The Isle of Arran is situated in south-western Scotland, in the Firth of Clyde near Glasgow. Measuring approximately 167 square miles (433 km2) in area, it has a population of approximately 5,000. Arran is the seventh largest island in Scotland, but is not technically one of the Hebrides, being the southernmost of the Scottish islands. Widely referred to as 'Scotland in Miniature', Arran offers visitors a compact and easily accessible island that mimics the geology of mainland Scotland, with a sparsely populated and mountainous northern half and a flatter, more populous southern half. Located close to Glasgow and Scotland's Ayrshire coast, Arran is a popular and easily accessible tourist destination.

Lamlash is Arran's main population centre. The only high school on the island is here and it is also the location of the island's main medical centre. The boat to Holy Island departs from Lamlash.

Brodick is another large settlement and is the island's principal point of entry, with multiple daily ferry sailings to and from Ardrossan on the mainland. Outside the ferry terminal is the bus station. All bus services on the island terminate here, to interchange with each other and to link with the ferry. The village has a couple of supermarkets and a number of other shops, plus a variety of accomodation and restaurants.

Blackwaterfoot is the largest village on the west coast of the island. Has a hotel and B&B, a pub serving real ale, a tiny harbour and a garage with the only petrol station north of the String Road. Kilmory is a small village on the south coast. Accessible via the Dyemill forest cycle track from Lamlash & Whiting Bay Lochranza is the main settlement in the north of the island, and is the terminal for the "other" ferry to the mainland, from Claonaig. Lochranza Bay and Castle feature in probably the most famous "picture postcard" view of Arran. It's common to see deer coming down to the water in the evenings.

Catacol in the north of the island is highly recommended. You can look at (but not go inside) the Twelve Apostles, which is a unique row of terraced houses.

Pirnmill is a quiet village with one of the best beaches on the island. Whiting Bay is a nice-looking village south of Brodick with a large white sand beach. It has a putting green and bowling green, three well stocked groceries shops( Village Shop, Bay Stores and Kirkend Nurseries which grows its own fruits and vegs). A variety of other shops including galleries, DIY, Craft shops, Petrol stations, Newsagent, furniture and carpet shop, massage and reiki treatment. There are several places to eat here too.

Corrie is a picturesque village situated five miles north of Brodick, strung out along the coast for about a mile. One of the routes up Goat Fell starts from here.

Machrie is a small village on the west coast of the island, best known for the stone circle at nearby Machrie Moor.

The sole inhabitants of Holy Island are Buddhist monks, who moved in after Vision of Virgin Mary persuaded previous owner to sell it to them. During summer tourist season, a boat takes visitors roughly every hour from 10AM to 5PM, though the monastery itself is not accessible to the public as it is used as a place of retreat (Monks stay there for 3 years and 3 months). The walk up the backbone of the island offers beautiful views of Lamlash and the Scottish mainland.