Lochranza

Infobox UK place
official_name= Lochranza
scots_name=
local_name= Loch Raonasa
country= Scotland
map_type= Scotland
population= 250 [cite web
title = Committee reports and agendas
publisher = North Ayrshire Council
year = 2003
url = http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/ChiefExec/ArchiveCommRA.nsf/e9ee67f48fbb9003802569d700533758/af42fb4b81fd051a80256a34003f14c7?OpenDocument
accessdate = 2007-07-24 ]
population_density= n/a
os_grid_reference= NR930506
edinburgh_distance= 96 miles
london_distance= 443 miles
latitude= 55.7048
longitude= -5.2947
post_town= BRODICK
postcode_area= KA
postcode_district= KA27
dial_code= 01770
constituency_westminster= North Ayrshire and Arran
civil_parish= Kilbride [cite web
title = Kilbride
publisher = UK & Ireland Genealogy
date = 2002, quoting gazetteer of 1882
url = http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/BUT/Kilbride/index.html
accessdate = 2007-07-24 ]
unitary_scotland= North Ayrshire
lieutenancy_scotland= Ayrshire and Arran
constituency_scottish_parliament= Cunninghame North
website= [http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/ North Ayrshire]

Lochranza (Gaelic: "Loch Raonasa") is a village located on the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The population, somewhat in decline, is around 200 people.

Lochranza is the most northernly sited of Arran's villages and is located in the north-western corner of the island. The village is set on the shore of Loch Ranza, a small sea loch. Ferries run from here to Claonaig on the mainland. [ [http://www.calmac.co.uk/ Caledonian MacBrayne] ]

The village is home to a healthy red deer population and, on the northern shore, grey seals are found year-round. Otters and golden eagles are also spotted in the area.

A new pier was constructed in 2003, [cite web
last = Peters
first = Derek
title = Opening Lochranza Pier
publisher =
month = June | year = 2003
url = http://waverley2003.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/030629/index.htm
accessdate = 2007-07-24] allowing larger vessels easier access with the possibility to disembark passengers for a short tour of the village. Regular vessels which use the pier include the paddle steamer "Waverley" and the "Lord of the Glens", a small cruise ship.

Lochranza is the site of the Arran Distillery, built in 1995 and producing the Arran Single Malt. [cite web
title = Distillery: "the true spirit of nature"
publisher = Isle of Arran Distillers
url = http://www.arranwhisky.com/lmenu/distillery.asp
accessdate = 2007-07-24] The distillery is one of the major industries of the island.

Lochranza Castle [cite web
last = Garner
first = C.
coauthors = Wright, P.
title = Lochranza Castle
publisher =
month = July | year = 1999
url = http://www.darkisle.com/l/lochranza/lochranza.html
accessdate = 2007-07-24] is a fine ruin of a 16th century L-plan castle, across the road from the Lochranza youth hostel. There is also a field study centre, where schools from all over the UK come to study the locality's interesting geology and the nearby Hutton's Unconformity.

Lochranza is reputed to have the least hours of sunshine of any village in the United Kingdom,fact|date=July 2007 since it lies in a north-facing valley on an island with a particularly high level of rainfall.

Despite this, the village is celebrated in verse:

"The Lord of the Isle" - by Sir Walter Scott

Notes

External links

* [http://www.fieldstudies.co.uk/online/index.asp Aerial photograph of the bay]
* [http://www.syha.org.uk/SYHA/Web/Site/Hostels/Lochranza.asp Youth Hostel]
* [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/BUT/Kilbride/lochranza.html Lochranza in 1882]
* [http://www.whoownsscotland.org.uk/page_cache/bu/lochranza_acruach.htm Who owns Lochranza?]
* [http://www.scotland-photo-library.co.uk/photonet/arran2000/10.html Photo of the bay]
* [http://www.lochranzagolf.com/golf/index.htm Golf Course]
* [http://www.francisfrith.com/search/scotland/strathclyde/arran/photos/arran_a93001.htm Castle c.1890]