Arran without a car: buses from Brodick, bikes and taxis
You can see most of Arran by bus. Three routes leave from Brodick pier, one goes round the north, one round the south and one straight across the middle, and most are timed to meet the ferries.
Checked October 2026 at the sources named on the page.
The three bus routes
All three start at Brodick pier, beside the ferry terminal, and run by Stagecoach West Scotland.
| Route | From Brodick via | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 324 | Corrie, Sannox, Lochranza, Catacol, Pirnmill, Imachar, Dougarie, Machrie | The north: Corrie, the distillery and youth hostel at Lochranza, the west coast |
| 323 | Lamlash, Whiting Bay, Kildonan, Lagg, Corriecravie | The south: Lamlash and Holy Isle boat, Whiting Bay, Lagg distillery |
| 322 | Balmichael, Shiskine, Blackwaterfoot | Straight across the island on the String Road |
The 324 and 323 continue round to Blackwaterfoot, so between them they circle the island, and the 322 cuts across the middle. That makes loops possible: north on the 324, back across on the 322.
Tickets
- Single tickets are bought on the bus.
- The Arran DayRider gives a day’s unlimited travel on the island for £8.40 for an adult, and a group DayRider covers up to five people (Stagecoach DayRider page, checked October 2026). Longer MegaRider tickets cover 7 or 28 days.
- Scotland’s free bus passes for under-22s and over-60s are valid on Arran.
Exact times change between summer and winter and are not reliably shown on third-party sites; the Stagecoach app or the timetable at the pier is the one to trust.
Bikes
VisitArran’s 2026-27 visitor guide says bikes and e-bikes can be hired in Brodick. Auchrannie Resort rents Trek e-bikes, to non-residents as well as guests, from its site on the edge of the village. The coast road goes all the way round, with the long climbs at the north end around Lochranza and on the String Road; an e-bike turns a hard day into a pleasant one.
Taxis
There is a taxi rank opposite the ferry terminal in Brodick, according to CalMac’s port page. VisitArran’s guide lists local firms, Arran Motors among them. Taxis are worth booking ahead for an early or late ferry, and for the walk back from a long day on Goatfell.
Walking
Brodick village, the castle, the Goatfell path at Cladach and Glen Rosa are all reachable on foot from the pier. The Fisherman’s Walk follows the shore from the village to Cladach. The Arran Coastal Way, one of Scotland’s Great Trails, goes all the way round: 65 miles (105 km), usually walked in five to seven days, starting and finishing in Brodick (Arran Coastal Way).
Sleep where the buses start
Without a car, Brodick is the easy base: every route starts at the pier. The link searches the village, with live prices for your dates.
- Places to stay in Brodick Ferry, all three bus routes and the Co-op within a short walk.
- Places to stay in Lamlash One stop down the 323, quieter, with its own Co-op.