Easter break

Sophie Scott, 3, Katie Furze, 1, and Hazel Price, 3, take an impromptu lunch break during an adventure-filled day at Brodick Castle where they joined scores of people enjoying the sunshine and Easter egg hunt at the castle.

The largest Easter event on Arran also enjoyed the sunniest day of the year as crowds of families flocked to Brodick Castle on Easter Sunday.

The Easter at the Castle event, organised by the Friends of Brodick Castle, saw a record number of visitors enjoying the sunshine, games, competitions and parades and – in conjunction with chocolate manufacturer Cadbury – the Easter egg hunt.

Families scoured the grounds of the historic country park in search of clues hidden throughout the gardens which, once all were located, allowed them to collect a chocolate treat. On offer for parents were craft stalls to browse while younger children, and some adults, enjoyed the egg decorating competition. There was also an adult and a children’s tombola, along with various other fun activities, including duck fishing which earned children prizes.

Wacky races

With an equally liberal distribution of egg prizes, children and adults competed in the wacky races which attracted a huge crowd of participants and supporters.

Included among the traditional favourites such as the three-legged race and the egg-

and-spoon race was a dog race and a hilariously comical welly-boot race where contestants had to synchronise their running with four others whose boots were attached to a wooden plank.

Easter bonnet parade

By early afternoon, when the sun was at its highest, the visitors congregated for the popular Easter bonnet parade which saw a wealth of entries ranging from egg-themed bonnets to complete gardens and entire farm menageries.

The fun-filled day was rounded off with the traditional and somewhat unusual duck derby which saw hundreds of balls being thrown down the sandstone steps of the castle with the one travelling the furthest winning a prize – which three-year-old Hazel Price won, to her astonishment.

Upkeep

Easter at the Castle is the main fundraising event of the Friends of the Brodick Castle which, along with the Arran Ranger Service, works throughout the year to provide educational and informative activities all geared towards assisting with the preservation, maintenance and upkeep of the Brodick Castle and Country Park.

Under sevens take part in the Easter bonnet parade.

Contestants aged between seven and 12 years show off their Easter bonnets.

Rosie O’ Regan and Colin Miller with son Lucas spent an enjoyable Easter at Brodick Castle.

Two young girls have a laugh during the three-legged race.

And they are off – children take part in the egg and spoon races.

Parents fare slightly better than the young children in the sack race.

Children go tumbling in all directions during the sack race.

Having a blast at the castle are Ava and Cameron Russell and Erin and Brodie Sutherland from Wrral.

Children add their entries to the Easter egg decorating contest.

Contestants set off in the wheelbarrow race

Adults join in the fun at the wacky races.

The Gregg family seek out the clues on the Easter trail.

Hayley, aged 4, who dressed for the occasion, is with dad Oliver Glister.

Calum and Abbie McGregor of Uddingston concentrate on decorating their egg.

An egg and spoon race contestant finds a method of preventing her egg from dropping.

Dad Donald Roberts enjoys a day out with son Jensen.