Connoisseurs of Arran

Lochranza, 10th August 2017 – We leave England, aiming for Arran Island. In Ardrossan we cross the Firth of Clyde to Brodick. It is cold and grey and the sun plays hide-and-seek. Caledonion MacBrayne carefully ferry cars and passengers to and from the islands in the West of Scotland. From Brodick we follow the coastal route of Arran. The weather has improved and in Lamlash, in front of Holy Isle, we test the crystal clear water. Icy, no swimming without wetsuit possible! We continue our trip and at some point, the road cuts through a golf course. We see a woman aiming for a flag close to the sea. I slow down, but she spots us and waits with her swing. The end of today’s journey is Lochranza, a village with a castle ruin on the mud flats of the bay. We sleep in Castlekirk Arthouse, a bed and breakfast in a converted church. It is full of paintings and sculptures of an artist collective. Our host Vicki shows us to our attic rooms. We have dinner in the nearby Lochranza Country Inn. Behind the bar there is an impressive collection of whiskey. It is pretty full and we have a standing pint. Sabine and Karin take the only two available chairs at a table, joining two older men just finishing their dinner. When they leave the table, we join our spouses. The old connoisseurs left half a bottle of fine red wine for them on the table. Flattered, our wives giggle the rest of the night... Back in Castlekirk we have tea in what I think was the sanctuary of the church.  After that I fall asleep and do not wake up once during the night. Long time since I had a baby sleep like that. 

Wild deer graze in front of Castlekirk Arthouse, Arran (FDC)

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