The isle of Arran, off the west coast of Scotland, is one of those places that you never want to leave. Around every bend there seems to be a magical vista - pretty villages, picturesque bays, ancient monuments and sometimes wildlife. We take the ferry from Ardrossan on the Scottish mainland to Brodick, the little harbour town over which Goatfell, Arran's highest mountain, rises spectacularly. We decide not to stop there though. We are keen to see as much of Arran as we can so we set off to drive around the island. While Arran is a mere 20 miles long and 10 miles wide, it is known as Scotland in miniature with the north of the island being rugged and mountainous while the south is covered with green rolling hills and glens. We head north. After waiting patiently for the local farmer to herd his sheep from one side of the road to the other, we continue our journey to Lochranza where we stop to look at the ruins of the castle. Then we continue down the west coast through Blackwaterfoot to Lagg on the south-west corner of the island. The craggy, rugged highlands have now been left behind and we are driving through the more gentle moors of the lowlands. The large patches of purple heather contrast beautifully with the greens and browns of the vegetation. Driving along the south coast of the island we make a slight detour to Kildonan, a village on the south-east corner of Arran overlooking Pladda, a tiny isle which is home to a lighthouse and a colony of seals which are regularly seen basking on the rocks. Two men are pulling their boat in, talking contentedly while they fold up the sails. From here we head north again, up the east coast this time, through Whiting Bay to Lamlash, the "capital" of Arran. Lamlash is a charming village of whitewashed cottages and stunning views across the water to Holy Island. The Glenisle Hotel on our left has an outdoor courtyard overlooking the water and a mouthwatering blackboard menu! We can't resist and check in before ordering some lunch. We finish our coffee and hop back in the car. Ten minutes further north through some lovely woodland and we are back in Brodick. Arran is renowned for the variety of specialty food which is produced on the island. In Brodick we sample a delicious Arran ice-cream in a cone (the first of several!) then head into the bakery to try some famous Arran oatcakes. There is so much to taste around Arran - cheeses and chocolates, jams and preserves, mustards and relishes, real ales and single malt whisky. There are quaint coffee shops and plenty of restaurants serving fresh seasonal local produce. There is so much to do on Arran that it is hard to know where to start. There are 7 stunning golf courses where sometimes even the deer come to watch the golfers! Walkers are well catered for with everything from short easy strolls to the 874m challenging climb up Goatfell or the coastal walk which takes 5 to 7 days. We do the short easy walk to Kings Caves on the west coast, a series of natural sea caves where it is alleged Robert the Bruce hid. We stand in front of the caves looking west across the water to the Scottish mainland. A lone swimmer stands on the shore deciding whether or not to go in for a dip. We also do another easy although slightly longer walk to Glenashdale Falls, on the eastern side of the island near Whiting Bay. The path through the woodland follows the Glenashdale Burn, or stream to the non-Scots! The falls are tumbling down and we stand mesmerised watching the water splash onto the rocks below. Other activities include sea kayaking, abseiling, climbing, paragliding and fishing. There are many cycling routes for both mountain bikers and road cyclists. History abounds with stone circles and chambered cairns, as well as museums and castles. Fourteenth century Brodick Castle is not to be missed with its magnificent furnished interior, beautiful Bavarian summerhouse and walled garden. There are over 15km of woodland trails to explore as well. You may even see one of the native red squirrels running across your path!