Christmas on Arran - Get ready for Christmas

Bellevue Christmas Market 

Sunday the 1st of December sees Arran’s Christmas Fest Farmers Market come to Bellevue Farm, Blackwaterfoot. The market runs from 11 am until 2pm and entry is free with a £2 per car parking fee for those that choose to arrive that way. This festive occasion will see Father Christmas arriving by tractor with a sack of goodies for those lucky enough to meet him and live music performed by Skirl Power.

Market stalls will offer locally produced food and drink including Bellevue Farm meat, cheese, beer, whisky, jams and preserves, cakes and bakes. There will also be a wide range of Arran made crafts suitable for Christmas pressies including candles, books, felt art and much more. Hot food will come from market favourites, ‘The Shack and Grill’ and ‘Loaded Isle of Arran’ as well as seasonal mulled wine.

There will be the chance to win a selection of Arran produce from the Market Raffle which raises money for local food related good causes. The first 20 adults through the door will receive a free Santa hat. The market which has been running for over 3 years is organised by Bellevue Farm with support from two not for profit organisations Arran Eco Savvy and Arran’s Food Journey. We can’t wait to see you then. You can find out more about the market and stall holders on Facebook. 

Auchrannie Resort 

The holiday season is nearly here, their festive specials are ready to make it unforgettable! At Brambles and Cruize, they offer something for everyone, from delightful pre-Christmas treats to a magical Christmas Day lunch.

Pre-Christmas Festive Special

Due to popular demand, the festive menu is back! Enjoy a 2-course meal for £20 or indulge in 3 courses for £25. Available from 1st to 23rd December for lunch (daily) and dinner (Sunday to Thursday). Perfect for groups of 4 or more— advance booking is required. Mention “FESTIVE MENU” to secure your table.

Christmas Club Sandwich

Don’t miss their famous Christmas Club Sandwich, loaded with seasonal favourites and served with gravy for dipping, plus pigs in blankets! Available from 1st to 23rd December for £12.

Christmas Day Lunch 

Relax and enjoy a delicious 3-course meal on Christmas Day from 12pm. Call 01770 302 234 to book or visit our website at www.auchrannie.co.uk

Bay Wool & Crafts

Bay Wool & Crafts are very excited to offer you a wide selection of Christmas gifts and cards, plus wool and haberdashery. They will be open until 21st December inclusive, Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 3pm. Browse their selection of work from nearly 40 craftspeople, in a wide range of disciplines, or buy a gift voucher in your choice of denomination – a great Secret Santa present! Visit our website on www.baywoolcrafts.co.uk

Arran Cheese Shop

The delightful Cheese Shop at Home Farm in Brodick stocks a huge selection of cheeses, deli products, ready made hampers and Cheese Shop chutneys, not to mention some unusual and sought after products that you would not expect to find on Arran. The friendly and welcoming staff are also happy to help make your shopping experience an easy and pleasant one. Owing to a huge increase in demand for wholesale cheese to be produced and sent to the mainland, the Cheese Shop has entrusted all of their postal mail orders to The Arran Gift Box who will be delighted to accommodate your postal deliveries. Telephone: 01770 302788 and find us on Facebook 

Red Door

Red Door is full to bursting with gifts galore. Choose from an extensive range of ladies handbags, jewellery, scarves, hats and the list goes on! We have a lovely range of wooden toys and baby accessories. Gents are covered too with a range of hats, scarves and wallets etc. Not forgetting the pets in the family either with a wide range of dog and cat toys and treats. Remember Red Door is the home of Arran Dog Bakery and Stacey’s Arran Tablet! So pop in and take a look, as they say, they truly do have something for everyone. You are welcome to visit our Facebook page.

Arran Art Gallery

Arran Art Gallery is owned by resident artist Nick Giles and is the largest Art Gallery on the island, as well as one of the largest in Scotland. They continuously exhibit the artwork of over 70 artists in a mixed exhibition of mainly Scottish artists and many from our beautiful Island. The gallery also boasts two popular artists in residence. Nick Giles is a colourist who is best known for his unique abstracted Arran landscapes painted on glass that capture the essence of our island, impressing our customers with their luminous and vivid colours. Nick also paints our island birds, animals and landscapes on canvas, aiming to showcase the abundant natural beauty on our island. Also, Esther at Bataban Ceramics, has curated a collection of three beautiful and distinct ranges of stoneware, all inspired by the captivating allure of our ever- changing beach and seascapes. You can also visit at www.arranartgallery.com 

Arran Active

Arran Active has again increased the range of Arran-related outdoorsy gifts, including a range of island themed playing cards with mapping of Arran on each card. Still available are hoodies and tees sold to support island charities, as well as calendars and jigsaws. They are also delighted to be a stockist for the great new Isle of Arran Candle Company. The selection of clothing has also developed, notably with a wider range from Passenger, a UK based supplier combining ethics and desirability. Looking ahead to when the cold weather comes, Arran Active has an impressive variety of hats, gloves and scarves from fairly traded sources. Also on trend are the Stanley insulated mugs and bottles which have been a Tik-Tok sensation and are all the rage! Plenty of other gift accessories including rechargeable hand warmers, which are good for golfers, and don’t forget socks. Pop in to their shop in Brodick or visit www.arranactive.co.uk

