Isle of Arran

[Reusername]

Hi, I want to go to the Isle of Arran for 5/6 days in late July or early August. But airbnb etc have nothing! Does anyone come from there and might know of other resources to search for a self catering cottage/house?

Thx

I don't think anything will be available to book until the ferries are given the green light for non essential travel.

Try here www.thearranteam.co.uk/

Ah so ferries can't travel at the moment? Do you think people are holding back from making their places available?

It's essential travel only until end of April at least. Even then it'll be reduced capacity. There's no point booking accommodation unless you've booked the ferry so I imagine holiday lets are holding off until Nicola opens the islands.

Personally I wouldn’t be surprised if most places are booked. We booked 5 nights in a lodge at Auchrannie resort and there was very limited availability (offering free cancellation). We’ve also booked our ferries. From my research most cottages are booked in Arran and mull for the peak period (and they definitely seem to be open for bookings.)

Thanks for the responses. Certainly it seems like nothing is available . I'm just hoping that someone puts something on that they've been holding back (fingers firmly crossed)!

I’ve also booked an island trip, booked in January for this summer (free cancellation). I don’t think it’s that they’re holding off booking, I’d guess it’s that places are booked up already.

I think it could be a number of things.

• some of the islanders are being very cautious about reopening up to tourists and are not offering their accommodation at the moment (I had one cancel on me before travel dates even got announced).
• people have got rollover bookings from last year combined with school holidays and more people booking holidays in the UK this year.
• if you're searching on 5-6 days for self catering properties you often don't get results because they are on a minimum 7 day hire in peak season.

www.selfcateringarran.co.uk/ I think there's some availability here.

There's plenty showing as available on trip advisor if you search for a week rental Fri-Fri or Sat - Sat at the end of July.

Thank you everyone. I've been on tripadvisor and unfortunately what it shows as available, sadly aren't. I have tried the link MrsJack and sent them a message. If anyone else knows of anyone not on airbnb or Vrbo please do let me know! I really appreciate all your comments and input.

I booked for mainland Scotland (Dumfries) back in January and saw Arran cottages then so I suspect they've been booked up. Lettings [[https://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/isle-of-arran/adate1.7869/adate2.7875/hom_sleeps_max.2/]] has some places listed but I don't know what size you need.

God, that link worked well didn't it? Holiday Lettings [[https://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/isle-of-arran/adate1.7869/adate2.7875/hom_sleeps_max.2/]] might work now. This is the site we used.

aah! Giving up now... Hope you get somewhere OP!

There are four of us so we are looking for three bedrooms ideally (we'll take two though!)

I’m not sure what you budget is but Auchrannie resort does have lodges available for some dates (over £500 a night) or resort rooms B and B for about £300 a night. The resort rooms are cancellable so could be an option...

We stayed here a few years back: Far Horizons Holiday Cottages

They'll most likely be booked, unfortunately. That's peak time and most people are assuming that holidays will all be in the UK. Arran is very popular.

As others have said, most accommodation will already be booked, either rolling over from last year's cancellations or people who have booked early. Not many accommodation providers use AirBnb, Booking.com etc. Try www.visitarran.com.

Ferries are of course running all year round (reduced, essential service only). You can book now for summer ferry crossings and some of these sailings will already be fully booked. Visitors are advised to book ferries at the time of booking their accommodation.

Few places will take you for anything other than a week, and with either Friday or Saturday changeover only.

Good luck. I imagine the entire Highlands and Islands will be absolutely rammed this summer. The islands do have a capacity limit in terms of accommodation and ferry availability, which always comes as a surprise to many people.

We went last year but stayed in a caravan on the main land and managed to spend 1 long day on the island, its spectacular. As others have mentioned the ferry is the key, we went in August and stayed in a caravan in Ayr

We live in Scotland and normally go elsewhere for our summer holiday however this summer we have booked a week near inverness. We booked it in January and cast our net wide in terms of where we might go but it was still hard to find accommodation. I think many in Scotland and probably elsewhere in the UK booked up a lot of the place earlier in the year. If I were you I would widen your search area.

Would you consider camping? There are a couple of gorgeous campsites (but they might also be full). I love Arran. It’s one of my favourite places. Seriously thinking of moving there when (if!) I retire.

My family are from the island. I do think it will likely be largely booked up as its a popular place even pre covid everyone holidaying in the UK. www.stay-arran.co.uk/ I've used before but I am lucky enough that we have a family house we can sometimes use. The islands are being cautious. We didn't visit last year. I've got elderly relatives on the island and although technically it is would have been okay at one point I just wasn't comfortable at bringing the risk to the island.

First a big thank you to you all for all your advice and a MASSIVE thank you to MrsJackRackham for your link because we got a place for a week - and it's a lovely one at that! So pleased as we really, really need a break.

Great news, now get your ferries booked!