There are three main roads on the island: the main road that runs around the coast (the A841), the 'String Road' that runs from Brodick to Blackwaterfoot (the B880) and the Ross Road that runs from Lamlash to Kilmory (a.k.a Lagg - the bus timetables and roadsigns show 'Lagg', but the 30mph speedboards show 'Kilmory'). Maps are widely available all over the island if you have not got your own.

Car Hire is also available from the petrol station at the ferry terminal in Brodick.

You don't need a car or bike to explore Arran, with an extensive and reliable bus service covering most of the island. Services are operated by Stagecoach Western, although because of the local authority area, it's not unusual to see bus stops and timetables carrying the logo of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) who oversee public transport on Arran. A single day 'Rover' ticket costs £4.60, although beware that fares and timetables change with the seasons.

A full timetable can be found online. and printed timetables are available on all buses, on board the ferries, at the ferry terminals and from most of convenience stores. Key services include:

321 Brodick - Corriegills (service only runs once per day on schooldays only) 322 Brodick - String Road - Blackwaterfoot 323 Brodick - Lamlash - Whiting Bay (- Lagg - Blackwaterfoot) 324 Brodick - Lochranza - Blackwaterfoot 324/322 North Island Circle 323/322 South Island Circle 324/323 Island Circles The Open Top Castle Bus (Brodick - Brodick Castle)

Most buses connect in Brodick with the CalMac ferry to Ardrossan. Check timetable notes carefully, as some late evening buses only run on Fridays during the summer. Few buses run after 9PM.

Note that many of the 323 services on Mondays to Saturdays and some on Sundays terminate at Whiting Bay. Check the timetable for details.

Be warned - a few bus services may start/terminate in a different place than the timetable. For example, the 0747 324 Imachar-Lamlash bus may start in Pirnmill, and the 1705 324 Lamlash-Blackwaterfoot bus regulary terminates in Pirnmill. This is due to the fact that at least 2 bus drivers live in Pirnmill.

Generally, bikes cannot be carried on the buses, but in the off-peak season a friendly driver may let you take your bike on board, but don't count on it.

The Castle Bus only runs Sunday-Thursday during the summer holidays, and then weekends until the end of October. The Castle is also served by the 324 bus - albeit it does not run into the grounds of the castle itself. Timetables are available locally and on board the Caledonian Isles.

There are also Island Tours that run Mon-Fri only from June to August. They connect with the 09:30 ferry from Ardrossan, and a full day tour connects with the 16:40 ferry back. You can also get a half day tour that gets back to Brodick for the 13:50 ferry back, but you do not get to see the North Island. Timetables are available on the Caledonian Isles and from Brodick Ferry Terminal.

Arran is an adrenaline junkie's paradise when it comes to motorcycles! The roads are narrow, heavilly potholed and often you come across 40 ton logging trucks! And after all that, the rewards are magnificant, with breathtaking views during the sunshine! As an added bonus, a motorcycle can be brought over to Arran for half the cost of a car! Even though the roads are "goin' tae pot", it's still a very big adventure for even the seasoned motorcyclist!

Hiring a bike is recommended to travel some routes, such as the Ross, that the bus doesn't take. In Brodick, bike hire is available from the Boathouse and Arran Power and Sail on the shore and Arran Adventures next to the Auchrannie. In Blackwaterfoot you can hire a bike from the Kinloch Sports Club. Cycling over the Machrie Moor Road from the String Road to Machrie on a calm, sunny day is not to be missed...