Lochranza Caravan and Campsite

Lochranza Caravan and Campsite occupies a flat valley floor where Glens Easan and Chalmadale meet the shore, inside a National Scenic Area that earns that designation. The mountains of north Arran rise behind; the Kilbrannan Sound stretches ahead to Kintyre and, on a clear day, the Paps of Jura. You don't have to walk anywhere to get the view: it's already there when you unzip your tent.

The site is proper family-run, not a managed operation, and the character shows in the details. Facilities are kept immaculately clean according to every recent review, gas bottles are available on site (useful if you run out on a motorhome), and a drying room is on hand for the inevitable Scottish rain. Two acres of level grassland take tents and campervans, hardstanding suits caravans and motorhomes, and five heated wooden pods perch with views down over the site and surrounding hills. Arran Distillery is across the road and worth the visit; Lochranza village is a five-minute walk; the CalMac ferry to Kintyre leaves from the pier a short drive away.

Wildlife is one of the site's distinguishing features. Red deer wander through the pitches at night, red squirrels inhabit the surrounding trees, and the coastal margins hold harbour seals and otters. Sannox beach is a ten-minute drive for an afternoon on the sand; the Arran Coastal Way passes through for longer walking ambitions. Quiet hours run from 11pm to 8am and recorded music isn't permitted on site, which keeps the atmosphere unhurried throughout.

Dogs are not accepted. This is the one firm rule that shapes who the site is for, and it effectively makes it the quieter, calmer end of the family and couples market. The site holds a Green Tourism Gold Award, open March to late October.