Arran Coastal Way

On Wednesday 9th December a new, beautifully crafted landmark was unveiled at Brodick Pier. It marks the start and end of the Arran Coastal Way.

The unveiling was due to be performed by Cameron Macneish, but he was unable to attend and Christine McKerral and Val Sim stepped in. Cameron sent the following message:

“I’m truly sorry not to be with you today. I still have very fond memories of my initial visit and walk on the Isle of Arran Coastal Path all those years ago when Val and Dick and Hugh and Christine looked after me so well.

On that occasion I took the opportunity of not only cutting the ribbon to open the new route, as it was then, but to walk the route in its entirety. That was a revelation. Until then I had really only known “climbers’ Arran”, the Arran of the big granite peaks and ridges, but I found myself wandering along a coastal route that was as grand as any part of Scotland’s glorious coastline.

It was with that coastal walk in mind that brought me back last year to include the Arran Coastal Path as a section of a long walk I was doing for BBC Scotland, the Western Way, a long walk from the Mull of Galloway to Oban, taking in Arran, Islay and Jura.

As I wandered round the coast towards Lochranza Dick and Hugh were very much on my mind and I was pretty sure that these grand hillmen would have appreciated all the work that has been done to the path in recent times.

And I’m sure hundreds and probably thousands of others will enjoy this route in years to come. Arran has so much to offer the outdoors enthusiast and it’s wonderful to see the Isle of Arran Coastal Path getting a new lease of life. I hope I’ll manage over to Arran in the next few months to give it a go.

So, congratulations to everyone involved and have a wonderful day.”

Following the ceremony there was a short presentation, by Rachel Sedman, about the history of the Arran Access Trust and it’s support for the Arran Coastal Way.

There’s much more about the Arran Coastal Way on their website.