Monument to mark the walk is well under way
Work is progressing well on the monument which will mark the start and finish of the Arran Coastal Way.
The former flowerbed at Brodick pier is being transformed by stonemasons into the new landmark, which has been designed by award-winning metal worker, Simon Horne of Pirnmill.
The work involves lowering the height of the back wall of the flowerbed, paving the inside of the structure, and adding a copper topography map of Arran, inset in oak, on top of a plinth of stones from around the island.
There will also be Sannox larchwood benches on the inside and outside of the structure to enhance the area for everyone’s enjoyment. Also there will be tactile rubbing disks of Arran wildlife and two half whisky barrel flower beds at the entrance to the monument which should be complete by the end of the month. It will mean an new and useful purpose for the area which was originally intended as a flowerbed to mark the centenary of the First World War, but which was seen by many to be an eyesore given its size. Earlier this year, The Arran Access Trust approached North Ayrshire Council about using the flowerbed to mark the beginning and end of the 65 mile circular footpath in a bid to put the coastal way on the map with Scotland’s other long distance trails. Having an official start and finish to the trail will also help improve the Trust’s ambition of gaining ‘Scotland Great Trail’ accreditation. Indeed, this is the remaining piece of criteria the trust needs to gain the hallmark and have the coastal way recognised as a national people-powered journey.
The trust embarked on a two year project last May to make tangible improvements to the route including better signage, maintenance on the paths and re-routing of short sections, all of which will make for a better walking experience.