The House by the Sea
TIGH NA MARA, BRODICK·THURSDAY, 5 APRIL 2018·
Catriona and I have been coming to Arran for over 50 years, and have always loved the tranquillity, the people and the wide variety of different activities available. Since then we have worked tirelessly to transform an old Victorian property which was needing lots of tender loving care (and a considerable amount of investment!) ba
ck to its former glory. We tried, wherever possible, to use local tradesmen and suppliers who have all contributed to the renaissance of this beautiful old house. Tigh Na Mara sits right in the centre of Brodick village and looks out on Brodick Bay with Goatfell and Brodick Castle on the left - the photo above was taken just across from the house. Your holiday really begins though when you board the ferry from Ardrossan and sail across the Clyde and into Brodick Bay. From the brand new terminal, Tigh Na Mara is 500 metres away, so you don’t really need a car. The house itself has every comfort with 4 large bedrooms sleeping a total of 8, a beautiful lounge with huge picture windows onto that view (we challenge you not to spend at least an hour per day, sitting with a cup of tea watching the world go by) and a dining area through the back just off the kitchen where people tend to congregate with a drink before dinner. The bathrooms have been completely modernised to a very high standard. Outside there is a garden area with table, chairs, a parasol and a barbecue for all those balmy evenings that we get on Arran. Within a few hundred metres of the house there are several cafes and restaurants, a newsagent, 2 banks, a bakery, 2 (yes, 2) Co-op stores, an excellent Chinese take-away, gift shops, a toy shop and a hairdressers, as well as Brodick Village Hall and Library. Brodick Golf Club and Bowling Green are nearby as well as the putting green and crazy golf. And right next door to the house is James of Arran, the best chocolatier in the world, though I may be a little biased. We really are in the centre of Brodick! The Auchrannie Resort is a short walk away with soft play, a large swimming pool, the A-spa and an activity centre with Segways, pottery-painting, kayaks etc. And if you just want to go for a stroll, Fisherman’s Walk takes you out along the beach, past Cladach and Home Farm where there are more gift shops, cafes and bars, then over the Invercloy Burn and back along the golf course. Actually the best way to find out about all that Arran has to offer is to come and stay at Tigh Na Mara - but be warned, you will need to keep coming back and you may catch Arranitis, that indefinable feeling of wellness from which regular visitors never recover. All of our bookings are handled by Cottages and Castles (www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk) and the property is fully managed all year round. We hope you will love it as much as we do. Gus Simpson
