Enjoy Arran, Slowly

The island’s community ethos and gentle pace of life are drawing in ever more thirsty visitors… and canny sheep.

- Euan Duguid

NOT so long ago, going “doon the watter” symbolised the great escape.The island idylls of Bute, Cumbrae and Arran offered a sense of peace, away from the industrial clatter of the west central mainland.

Today, the tourism trade on these islands continues to bask in a glow of rude health.

And the “watter” of life is bringing an added dimension to the solace many continue to find – far from the factory floor of modern day living.

“People’s lives are so fast-paced these days,” said Euan Mitchell, managing director of Arran Distillery.

“Whether it’s social media, deadlines or 24/7 supermarkets, for better or for worse, it's never ending.

“Here, in Lochranza in the mountainous north of Arran, phone signal is sporadic and we make a product that takes three years before you actually call it a product.

“And then there’s around a further 10 years before it’s likely to emerge on the market.

“There’s no way of speeding that process up. That natural pace fits the rhythm of island life. I think people like that fact.”

Arran distillery was founded in 1995 and the award winning visitor centre welcomed a record number of folk last year. Around 104,000 people made the journey in 2016 – a 93% increase since 2012, and 18% on 2015.

“The connection between Arran and Glasgow is still very strong,” continued Euan.