Arran Food trail is an enticing trail full of delicious tastes and smells. Producers of the Isle’s quality delicacies open their doors to visitors. Each has a visitor’s centre explaining how each delicacy is made.
Enjoy the aromas and buy mementos of the visit straight from the producer. It’s a good excuse to sample the island’s beer and whisky and you can amaze the kids by showing them that food does not originate in a supermarket.
The food trail extends up the east side and along the top of the island, so complete the circuit and see "Scotland in Miniature" -– there are good views across the Kilbrandon Sound.
At Lamlash, the Paterson Arran Kitchens is the home of Arran Fine Foods -- relishes, mustards, chutneys, salad dressings, preserves, and marmalades -- plenty of fruity aromas wafting around here. The company started at a kitchen in a local house in the 1970's and has been going strong since then.
Moving up to Brodick we have something for the chocoholic. James' Chocolates provides a window on chocolate making. Chocolate arrives as sacks of round buttons and leaves in sleek, glossy shapes filled with intense flavours and subtle textures. The chocolate, chock full of luxury goodness, simply melts on the palate –- irresistible!
Just outside Brodick is the Island Cheese Company at Home Farm. The tradition of farmhouse cheese making continues here. See the raw milk transforming to curds and whey and finally to the finished cheeses. Choose from Bellecreme, soft cheeses including crowdie, fromage frais, crème fraiche, sour cream, and goats milk Goat Fell crotins. Also a range of flavoured cheddar's plus an extensive range of British cheeses.
By now you will have built up a thirst. There is no better way to slake it than by a glass of Arran Blonde, Arran Light or Arran Dark beer at the Arran Brewery. The raw ingredients are barley, wheat and hops. A viewing gallery give a chance to experience the sights, sounds and smells. That smell of hops will prepare you for sampling the finished products at the gift shop.
Moving north and around the tip of the island to Loch Ranza, the Arran Distillery close to the sea loch and Loch Ranza Castle is a must see for malt lovers. The tour starts with an audio-visual presentation about the origins and production of the 'water of life', in the mock 18th-century crofter’s inn. A guided look around the distillery and sampling the produce follows. Do ask them why they sited the distillery in the windiest part of the island and how often the roof has blown off.
The distillery began in 1995, and already the whisky it produces is attracting international acclaim, with expectations that its single malt, when mature, will become a classic. There 's also a restaurant providing excellent food and is part of the award-winning Arran Taste Trail.
By now, you need to burn off a few calories –- suggestion, run up Goat Fell!!