Brodick

Brodick (, Tràigh a' Chaisteil ("Castle Beach") or Breadhaig) is the main village on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. It is halfway along the east coast of the island, in Brodick Bay below Goat Fell, the tallest mountain on Arran. The name is derived from the Norse "breda-vick" meaning "Broad Bay".

The harbour receives the main ferry between Arran and the mainland via Ardrossan. Brodick Castle is a former residence of the Dukes of Hamilton.

Brodick is one of the largest villages on the island and is seen as the main hub due to the ferry terminal which connects the island to the mainland. It is host to many homes, hotels and shops, the health centre, nursing home, heritage museum, tourist information centre, Brodick Castle, public beach, park and an 18-hole golf course.

Transport
Brodick has Arran's main ferry terminus, which connects Brodick to Ardrossan on the mainland and to the national rail network. The ferries are operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. MV Caledonian Isles serves the island year-round, with MV Isle of Arran providing additional sailings during the summer. The crossing takes less than one hour. The route is one of the busiest crossings on the CalMac network, and dolphins and basking sharks are occasionally spotted en route. For the summer 2024 season the service will be operated by MV Isle of Arran from Ardrossan and MV Alfred from Troon. This is due to MV Caledonian Isles being out of service under repair. A second, smaller ferry – MV Catriona – sails from Lochranza to Claonaig on the Kintyre peninsula between March and October, between October and March this service operates to and from Tarbert instead.

The village has seen investment recently with £30M being spent on the new Brodick Ferry Terminal. This is a new larger passenger terminal with a larger pier capable of handling two large vessels at once, increasing capacity on Scotland's busiest ferry route which handled 828,262 passengers and 202,843 cars in 2016 up 8.7% and 6.8% respectively.

In addition to the new ferry terminal, which was formally opened by Derek Mackay MSP on 12 April 2018, the island is expected to get two new dual-fuelled ferries built on the River Clyde. The first ferry has been named MV Glen Sannox (2017) after a public vote in Spring 2017, and the ferry was expected to be delivered in early 2019. Unfortunately this deadline has been delayed, and it is unknown when it will enter service. The second ferry was named MV Glen Rosa after a public vote in August 2023, and is expected to enter service at the end of 2024.

The village is connected to all parts of the island by road including Lamlash and Whiting Bay to the south, Lochranza to the north and Blackwaterfoot to the west.

A new upgraded bus terminal opened in Brodick at the new ferry terminal in early 2017, and is a hub for transport on the island, providing many bus services.

Village
Brodick is a popular holiday destination and a base for hill-walking. Tourism provides much of the village's economic base. There are many family-owned and independent businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, shops, bed and breakfast establishments, guest houses and outdoor activities. There is also a brewery (located in nearby Cladach), a sports and leisure complex, and an 18-hole golf course.

The village of Brodick is the largest settlement on the island (although Lamlash has a larger population), and is seen as the centre of economic activity due to the many businesses that are located around the village. These include the 22 bedroom Douglas Hotel & Bar, and the Auchrannie Spa and Resort, which comprises two 4-star hotels with 85 rooms and thirty 5-star self-catering lodges along with a spa, two leisure centres, and adventure company and more on site.

Brodick has a range of amenities, including a primary school, a village hall, a library, a church, a sports park, a health centre, and a beach. Brodick also has a large Co-op supermarket in the heart of the village, along with a smaller Co-op convenience store located at Invercloy.

Brodick has a variety of businesses, including hairdressers, estate agents, a post office, gift shops, a bakery, a chocolate shop, and a bike rental store. The village is home to numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants.

The high school, council offices, Highlands and Islands University Resource Centre and hospital can all be found in Lamlash, located 3 mi to the south.

The largest peak on the island, Goat Fell, overlooks the village and Brodick Bay. Reaching 874 m above sea-level, it is one of the most popular hiking routes in Scotland.



Brodick Castle
Brodick Castle was previously a seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, but is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. A new Kids adventure section of the park opened in July 2017.