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简体中文Not yet assessed Our reading of the sources below, not an official rating.
Paying for local transport in Isle of Arran
ScotRail (Scotland’s trains).ScotRail runs most trains within Scotland. Its tickets page refused automated access, so check ticket types and any Scotland-only offers on its site.ScotRail tickets (opens in new tab)
Without a car
Getting here
Ferry to Brodick
CalMac lists Ardrossan to Brodick at 55 minutes and Troon to Brodick at 80 minutes. 1
Train from Glasgow
CalMac says the train from Glasgow Central to Ardrossan Harbour takes about 45 minutes, and to Troon about 42 minutes. 2
Ferry from Kintyre to Lochranza
The Claonaig to Lochranza crossing takes 30 minutes. Claonaig is around 2 hours 40 minutes' drive from Glasgow, according to CalMac. 1
Once you are there
By car
CalMac describes three main routes: the loop road round the coast, the String Road (B880) across the middle, and the single-track Ross Road. 1
By bus
Public buses cover north Arran, south Arran and the String Road, timed around the ferries; taxis and guided tours fill the gaps. 3
By bike
CalMac lists 15 mountain bike routes and 9 road routes on Arran, with bike hire in several villages. 4
Stops near each area
From our area guides (Isle of Arran): the stations and stops listed for each base. See each area's Getting there page for more.
Brodick, Lamlash and Whiting Bay
- Brodick ferry terminal: CalMac from Ardrossan (55 minutes) and Troon (80 minutes). Main arrival point for Arran
- Ardrossan Harbour station: ScotRail from Glasgow Central (about 45 minutes). Train connects with the Brodick ferry
- Brodick bus stops: Buses to north and south Arran and the String Road. Services meet the ferries
Lochranza, Machrie and the south-west
- Lochranza ferry slipway: CalMac from Claonaig on Kintyre (30 minutes). Link with Kintyre and the Islay ferry at Kennacraig
- Coast road buses: Buses round north and south Arran. Stops at Lochranza, Machrie and Blackwaterfoot
- String Road (B880): Road across the island from Brodick. Quickest way from Brodick to Blackwaterfoot
No timetables or fares are copied here: check the operator or Traveline for the day you travel. Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in most towns, but we have no sourced coverage data for rural areas, so do not count on one at short notice.
With a car
We hold no sourced driving notes for Isle of Arran beyond the general rules.
General rules (driving on the left, licences, roundabouts, speed limits in mph, parking, tolls, EV charging): Driving in Britain. Charge points: Zapmap (opens in new tab).
To and from other regions
Straight-line distance from our region centres, and the fastest train time that National Rail publishes on its destination pages (not a timetable; it may include a change). Where we found no figure we say so. The full table is on getting between regions.
| To or from | Straight line | Fastest train (National Rail) | Notes |
|---|
Figures retrieved 25 Oct 2026 for the intercity data. Timetables change.
Official links
- CalMac: Arran (opens in new tab): ferries to Brodick and Lochranza
- VisitArran (opens in new tab): island tourism information, buses and bike hire
- ScotRail (opens in new tab): trains to Ardrossan Harbour and Troon
- Traveline Scotland journey planner (opens in new tab): bus times on Arran
More on Isle of Arran: Isle of Arran guide · how to get there
Questions people ask
Can I get around Isle of Arran without a car?
We have not yet assessed getting around Isle of Arran. The official links below, and the region guide, are the place to start.
Do I need to check a driving zone in Isle of Arran?
We found no charging or low emission zone for Isle of Arran in the official pages we read. Check the council site before you drive in.