Be a responsible snorkeller Snorkel Trail E [email protected] Check the conditions: be aware of tides, water W scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/snorkeltrail Dive in to temperatures, currents and weather forecasts facebook.com/LivingSeasScotland before you leave. @ScottishSeas Take a friend: never snorkel alone and always tell ’s @scottishwildlifetrust people where you are going. Before Before you go you Know who to contact: find out where the nearest medical and/or coastguard facility is and note Living Seas! down who to contact in an emergency. 6

Catacol Know your surroundings: check what the A841 Thundergay

weather and tides are doing, and identify a landmark for reference. Use the right equipment: only use good quality ISLE OF Corrie and well-fitting equipment – mask, snorkel and fins. 5 ARRAN Balliekine beach At the At Wear the right protection: a wetsuit will keep you warm and protect you against jellyfish stings.

If it’s sunny, remember to cream up! B880

Follow the Snorkeller’s Code: 1

Lamlash Do not remove seaweed or animals from rocks 2 or from their homes. Backwaterfoot Take care not to kick sealife with fins or stand on delicate animals. 3 water In the Observe animals where they live and don’t take Lagg anything away with you. 4 Kildonan WARNING: Do not snorkel in rough weather 1• Clauchlands Farm •4 Kildonan Do not touch jellyfish and other wildlife 2• •5 Imachar Never snorkel alone 3• Whiting Bay •6 Lochranza

Emergency Services: Arran Medical 999 The Isle of Arran Snorkel Trail joins a growing list Group: Belfast Coastguard: of snorkel trails in Scotland launched as part of the 01770 600 546 02891 463 933 Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas programme, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. For further information, visit: Snorkel Trail scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ Isle of Arran The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland snorkeltrail (no. SC040247). It is also a Scottish registered charity (no SC005792). Cover image © Howard Wood. Some of the images in this leaflet are courtesy of Scottish Natural Heritage and Marine Scotland. All map data © 2021 Google. In association with COAST

The waters off Scotland’s west coast are home to a rich marine environment just Life under waiting to be explored.There are no guarantees what you might see on your snorkel the waves (that’s part of the fun!), but here are some common species to keep an eye out for:

WARNING: PAINFUL STING Fish Jellyfish

BALLAN WRASSE COMMON BLENNY TWO-SPOT GOBY JUVENILE COD LION’S MANE MOON BARREL COMB © Paul Naylor © Paul Kay © Paul Naylor © Paul Wood © Howard Stoyle © George Naylor © Paul Hawkins © Noel In Focus Earth Whyte, © Polly Starfish and urchins and urchins Crustaceans SHORE CRAB HARBOUR CRAB VELVET HERMIT CRAB COMMON SUNSTAR COMMON (EDIBLE) SPINY SWIMMING CRAB STARFISH URCHIN STARFISH © Graham Saunders © Graham Wood © Howard © Ben James Saunders © Graham Stoyle © George Thompson © Malcolm © Ben James Wood © Howard Snails Plants and algae and algae DOGWHELK LIMPET PERIWINKLE TOPSHELL KELP SEAGRASS BLADDER WRACK MAERL © Lara Howe © Lara © James Merryweather Naylor © Paul Saunders © Graham Stoyle © George © Ben James © James Merryweather © Lisa Kamphausen

SEALS CUCKOO PORPOISE Remember WRASSE the three Ts: No touching, 15 SPINE SMALL-SPOTTED taking or t OTTER STICKLEBACK CAT SHARK of marine animals,easing out for... out for... Also look plants or shells. Other

invertebrates PEACOCK WORM BEADLET SNAKELOCKS BURROWING What did you see on your snorkel? ANEMONE ANEMONE ANEMONE © Howard Wood © Howard Saunders © Graham Wood © Howard © Laurie Campbell © Laurie Send us your pictures on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram. B863 North Ballachulish

Bishops Bay Cottage

B863 North Ballachulish

Bishops Bay Cottage Whiting Bay Hall

Old Ferry ’ Road

’ Old Ferry Road A841 A841

A82

Millhill Crescent 1 2 The Community of Arran Seabed Trust Clauchlands Point ’ Drift Inn COAST is a community-led organisation, founded in 1995, that works tirelessly to A841 protect and restore a diverse, abundant and beautiful marine environment for everyone in

Pierhead Arran, the Clyde and Scotland. B863 North Tavern Ballachulish B863 North

