June Newsletter
Arran’s Food Journey
June Newsletter
Welcome to our first newsletter. Many of you will have signed up when taking part in our March quiz, our congratulations go to winner Siobhan of Bishopbriggs. The good news is this month we’re offering another chance to win £150 of Arran foodie prizes so please read on to find out how!
Bellevue & Lagg,
Barley to Bottle Tour
Two of Arran’s iconic visitor attractions have combined a new whisky lovers tour that tells the story of how barley grown on Arran becomes Lagg whisky.
The tour starts at Bellevue Farm near Blackwaterfoot where you’ll walk through a field of growing barley. Ailsa Currie one of the farm owners tells both the farm’s story and shares her knowledge of the care, process and challenges of delivering a crop that meets the distillers needs.
There is then time to meet and feed some of the farm’s animals, Highland Cows and Alpaca’s being a highlight, before taking the short drive to Lagg distillery. Along the way you’ll marvel at the stunning views across to Ailsa Craig, the Kintyre and Ayrshire coastlines.
Once at Lagg there’s time for a spot of lunch from a menu that features produce from Arran including Arran Cheese and Bakehouse Bread before being guided around the distilling room to hear how the barley is turned into Lagg Whisky before trying the finished product in the tasting room.
We think that this is a 5* must for those who want to immerse themselves in the making of whisky on Arran. As alcohol is part of the story the tours is for over 18’s.
Find out more and book
Focus on Corrie
The pretty village of Corrie is home to two great places to sample local food who share the same community values, we’ll let them tell you their story in their own words
MARA is our seafood “cafe” & deli situated on the shore front in Corrie. Restaurant food, served in takeaway style with views to die for over the Firth of Clyde. If you’re lucky you may even spot a pod of dolphins going past or some cheeky otters playing on the shore.
At Mara we source our seafood & produce locally and sustainably. Lamlash bay creel caught lobsters, langoustines & hand dived scallops are a firm fixture on our menu. Similarly most of the vegetables we use are grown by Robin Gray in Whiting bay and our deli stocks bread from the Blackwater Bakehouse & Arran milk along with other seafood items. Our menu changes daily in line with seasonality and simply what is available to us at the time.
We’re neighbours with the fabulous Corrie Hotel who have the best beer garden in the world. Our businesses complement each other perfectly.
Corrie Hotel is our locally run hotel for both community and visitors, we offer relaxed dining in our bar, restaurant and outside
We are excited to bring our Sunday Lunch closer to home whenever the opportunity arises, serving Arran-reared slow roast lamb, with all the trimmings .
Our Whisky bar has over 25 different bottles, of which 16 are from the distilleries on Arran, including the Arran 25-year-old from Lochranza so is the perfect place to carry on your barley to bottle experience.
Oh and did someone mention the views from our beer garden!
We may be a tad bias but we think Corrie is the place to be..
2024 Arran Festival of Food and Drink
At Arran’s Food Journey we like to think that Arran offers a ‘year round’ festival of food and drink, however later in the year there are a couple of times when we pull out all of the stops to put on something extra special. On the 31st of August the Kinloch Hotel hold their annual beer festival and then from the 11th to the 22nd of September there is the Arran Festival of Food and Drink.
During this period hospitality providers offer festival special dishes and menu’s, food and drink providers collaborate to put on one off pop up events and on the last day we have the Harvest Fest farmers market.
To whet your tastebuds click below to see last years events
Festival news
Quiz
Finally its your chance to enter our quiz again. The winner will receive 3 great prizes worth over £150, a gift box from The Arran Gift Box, A Farm Tour at Bellevue Farm and a £50 Arran Gift Card that can be spent at a wide variety of Arran’s retailers and hospitality providers
Enter Quiz
