Catacol is a small village on the north west side of the island, just a few miles along the coastal road from Lochranza at the foot of Glen Catacol, a steep-sided valley. Views across to the Kintyre Peninsula. Spectacular sunsets and a perfect place for bird watchers.
Amenities Include; Arran Golf, Beaches, Spectacular sunsets, Riding stables, Tennis & Local shops
A famous row of pretty and characterful cottages just a few yards from the beach in this tiny village. Each of these fishermen’s cottages has a different upper window so that when the men were at sea, their wives would light a candle in the window and each man would know which house was signalling. Whether that’s a true story or not, it is still a romantic idea.
This village has become known as home to three of the world’s rarest and most endangered tree species. A National Nature Reserve in one of Glen Catacol’s side glens is home to some 300 Arran Whitebeams (Sorbus arranensis), and over 200 Cut-leaved Whitebeams (Sorbus pseudofennica).
This is a large part of the total world population of species which, apart from a few kept elsewhere for conservation purposes, are only found on Arran.
Glen Catacol (from the Old Norse meaning wild cat gully) is an exhilarating walk starting on a path which gradually climbs by the side of the burn and then more steeply, before leaving the track to access the summit of Beinn Tarsuinn.
There is always a good chance of seeing red deer on walks in Arran.
Lots more information can be found here.
