Blackwaterfoot

Sights

Two miles north along the coast are the King's Caves, where, according to legend, Robert the Bruce watched a spider try, try and try again and was thus inspired to secure his own and Scotland's destiny. It's a 45-minute walk from where you leave the car to the cathedral-like main cave, which has an iron gate to keep out wandering sheep. There's also pony trekking at Cairnhouse Riding Centre, Tel. 860466, which caters for beginners and experienced riders, and fly fishing, at Port-Na-Lochan Fishery, Tel. 860276.

A couple of miles northeast of Blackwaterfoot, at Shiskine, on the "String Road" which cuts across the middle of the island to Brodick, is the Balmichael Visitor Centre, a good place to bring the kids, with a motor museum, adventure playground and a quad bike track. Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700 (closed Mon and Tue in winter). Tel. 860430.

Four miles north of Blackwaterfoot, off the main coast road, is Machrie Moor, site of the most impressive of Arran's Bronze-Age stone circles. Park by the Historic Scotland sign and then walk for one and a half miles along the farm track to reach an area boasting no fewer than six stone circles. Many of them are barely visible above the ground, but the tallest is over 18 ft high.

A few miles further on, just south of the turn-off to Machrie village, is another Historic Scotland sign, this time for Moss Farm Road Stone Circle, which lies about a half mile walk along the farm track. There's another Bronze-Age site nearby, at Auchagallon.