran boasts spectacular geological, historical, and wildlife sights around every corner. It’s an island of stunning coastal paths, dramatic hills and mountains, rivers, lochs, and beautiful beaches.

The island is famous for its culinary delights, including creamy cheeses, traditional oatcakes, locally brewed beers, and ice cream. Arran whisky, distilled on the island, is renowned amongst dram-lovers around the world.