Mile 45 - Isle of Arran, Ayrshire UK - Milestones on Waymarking.com

If you are into finding milestones, Arran is an island paradise! Not only are there plenty to find on a very simple road network in glorious coastal settings, but there is also a brilliant 80 page book about them. Each milestone has a whole A5 page dedicated to it! The book, 'The Milestones of Arran' is by Ruth & Alan Thompson, published in 2000, and based on an earlier work, 'Courier', by Frances & Anthony Campbell. The book gives wonderful information about the island, providing an introduction to the view, flora and fauna at each milestone on all Arran's roads. It also includes quite a bit of history.

The exact origin of the stones is rather unclear. It is probable they were placed around the time the coastal road was completed, which was 1851. No doubt they were part of the modernisation of the island - more people were coming to visit and would need to know where they were and how far to wherever they were going. The road around the island is circular and so the numbering could, in theory, start anywhere. Logically, it starts near Brodick, but instead of at the ferry pier where most visitors will start, the first stone is at the Old Quay a mile or so around the bay below Brodick Castle.

The original community of Brodick was at Cladach below the castle by its red sandstone quay. In 1844 the 11th Duke of Hamilton married. The happy couple desired more privacy so they had the old village demolished and the people moved to new sites at Invercloy, further around the bay. No public enquiries or planning laws in those days! So, starting at the old quay, by the time the road has been around the south of the island, up the west coast to Lochranza, and started its climb up the Boguillie road back towards Brodick, it has covered 45 miles.

Milestone no.45 is in an excellent state with the 4 and 5 sharp and clearly visible. It retains its shield cross-section, showing little weathering. Lichen has clothed the NW side. The stone is on the SW side of the road, a short way SE beyond a semi-covered water treatment plant. From Lochranza the road has climbed about 150 feet above the shore in the village. After passing the distillery it rises up through several ancient raised beaches, seen as terraces, until it starts to curl around the fell.

Tracking down all the milestones on Arran, and reading about their history in the Thompson's fascinating book, would provide at least a couple of days of entertainment (or more) and give a great sense of the island. Cycling around the island would probably be the ideal way to do this as it would make stopping every mile very easy. There is some up and down though!

The book is available from the excellent Heritage Museum in Brodick and is definitely recommended. As you go along the Arran roads you will find yourself looking out for the old sandstone markers ever mile.

Condition: Worn Date placed: 01/01/1850 Material: Stone Inscription: The mile number - 45 Name of road: Coast Road

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