The Island lies at the entrance to the Firth of Clyde, 14 miles west of the Ayrshire coast. 35 miles to the south is Antrim, Northern Ireland. On the Island there are three groups of mountains with ten peaks. The most famous and highest being Goatfell.

Earliest known settlers on the island were Mesolithic people who fished and hunted. The next people to arrive around 3000BC originated in the eastern Mediterranean travelling through France, England, Wales then Scotland. As well as fishing they farmed the land. During the Bronze Age they built stone circles the most famous the Machrie Moor dated from around 1600 BC.

During the Iron Age around 300 BC they built prehistoric forts. Then came the Celtic invaders Scots of Dalriads in Northern Ireland. From the ninth to thirteenth century the islands were under control of the Vikings. After the Battle of Largs where the Vikings experienced the first defeat the Western Islands became under the Scottish Crown.

We, Linda and myself along with Amber (Amber/Jason will be explained later) were heading over for a weeks holiday in a cottage owned and rented out by a workmate of my mum’s. She told us and impressed on us that we had to arrive in Brodick before Six pm on the Saturday because the shops close from then until Monday morning. That was not a problem as we were booked on the midday ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick, a relatively short trip.

To Amber. Linda was pushing to start a family and I wanted to wait a while longer. We came to a compromise, and since we both worked my preferred choice, a dog, was impractical so we agreed on a house cat. I thought it would be some time before we got the said cat, not to be. Linda was visiting my mum, who lived on Maryhill Road, Glasgow, and just down the road was a pet shop, who happened to have kittens for sale. Linda fell in love with one and after being convinced by the shop owner that all ginger cats were Toms she bought that little ball of orange fluff. On arriving at my mum’s I was introduce to Jason. So he was accompanying us to Arran.

We arrived in Ardrossan by train and boarded the car ferry ready for our short sail.

After some delay we were told there was a problem closing the vehicle ramp which should be sorted in the next half hour. Many long hours after we sailed for Arran. First estimated time of arrival was 1.00 pm. The ferry actually arrived in a little after 6pm. I assured Linda there would be a cafe or fish and chip shop open and we should be able to get milk from them or a garage. I was wrong on all accounts. Luckily the neighbour saw us arrive along with our lovely little kitten. Who I must say had been a hit with everyone on the ferry, especially the kids, and had captivated everyone’s attention during our long wait for the ferry to be fixed. The neighbour gave us milk and told us that there would be shops open in Lamlash the next day and the hotel up the road served meals to non residents.

The neighbour loved Jason but thought it was only right to tell us he was a she. So Jason became Amber. That little kitten never played soft she always fought hard , I am sure she saw herself as a tiger.

Next day we decided to walk to Lamlash, it’s not far on the map only three miles. Three miles on an undulating coastal road after having nothing to eat for breakfast was no fun. Anyway we got groceries and a taxi back to the cottage.

During our time on the Island we walked for miles. I could sit Amber in my jacket big patch pockets and she would stick her head out, sometimes I would hold her to my chest inside my jacket and she would climb up inside and wrap around my neck. She was very cute.

We also hired bikes. Linda was fine going the bike, starting was sometimes difficult but stopping was hilarious. She would not stop the bike and lean over, her technique was to jump off the bike whilst it still had a bit of momentum, especially scary for motorists coming onto a roundabout and watching her come to a running halt. I could not dismount that way if I tried.

Anyway apart from the lovely scenery and time with Amber we also visited Brodick Castle. built by the Hamilton’s dating back to the 14th century.

We had a lovely holiday there and plan to revisit in the future.