A quick catch-up with our visit to Arran and Hadleigh.

As my friends and family know, Ben, our youngest, has been home for Christmas; he went back to San Francisco last Monday. While he was home Chris, Ben and I spent a few days away in Arran. The one place I feel really 'uplifted' and at home.

The Isle of Arran, Scotland is the most southerly Scottish island and sits in the Firth of Clyde between Ayrshire and Kintyre. Arran is 19 miles long by 10 miles wide but has a remarkable diversity of landscapes and seascapes.

The pretty villages on Arran’s beautiful coastline are complemented by a rugged and mountainous interior in the north and green rolling hills and woodland in the south.

If you're reading this and looking to get away from it all, I highly recommend you take the time to uncover the hidden delights of Arran; it really does have something for everyone.

We had clear days...

and snow...

We saw seals...

...and Red Deer...

as well as red squirrels, a vast variety of song birds, birds of prey and water-fowl/birds. Ben took some excellent picture that you can view at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bendalziel/sets/72157603644852577/. My pictures are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/acljohn/sets/72157603630394646/.

No trip to Arran would be complete without visiting the distillery; a visit enjoyed by all.

We completed one fairly long and enjoyable walk starting and finishing at Lochranza.
Lochranza is the most northerly sited of Arran's villages and is located in the north-western corner of Arran. The village is set on the shore of Loch Ranza, a small sea loch. Lochranza is home to Arran's second ferry route, a short trip to Claonaig on the Kintyre Peninsula south of Tarbert. The whisky distillery opened in 1995, and is easily spotted with its copper pagodas. Castle ruins are located on a curved shingle spit that projects from the southern side of the village. The castle is normally locked but the key can be obtained from Lochranza stores. Lochranza is home to a healthy red deer population and, on the northern shore, grey seals are found year-round. Otters and golden eagles are also spotted in the area. It is also the very first place I stayed at, in Arran, when I was teaching in Phillip Morant School in Colchester Essex in 1986. My how time flies.

The only down side was that we were delayed on the way home due to bad weather; the ferry wouldn't sail due to the difficulties we would encounter entering Ardrossan Harbour. When we did sail we still managed to bump the harbour wall.
The following weekend we all met again at my dads in Hadleigh Suffolk; Ben to see his grandad before returning to the USA (next time they meet Ben will be married) and Mandy and Dave to say goodbye as they embark on their 99 day trip around the world! There wasn't room for me sadly. Dad seemed well and it was nice for all the family to be together again; the last time was a year ago at Mum's funeral. A much happier meeting this time but I kept expecting to see her every time I went into the dining room. We had 'Christmas again; thinking about it, it was the first Christmas of 2008! Lynn, and Bec paid us a brief visit on the Saturday and Pete on the Sunday before 'bell-ringing'. Ben has gone 'home' now and Chris and I are back to normal (what ever that is). Below you will find todays walk; I know it is a bit out of sequence but as everyone else tells me, 'it is finding the time'!.
I'll just leave this blog with an image, taken on Arran, that we came across when walking along the North East coast of Arran...

Blogged with Flock