Holiday Planning: Food in Lochranza

The nearest food store to Lochranza is seven miles west in the village of Pirnmill, but that does not mean that you have to live on tins of beans for the duration of your camping holiday. Read on to find out all about the delicious, local, island food that awaits you.

You need a shop?

Pirnmill Store (01770 850235), the only shop in the North End of the island, is open during the day six days a week, and from 12- 4pm on Sundays. It is on the bus route and sells just about everything you might need on holiday including daily newspapers, magazines, ice-creams, fresh milk and cheese, a good range of fresh vegetables and fruit (do ask –they’re kept cool in a back room and not on display), a post office, greetings cards, second-hand books, alcoholic drinks and more.

If you are sailing from Ardrossan to Arran you will find an Asda near the ferry terminal.  On reaching Brodick, there is a newly-refurbished Co-operative Store on the sea front (01770 302515), open till late. If you are sailing to Arran from the north, via Claonaig on Kintyre, Tarbert will be your last stop for provisions. There is a Co-operative store in the town, as well as a greengrocer.  If you have time before your ferry, visit the Skipness Smokehouse at Skipness for delicious seafood (01880 760378). The Seafood Cabin at Skipness (01880 760207) is open from the end of May until the end of September.

Deliveries direct at Lochranza Campsite

The award-winning Arran Butcher  860354 does deliveries round the island from a base at Blackwaterfoot. The van now visits the campsite on Thursday mornings, usually between 10.30 am and 12 noon if there have not been hold-ups.

New business on the island, Woodside, (01770 820361) offering organic fruit and vegetables, free range eggs and island reared rare breed pork, is currently trialling deliveries round the North End. Look out for their Real Food van visiting the campsite on Friday mornings around 9.30 to 10.00 am. The business is a not-for-profit social enterprise.

Here’s a pic of Andy and Olly in the Real Food van:

 

The Arran Distillery, just across the road from the campsite, sells much more than whisky, including Arran cheese, Arran icecream, Arran chocolate and Wooley’s Arran Oatcakes.

The Sandwich Station (closed Mondays 07810 796248), by the pier, makes exquisite sandwiches using local produce and sourdough bread from the Blackwaterfoot Bakery. The sandwiches are large and all you need for a healthy, tasty and filling lunch. 

Eating Out

Lochranza Hotel – bar meals daily

Catacol Bay Hotel (two miles west) – bar meals daily and Sunday buffet lunches

Casks Cafe at the Arran Distillery- lunches and coffees daily

Stags Pavilion fabulous restaurant by the campsite. Booking essential (01770 830600)

The Lighthouse Restaurant, Pirnmill (seven miles west, 01770 850240). Seafood is a speciality. Lunches and dinners available, not Mondays.

Calmac. You can get an appetising range of meals and snacks on The Caledonian Isles ferry which sails between Ardrossan and Brodick. Nigel never misses a Calmac Full Scottish breakfast when we are travelling. My personal favourites are the Calmac Cullen Skink fish pie and the Calmac macaroni cheese.

We sell Arran icecream at the campsite.

We always keep in UHT milk and frozen bread loaves if you find yourself without these essentials.