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Aspen Outdoors Ltd – Isle of Arran Open Gold Qualifying – Isle of Arran

Visit the wonderful island of Arran for your Gold Qualifying expedition.

The cost of the expedition includes campsite fees, ferry tickets, and transport on Arran. The 2nd of August is a travel day, with a meet-up early afternoon. Participants can either meet us in Glasgow (where a minibus transfer is available) or you can meet us at the Troon ferry terminal. Note that owing to ferry timetable changes, the ferry sometimes goes from Ardrossan. Once on Arran, we will travel to Lochranza in readiness for the start of the four-day expedition on the 3rd of August.

We will be running two types of expeditions concurrently: a Trekking Expedition and an Exploration Expedition.

Trekking Expedition:  the route starts in Thunderguy in northwest Arran and ends in Brodick. The route goes over mountainous terrain and along coastlines. The terrain is rough in places and involves over 400m of height gain on two days. The route is adventurous and exciting and offers amazing views. The amount of distance walked each day ranges from 14 to 17km. Footpaths can be muddy and rocky, so participants must come prepared with good walking boots. Camps will be at Lochranza, Sannox, and Glen Rosa. With support from us you will be expected to plan a detailed route.

Exploration Expedition: The walking each day will be between 10-12km on paths and tracks with about 250m or less height gain each day. There shall be a greater emphasis on exploring and your expedition project activity. Your exploration activity could include visits to: Brodick Castle, Holy Isle, the Standing Stones of Machrie Moor, King’s Cave, Lochranza, and Glen Rosa.  Your expedition could involve different themes, like archaeology and history, geology, conservation, land use, and tourism. With support from us and your own research you’ll be expected to plan your exploration of Arran.

Course date:
2-6 August 2026
Course location:
Isle of Arran
Course fee:
£335
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