Brodick ( , ("Castle Beach") or ''Breadhaig'') is the main village on the

Isle of Arran The Isle of Arran (; ) or simply Arran is an island off the west coast of Scotland. It is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde and the seventh-largest Scottish island, at . Counties of Scotland, Historically part of Buteshire, it is in the ...

, in the

Firth of Clyde The Firth of Clyde, is the estuary of the River Clyde, on the west coast of Scotland. The Firth has some of the deepest coastal waters of the British Isles. The Firth is sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre, Kintyre Peninsula. The ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

. It is halfway along the east coast of the island, in Brodick Bay below

Goat Fell Goat Fell (Scottish Gaelic: ''Gaoitbheinn'') is the highest point on the Isle of Arran. At 874 metres (2,867 ft), it is one of four Corbetts on the island. The mountain, along with nearby Brodick Castle, is now owned by the Natio ...

, the tallest mountain on Arran. The name is derived from the Norse "breda-vick" meaning "Broad Bay". The harbour receives the main ferry between Arran and the mainland via

Ardrossan Ardrossan (; ) is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in southwestern Scotland. The town has a population of 10,670 and forms part of a conurbation with Saltcoats and Stevenston known as the 'Three Towns#Scotland, Three Towns'. Ardrossan is loca ...

. Brodick Castle is a former residence of the Dukes of Hamilton. Brodick is one of the largest villages on the island and is seen as the main hub due to the ferry terminal which connects the island to the mainland. It is host to many homes, hotels and shops, the health centre, nursing home, heritage museum, tourist information centre, Brodick Castle, public beach, park and an 18-hole golf course.

Transport

Brodick is home to Arran's main ferry terminus, which connects to

and the national rail network. Operated by

Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian MacBrayne (), in short form CalMac, is the trade name of CalMac Ferries Ltd, the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries to the west coast of Scotland, serving ports on the mainland and 22 of the major islands. It is a subsid ...

, & serves the island year-round. The crossing, which takes less than an hour, is one of the busiest on the CalMac network, and dolphins and basking sharks are occasionally spotted en route. A second, smaller ferry – – sails from

Lochranza Lochranza () is a village located on the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The population, somewhat in decline, is around 200 people. Geography Lochranza is the northernmost of Arran's villages and is located in the northwestern c ...

to Claonaig on the Kintyre peninsula between March and October. During the winter period, the vessel operates to and from Tarbert instead. The village has seen investment recently, with £30 million being spent on a new pier and passenger terminal capable of handling two vessels at once, increasing capacity. In addition to the new ferry terminal, which was formally opened by Derek Mackay MSP on 12 April 2018, the island is expected to get two new dual-fuelled ferries. The first, , initially planned to enter service in summer 2018, but didn't enter service in January 2025.https://news.sky.com/story/scotlands-delayed-glen-sannox-ferry-formally-begins-sailings-13288063 A sister is expected to follow in late 2025. The problems around the delivery of these vessels has become a Scottish political scandal dubbed the Ferry Fiasco. The village is connected to all parts of the island by road, including the villages of Lamlash and

Whiting Bay Whiting Bay (, "between two headlands") is a village located on the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland south of Lamlash and south of Brodick. With more than 600 inhabitants it’s the third largest village on the island of Arran, ...

to the south,

to the north and Blackwaterfoot to the west. An upgraded bus terminal, opened at the ferry terminal in early 2017, is a hub for transport on the island, providing many bus services.

Village

Brodick is a popular holiday destination and a base for hill-walking. Tourism provides much of the village's economic base. There are many family-owned and independent businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, shops, bed and breakfast establishments, guest houses and outdoor activities. There is also a brewery (located in nearby Cladach), a sports and leisure complex, and an 18-hole golf course. The village of Brodick is the largest settlement on the island (although Lamlash has a larger population), and is seen as the centre of economic activity due to the many businesses that are located around the village. These include the 22 bedroom Douglas Hotel & Bar, and the Auchrannie Spa and Resort, which comprises two 4-star hotels with 85 rooms and thirty 5-star self-catering lodges along with a spa, two leisure centres, and adventure company and more on site. Brodick has a range of amenities, including a primary school, a village hall, a library, a church, a sports park, a health centre, and a beach. Brodick also has a large Co-op supermarket in the heart of the village, along with a smaller Co-op convenience store located at Invercloy. Brodick has a variety of businesses, including hairdressers, estate agents, a post office, gift shops, a bakery, a chocolate shop, and a bike rental store. The village is home to numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants. The high school, council offices, Highlands and Islands University Resource Centre and hospital can all be found in Lamlash, located to the south. The largest peak on the island,

, overlooks the village and Brodick Bay. Reaching above sea-level, it is one of the most popular hiking routes in Scotland. File:Breadhaig.JPG, Brodick from Cladach Beach File:Brodick Castle Walled Garden.jpg, Brodick Castle Gardens Brodick ferry terminal construction.JPG, Brodick new ferry terminal under construction 2016 File:Goatfell from Brodick Harbour.jpg, Goatfell from Brodick Harbour

Brodick Castle

Brodick Castle was previously a seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, but is now owned by the

National Trust for Scotland The National Trust for Scotland () is a Scottish Building preservation and conservation trusts in the UK, conservation organisation. It is the largest membership organisation in Scotland and describes itself as "the charity that cares for, sha ...

. A new Kids adventure section of the park opened in July 2017.

References

External links

Canmore - Arran, Brodick, General site recordCanmore - Brodick, Rosaburn, Arran Heritage Museum, Rosaburn House site record
{{Authority control Villages in the Isle of Arran Ports and harbours of Scotland Firth of Clyde