Lochranza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lochranza
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.jpg) Panoramic of Lochranza Bay, May 2008 |
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 Lochranza
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| Population | 251 |
| • Density | n/a |
| OS grid reference | NR929506 |
| • Edinburgh | 96 mi (154 km) |
| • London | 443 mi (713 km) |
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| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF ARRAN |
| Postcode district | KA27 |
| Dialling code | 01770 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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| Website | North Ayrshire |
Lochranza (which means Loch Raonasa in Scottish Gaelic) is a small village in Scotland. You can find it on the Isle of Arran, which is an island located in the Firth of Clyde. About 200 people live here.
Contents
Exploring Lochranza's Location and Surroundings
Lochranza is the village furthest north on the Isle of Arran. It sits right on the shore of a small sea loch, also called Loch Ranza. From here, you can catch ferries to Claonaig on the mainland. A hill called Torr Meadhonach stands proudly to the northeast of the village.
Understanding Lochranza's Geology
Lochranza is a great place to learn about rocks and how the Earth was formed! It has a special field study centre. Schools from all over the UK visit to study the area's interesting geology.
Close by, at Newton Point, is a famous spot called Hutton's Unconformity. This is where James Hutton, often called the "father of modern geology," found his first example of an angular unconformity in 1787. An angular unconformity is like a break in time in rock layers, where older, tilted rocks are covered by newer, flat rocks. It shows how much the Earth has changed over millions of years!
Lochranza's Climate and Weather
Lochranza is known for having very few hours of sunshine compared to other places in the UK. Some experts even say it's one of the most shaded villages in the world! This is because it's in a valley that faces north, and the island gets a lot of rain. In winter, it can get quite dark because there are no street lights.
Spotting Wildlife in Lochranza
If you visit Lochranza, you'll likely see lots of red deer. The area around Lochranza Castle is a favourite spot for them. You can also find grey seals on the northern shore all year round. Keep an eye out for otters and even golden eagles flying overhead!
Lochranza's Economy and Local Businesses
Lochranza used to be a busy port for fishing herring. Today, its economy is mostly about tourism. This became even more important after the pier was reopened in 2003.
Lochranza Castle is a beautiful old ruin from the 16th century. It's right across the road from the Lochranza youth hostel, which is a place where travellers can stay cheaply.
Lochranza is also home to the Arran Distillery, which was built in 1995. This is where they make the famous Arran Single Malt whisky. The distillery is one of the biggest businesses on the island. If you visit the Lochranza Hotel, you'll find an amazing collection of over 350 different kinds of Scotch whisky!
The village also has a golf course with eleven holes, perfect for a round of golf.
Getting Around: Transport in Lochranza
A company called Caledonian MacBrayne runs regular ferry services from Lochranza.
- Summer Ferries: Between March and October, ferries go to Claonaig on the Kintyre peninsula. There are about seven crossings each day, roughly every 90 minutes.
- Winter Ferries: From October to March, there's a daily service to Tarbert on Loch Fyne. This ferry leaves at 1:45 PM each day.
The main ferry boat used on this route is the MV Catriona. It replaced the MV Loch Tarbert in 2016.
A new pier was built in 2003. This makes it easier for bigger boats to dock and for passengers to get off and explore the village. Famous ships like the paddle steamer Waverley and the small cruise ship Lord of the Glens often use this pier.
Lochranza is also on the 324 bus route, which connects Brodick and Blackwaterfoot.
Lochranza's Culture and Stories
It's said that a midwife from Lochranza once met the Queen of the Fairies!
The village is also mentioned in a famous poem by Sir Walter Scott, who was a very important Scottish writer. He wrote:
On fair Lochranza streamed the early day,
Thin wreaths of cottage smoke are upward curl'd
From the lone hamlet, which her inland bay
And circling mountains sever from the world
The actress Katharine O'Donnelly grew up in Lochranza.
Lochranza is home to Northend Thistle Football Club. This team was once called "the worst football team in Europe" because they didn't win a game for 19 years! Their story was even featured on TV sports channels like ESPN Asia and Soccer Saturday. Northend Thistle plays at a ground called the Ewe Camp, which is known as one of the best football grounds to visit in the country.
