Day 7 Walk distance: 8.3 miles Walk time: ~4.5 hours GPX file KML view on Google Maps
Goatfell from Sannox So we come to the final day, and we still hadn’t made a decision about the towering mass of Goatfell. The plan throughout the week had been to do Goatfell on the last day. There were two reasons for this; one, to do it when we were supposedly at out fittest, and two, to look back from the highest point of Arran on everything we had walked over the course of the week.
Day 6 - Lochranza to SannoxWalk distance: 9.8 milesWalk time: ~6.5 hoursGPX fileKML view on Google Maps
The Arran AlpsSo, the penultimate day, taking in the north coast of Arran as well as a famous scientific landmark. Better yet, our target for the day was, in fact, the very cottage we were staying in! As such, we could leave the heavy weight in our room, and take just one light pack with food, water, and first aid kit.
Day 5 - Pirnmill to LochranzaWalk distance: 7.3 milesWalk time: ~4.5 hoursGPX fileKML view on Google Maps
Clisham Lodge, PirnmillSo after an excellent rest day (involving the joy of buses!), and our delayed-but-not-forgotten meal at the Lagg Hotel, it was time to shoulder the bags again. Over half-way distance-wise, and with the longest day done, we were in good spirits. Doubly so, since this was the shortest day of the walk.
Day 4 - Blackwaterfoot to PirnmillWalk distance: 13 milesWalk time: ~8.5 hoursGPX fileKML view on Google Maps
Setting off towards King's CaveA night's rest had done a hell of a lot to restore my spirits, but as we an excellent breakfast in Blackwaterfoot, and contemplated the OS map in front of us, it was hard not to be a little worried. We had approximately 11 miles to go (an underestimate, as it turned out), and about half of that was by road.
Day 3 - Lagg to BlackwaterfootWalk distance: 7.3 milesWalk time: ~6 hoursGPX fileKML view on Google Maps
Farewell, Lagg!This day was going to be good. Some of the wilder terrain on Arran, not too hilly, just a long way from towns and villages. Nice to get even further away from things. In addition, the distance we estimated to be 8 miles, which after the epic march of the evening before was a welcome relief.
Day 1 - Whiting bay to LaggWalk distance: 13.6 milesWalk time: ~12 hoursGPX fileKML view on Google Maps
Another glorious day, and another large breakfast - required though, as we set off on our longest day, both by distance and time. The issue was that we had two tidal sections to do - first, the boulder field at Dippen Head (which has an optional inland route if it's a problem) and the coast at Black Cave (which doesn't).
Day 1 - Brodick to Whiting bayWalk distance: 11.1 milesWalk time: ~8 hoursGPX fileKML view on Google Maps
Rothwell Lodge(Apologies for the text spacing, it seems necessary to insert a lot of blank lines to make the photos line up properly in Blogger. If anyone's got tips for doing it better, let me know)
The first day of our epic walk started with sunshine blazing in through the window - it was clear, blue, and going to be hot.