The Isle of Arran, usually shortened to Arran, is located in the Firth of Clyde off the western coast of Scotland. It is the seventh-largest island in Scotland, and it measures approximately 167 square miles. Even though it is culturally similar to other islands, such as the Hebrides, it is separated from them by the Kintyre peninsula. Often, the area is referred to as Scotland in Miniature, because of the strong cultural connection between Arran and the Scottish mainland.
It has been estimated that the area has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. There are a lot of human remains that have been found on the island, and there is evidence dating back to the sixth Century that people migrated from Ireland to the island to colonize it. The area has also been a center of religious activity. Furthermore, Arran has been the site of numerous battles throughout the years. For example, during the Viking age, the area became the property of the Norwegian crown. It remains disputed, going back and forth until it was absorbed by the kingdom of Scotland during the 13th century. The area was significantly depopulated during the 19th century, but the economy and population of the area have since recovered.
Today, it has been estimated that approximately 4,600 people live on the island throughout the entire year; however, the island typically has many more people than that. The area has become a hot spot for tourism, which is the main driver of the economy. As the economy on the island continues to grow, more people move there full-time. There are a lot of people who are buying homes on the island, particularly vacation homes. The side effect of this movement is that people who live on the island have had a difficult time affording a home themselves. Many people love to check out the area because of the unique wildlife and the beautiful beaches.
There are multiple ways to get to the island, but the easiest way to do so is to take a ferry from the Scottish Mainland. There are two general ferry routes that will transport passengers from the mainland to the island itself. The schedules can change depending on the time of year, as more people tend to visit the area during the summer than they do during the winter. In addition, many of the ferry terminals around the Isle of Arran have undergone significant improvements during the past few years, which has dramatically improved the efficiency of the area. Even though there are some people who try to take a private passenger boat to the island itself, it is far easier to take a ferry. There is some speculation that the number of ferry trips will increase because of the increased demand from tourists who want to visit the Isle of Arran.