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Castle
Lochranza Castle
Tower house of the 1500s built from a hall-house of the 1200s, on a peninsula in Loch Ranza.
A mini guide to
Lochranza, Machrie and the south-west
Lochranza Castle and distillery, Machrie Moor stone circles and the King's Cave
Photos
Welcome to the area
Lochranza Castle and distillery, Machrie Moor stone circles and the King's Cave
In the north of Arran, Lochranza has a castle on a peninsula in the loch, a tower house of the 1500s built around a hall-house of the 1200s, and the Arran Distillery, founded in 1995. The ferry from Claonaig on Kintyre lands here in 30 minutes. The coast road then runs south down the west side of the island.
Machrie Moor holds one of Scotland's richest prehistoric landscapes: Historic Scotland dates its stone circles, standing stones and cairns to between 3500 and 1500 BC. Nearby are the Auchagallon and Moss Farm Road cairns and, north of Blackwaterfoot, the King's Cave. Near Lagg in the south are Torrylin Cairn and the Lagg Distillery, opened in 2019.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Whisky distillery
Arran Distillery
Distillery founded in 1995 at Lochranza, with tours, tastings and Casks café.
Stone circles
Machrie Moor Standing Stones
Stone circles, standing stones and cairns dating from 3500 to 1500 BC, scattered across open moorland.
Directions Website Report a problem with Machrie Moor Standing Stones
Burial cairn
Moss Farm Road Stone Circle
Looks like a stone circle but is a burial cairn, at the start of the farm road across Machrie Moor.
Directions Website Report a problem with Moss Farm Road Stone Circle
Burial cairn
Auchagallon Stone Circle
Neolithic or Bronze Age burial cairn ringed by fifteen stones, near Machrie.
Sea cave
King's Cave
Largest of a series of caves in old sea cliffs north of Blackwaterfoot, formed when sea levels were higher.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Lochranza, Machrie and the south-west and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Machrie Moor is a walk
The stone circles are spread across the moor along a farm track, so wear boots and allow time.
2
Lochranza Castle opening
Historic Scotland lists opening days for Lochranza Castle; check before you go, as it is not always open.
3
Distillery tours
Both Arran distilleries, at Lochranza and Lagg, run tours and tastings; book ahead on their websites.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Lochranza, Machrie and the south-west
Photo credits
- Lochranza, Machrie and the south-west (area photo): Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lochranza Castle: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Arran Distillery: paul birrell, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Machrie Moor Standing Stones: Colin, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Moss Farm Road Stone Circle: David Baird, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Auchagallon Stone Circle: David Baird, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- King's Cave: AlistairMcMillan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Torrylin Cairn: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Brodick, Lamlash and Whiting Bay: Sir Gawain, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Isle of Arran