West Coast, Isle of Arran, Scotland

Before leaving the island, I caught the bus all the way around Arran so that I would maximise what I would see on my two days there. Since the main road follows the coast around the island, it is possible to link bus routes together to allow a circuit all around it: you can even do this without changing bus, the bus changes route number so you don't have to. Another piece of joined-up thinking is that the buses are timed to meet the Ardrossan ferries at Brodick. So I started my circuit with a southbound journey to Blackwaterfoot with a ten minute break there before rejoining the bus for the northbound stretch. The contrast in weather between south and north was very apparent: sunny in the south and showery up north. There were lovely views all around and I tried my hand at photography through the bus windows with a limited amount of success; hilly roads didn't make the task any easier. Nevertheless, I did manage some photos with the one above showing a view of the Mull of Kintyre from the western side of Arran. When the bus returned to Brodick, I embarked on my way home on a very full ferry before continuing my journey by way of the railways, starting at Ardrossan Harbour itself. I hope to return.