Ballachulish Nestled between the Mull of on the

Bishops Bay A841’ Cottage Bishops Bay west and Ayrshire on the east, you’ll find Cottage “Scotland in miniature”; the Isle of Arran. Clauchlands Farm Lamlash Arran residents have long been impassioned

about their Whitingcoastal Bay waters and the need to MAP:Old FerryOS Explorer’ 361, NS048326 MAP: OS Explorer 361, NS030314 Hall Road NEAREST VILLAGE: Lamlash (1.2 miles) NEARESTOld Ferry VILLAGE:’ Lamlash (0 miles) protect them. In 2008, Arran’s community Road This site, which is within the No Take Zone, offers The beach below the Drift Inn offers carefully- were proud to establish the Lamlash Bay A82 the opportunity to see a marine habitat where no footed access to this excellent site, where a myriad No Take Zone, a 2.67km2 area where any fishing has taken place since 2008. Look for juvenile of marine life lives. More advanced snorkelers can fish and a wide variety of crabs and starfish amongst head slightly further out towards the buoys to extraction of marineA841 life is prohibited – the the seaweed. You may also find some patches of try and find small patches of seagrass. There is a first area of its kind in Scotland. In 2016, the seagrass to explore by swimming along for a short working pier near this site, so keep a safe distance 2 while with the coast on your right-hand side. from the jetty and be careful of boat traffic. much larger (280km ) South Arran Marine Protected Area was created to protect sensitive seabed habitats.

3 4 ’ A841 Due to these protected areas, marine life in Arran’s seas is abundant and varied. From large marine mammals – such as seals,

Kildonan Village Hall otters and porpoise – to the tiny thumbnail- sized sea slugs, there’s something to appeal to all interests. Whiting Bay Hall

B863 North Ballachulish

A841 Bishops Bay Cottage

B863 North Ballachulish

Bishops Bay Cottage

Old Ferry ’ WhitingRoad Bay Kildonan

© COAST Whiting Bay MAP: OS Explorer 361, NS045261 MAP: OS Explorer 361, NS021209 Hall

A82 NEAREST VILLAGE: Whiting Bay (0 miles) NEARESTOld Ferry VILLAGE:’ Kildonan (0 miles) Road In 2018, COAST opened their Discovery The old jetty at Whiting Bay offers an ideal place This sheltered beach at the southern end of Arran is Centre on the shores of Lamlash Bay, a for snorkelling; with easy access across a sandy easily accessed from in front of the village hall. The beach there is lots to see making it a fantastic ’ geology offers impressive rocky outcrops, providing fantastic place to visit to learn more about place for beginners and younger snorkellers. For great habitat for fish and crustaceans.A841 Seabirds, the marine conservationA841 efforts on the island. the more experienced, head further out on a low seals and otters are all commonly seen here. The tide towards the mooring buoys to find amazing small beach at the front of the hall is great for Even better, from here you can sign up for one seagrass habitat. Take care walking on the jetty at beginners, whilst the rocky outcrops provide a of COAST’s seasonal snorkel taster sessions.* low tide as it can be very slippery. chance for those more experienced to explore. Find your fins and get comfortable snorkelling in our seas under the careful guidance of

5 A841 6 qualified snorkel instructors, before heading off on a snorkel adventure of your own as you explore further sites around the island.

Millhill Crescent

Lochranza Arran Registered Charity in Ferry Terminal Scotland SCO42088

A841 *for available dates and full T&Cs, please visit COAST’s website Get in touch! arrancoast.com T 01770 600 656 E [email protected] Imachar Lochranza arran.coast ArranCoast MAP: OS Explorer 361, NR865401 MAP: OS Explorer 361, NR925509

NEAREST VILLAGE: Pinmill (2.6 miles) NEAREST VILLAGE: Lochranza (0 miles) arran.coast Pierhead Tavern This rocky outcrop is surrounded by beautifully To the west of the ferry pier, this sheltered beach clear waters, providing an excellent opportunity to offers an easily accessible site to snorkel whilst see a variety of fish, crabs, starfish and many other waiting for the ferry. Crabs, juvenile fish, starfish Snorkelling can be dangerous and these species. Entry is safest directly off the pebble beach and a variety of sea snails can often be found self-guided trails are used entirely at your either side of the outcrop. Snorkelling this site an hiding amongst the seaweed. Please ensure you own risk. It is your responsibility to check hour either side of high tide is recommended, and stay close to the coast and remain well away from advanced snorkellers may benefit from taking a the working ferry pier. the conditions present on the day and torch to explore between the rocks. assess whether it is safe to snorkel.

Wild camping Toilets Café The information contained within this leaflet was correct at Key Beginner Advanced Parking Shop the time of publishing (March 2021). For further details, please visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/snorkeltrail