ARRAN Sense of Scotland 

ARRAN Sense of Scotland puts quality and fragrance first, so you can be sure that each of the bath, body & home products have been expertly crafted and manufactured with the greatest care, right here on the Isle of Arran, proudly made in Scotland since 1989. Shop this week and enjoy up to 40% off best-selling ‘After the Rain’ collection. The irresistibly fresh fragrance is a blend of rose petals, musk and floral citrus, mixed with notes of Arran’s precious woods. Also included in the fantastic Black Friday week offer is the ARRAN Naturals collection with up to 40% off. ARRAN has partnered with the Arran Trust and has committed 5% off all sales from the ARRAN Naturals collection to be donated to the Arran Trust, to protect and conserve our unspoiled island home. The team looks forward to welcoming you in-store - exclusions apply and discounts only available while stocks last. Shop early to ensure you don’t miss out on your favourite scents – The Home Farm, Brodick or visit www.arran.com

Cladach Sawmill and Garden Centre 

As we move into the festive period, Cladach Sawmill and Garden Centre has everything you need for this most wonderful time of year! Their fantastic range of Christmas lights & decorations are perfect for giving your home a bit of sparkle! Little elves are working hard to have their Christmas trees ready for the 1st of December! From 2ft to 10ft, Cladach has Christmas trees to fit every home! You will find perfectly shaped Nordmann trees, both cut & potted, excellent at retaining their needles right through into the New Year! They will also have a limited number of locally grown Arran Noble Fir trees which will be sold on a first come, first serve basis! Free delivery on all Christmas trees! Pop in & have a look at all of the Christmas delights & gifts – there’s something for everyone! Visit our Facebook page to find out more. 

Arran Gift Box 

The Arran Gift Box shop on Brodick front is a fantastic one-stop shop for a wide range of Arran and Scottish gifts. Stocking a wide range of Arran food & drinks to feature in our gift boxes alongside many other independent Scottish brands including Gillian Kyle, The Coorie Company, Dook and The Soap & Mhor. We opened our sister shop, The Home Farm Gift Shop, last year next to Arran Sense of Scotland, The Cheese Shop and Janie’s Café. They’ve expanded their range at home Farm to include a much wider selection of homeware, clothing, kids toys and accessories, jewellery and lots of special Christmas themed Arran ice cream flavours! And don’t forget you can also order gift boxes, cheese hampers or any gifts that will be posted UK-wide in time for Christmas The fabulous Jess MacDonald Brass jewellery can be found in both locations. Orders for Christmas boxes, Arran Cheese Shop hampers or any gifts from our shops can be taken at both shops, via email hello@ thearrangiftbox.com or phone 01770303556 or visit our website at www.thearrangiftbox.com

The Drift Inn 

The Drift Inn is thrilled to announce the launch of its fantastic festive menu on December 1st and continuing until Christmas Eve. This is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious pre-Christmas treat with friends, colleagues, or family. Offering exceptional value for money, you can choose from two courses for £24 per person or three courses for just £29 per person. Pre-booking required. To celebrate the festive season in style, they are also offering Christmas party nights on Fridays throughout December. For just £29 per person, you can enjoy three delectable courses from their festive menu and live music by Scott MacDonald. For table reservations, please call 01770 600608, email enquiries@driftinnarran. com, or visit www.driftinnarran.com. The Drift Inn is open for food seven days a week throughout November and December, serving from 12-8 pm on Sundays to Thursdays and 12-9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Takeaway available daily. 

A Touch of Enchantment 

Visit this little shop tucked away at Cladach and find a cornucopia of original gifts and homewares, produced on the Isle of Arran and many in the workshop upstairs! Their exclusive Enchanted Range includes semi-precious gemstone jewellery, wands, the popular Elixir Mixing Kit and our Faerie Door Kits and they also offer a range of Arran themed model kits. You will also find a range of ancient games such as Daldos, Hnefetafl and Nine Men’s’ Morris and the recently added Chess for Scotland all designed in a compact form – perfect for posting or travel. In addition to the flagship range of souvenir T-shirts and Hoodies (which includes ones for your favourite cuddly friend) and our homewares – all printed on site – Mark and Janette have carefully curated an eclectic collection of works by Arran artists and craftspeople giving this delightful shop an abundance of gifts for others or yourself! You can also visit our Facebook page

Old Byre Visitor Centre 

Old Byre Visitor Centre in Machrie and The Byre at Brodick Shop. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a visit to the Old Byre Visitor Centre in Machrie and The Byre at Brodick. There’s an extensive range of Christmas gift ideas with prices to suit all budgets. The Old Byre Showroom has beautiful knitwear, sustainable clothing from leading brands, storm proof jackets, accessories and wool throws made in the UK. Gift ideas include Nordic Socks, recycled rugs, hats, hand-warmers and there’s always gift cards. The Shoe Bothy has footwear for everyone from pre-walkers to pensioners, shoes, boots, wellies, trainers and slippers. There are also handbags, purses, wallets and sheepskin rugs. If you do not already have one of their Shop Local loyalty cards pop in to the Byre at Brodick or Machrie to sign up and you’ll gain loyalty points all year to generate money off vouchers. Don’t forget that Café Thyme will be open for you, before or after your shopping, pop in for a coffee and cake or a delicious lunch before you head off to your next shop. Telephone: 01770 840227 Website: www.oldbyre.co.uk