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Arran

The Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde (430 km2). Its highest point lies at 874 metres on Goat Fell. It is in the region of North Ayrshire.

The administrative centre is Brodick, a Viking name meaning "broad bay". Brodick Castle is the seat of the Dukes of Hamilton. Other villages include Lochranza[?] ("loch of the rowan trees"), Sannox ("the sandy one"), Whiting Bay, Blackwaterfoot, Lamlash and Machrie.

St. Columba and St. Ninian[?] are said to have stayed on Arran, and there are other Irish connections, e.g. a stone circle names Fingal's Cauldron. Nearby is the 34 metres deep King's Cave where Robert the Bruce took shelter. There are standing stones on Machrie Moor and the Giant's Graves above Whiting Bay. St. Molio's Cave has wall carvings which are evidence of a rare Pictish[?] script.

Arran is connected with the Scottish mainland by two Caledonian McBrayne[?] ferries: Brodick to Ardrossan[?] and Lochranza to Claonaig[?].

The island is sometimes referred to as "Scotland in miniature" - a mixture of Highlands and Lowlands.



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