A Magical Time Day 4

Enjoying a taste of Arran Gin and Tonic
at Bay Stores

Our next adventure was one that is always dear to my heart - visiting the Isle of Arran. But, this time, Arran exceeded all my expectations!

First of all, my daughter Whitney, was able to join us!  So this was truly a mother/daughter expedition.

First we had to get to the Ardrossan ferry and get our breakfast.  Check!

Then we headed out to the Machrie Moor Standing Stones since this, to me, is required viewing for anyone visiting me, time permitting.  Check!

Next, and third time lucky for me, lunch at the Sandwich Station just across the street from the Lochranza ferry.  I have wanted to eat here since I first discovered how popular and well thought of this little place was when  I did some research last year for our niece's visit.  We did not have the time then, nor the last time I was here with Dana and Danny. So I rather insisted this time. And the Sandwich Station did not disappoint!  Check!

The Arran Distillery

Following lunch, Carmen and Savannah had a tour of the Arran Distillery while Whitney and I got a lovely coffee and sat outside in the sun.  I have done this tour 3 times, and since I was driving, there was no point doing it again.  All 4 of us enjoyed our time at the distillery, in our own ways!  Check!

Burlington Guest House

Unfortunately, there was no time to linger in Lochranza, although that is where Carmen's husband's family claims their heritage from.  We needed to get from Lochranza to Whiting Bay in about 40 minutes so the Bay Stores was not closed for the day. This was another main point of being on Arran this time around.  So, Whitney drove directly to our guesthouse, the Burlington, we grabbed our keys left for us in the hall since there was no one there to meet us, and we walked as quickly as we could to the Bay Stores to meet Stuart Fraser for a free taste of Arran Gin.  But he had left already......

Arran Gin

Oh, wait, he came back!  And we had the best discussion of the history of Arran gin and the most amazing demonstration of its ingredients, before Stuart made us our own Gin and Tonics.

Such a nice way to discover a new gin!

These we were able to sit outside in the Scottish warmth and sunshine to enjoy. And Stuart joined us!  The end of a perfect day.....well, the end of all scheduled points of the day.

View from Eden Lodge

I had hoped to eat dinner at Coast since it was close.  Let me stress Whiting Bay is not a large village, but it is spread all along the coast and even walking to the restaurant Coast was about a half mile. We could not drive since we had already had that one drink, remember drinking and driving in Scotland is a huge no no!  But Coast was closed, the pub next door, Shore, was also not open. So we hit our phones to see if we could get a pizza delivered or anything, and stumbled upon the Eden Lodge, another half mile walk but an even better menu choice and this ended our perfect day....perfectly!

View from Whiting Bay, I could sit here forever!