Townapedia
Scotland, Isle of Arran, Lamlash, Hamilton Terrace
Scotland, Isle of Arran, Lamlash, Hamilton Terrace · Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 3.0
05066 Parish Church, Lamlash, Arran 013
05066 Parish Church, Lamlash, Arran 013 · WeeHolly, CC BY-SA 4.0
05066 Parish Church, Lamlash, Arran 005
05066 Parish Church, Lamlash, Arran 005 · WeeHolly, CC BY-SA 4.0
05066 Parish Church, Lamlash, Arran 011
05066 Parish Church, Lamlash, Arran 011 · WeeHolly, CC BY-SA 4.0
05066 Parish Church, Lamlash, Arran 009
05066 Parish Church, Lamlash, Arran 009 · WeeHolly, CC BY-SA 4.0
05066 Parish Church, Lamlash, Arran 007
05066 Parish Church, Lamlash, Arran 007 · WeeHolly, CC BY-SA 4.0

Lamlash, United Kingdom

Lamlash is a town of 1,030 people in Scotland, United Kingdom.

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Population1,030 GeoNames
RegionScotland
Elevation26 ft 8 m
Time zoneEurope/London
Nearest airportGlasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) 21 mi
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Why visit Lamlash

Townapedia lists 9 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 3 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Eas Geal and Meallach's Grave.

About Lamlash

Lamlash (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Eilean Àrd) is a town on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. It lies three miles (five kilometres) south of the island's main settlement and ferry port Brodick, in a sheltered bay on the island's east coast, facing the Holy Isle. Lamlash is the seat of Arran's local government offices, and is also the location of the island's police station, secondary school and hospital. In common with the rest of the island, the town's main industry is tourism and the public sector is also an important employer.

From the Wikipedia article Lamlash (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photos of Lamlash

Things to do2

Eas Geal

Waterfall · 2.2 mi

Waterfall in North Ayrshire, Scotland, UK

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The Ross

Scenic view · 1.5 mi

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Museums and landmarks9

Clearances Monument

Monument and historic site

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Group of stones

Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi

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Meallach's Grave

Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi

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Duchess Ann's Harbour

Monument and historic site

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Dunan Beag Cairn and Standing Stone

Monument and historic site · 1.2 mi

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Dunan Mòr

Monument and historic site · 1.3 mi

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Kilbride Chapel

Monument and historic site · 0.8 mi

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Standing Stone

Monument and historic site · 1.1 mi

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Parks, trails and playgrounds1

Lamlash Golf Club

Golf course · 0.8 mi

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Restaurants and cafes3

The Pierhead Tavern

Bar and pub

Main Street, Isle of Arran

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The Old Pier Cafe

Cafe

Mo,Th-Sa 10:00-16:00; Su 11:00-16:00

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The Drift Inn

Bar and pub

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History

A prehistoric ring of stones indicates that an ancient settlement has existed near Lamlash since antiquity. The name Lamlash dates back to the 6th Century hermitage of Saint Molaise, a Celtic monk born in Ireland but raised in Scotland, who, circa 590, spent some time in a cave on the neighbouring Holy Isle. Commonly known as MoLaise the Gaelic name of Holy Isle was, as a result, Eilean MoLaise. This gradually evolved through Elmolaise and Lemolash to Lamlash, which is what Holy Isle was called until early in the 19th century. After that time the name was more normally attached to the village that grew up facing it.

Lamlash was peripherally involved in the 13th century Battle of Largs. It was the birthplace of artist James Kay.

When Mary, Queen of Scots was at Dumbarton Castle in February 1548 during the war of the Rough Wooing, the English commander Grey of Wilton proposed basing some warships at "Lammelashe" to watch for French ships. Mary was taken to France. Her ship was at first forced by adverse winds to return towards the Firth of Clyde, and anchored at the "roadstead of the isle of Lamlash" or "Lamelesche" on August 6.

The town was the training place for No. 11 (Scottish) Commando during the early years of the Second World War.

From the History section of Lamlash on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

More about Lamlash

Geography

Lamlash is located in the southern half of the island, some 3 miles (5 km) to the south of Brodick and 5 miles (8 km) to the north of Whiting Bay. It is on the eastern side and sits on a bay facing the Holy Isle and the Firth of Clyde.

Economy

In common with the rest of the island the town's main industry is tourism. In Lamlash the public sector is also an important employer. Fisheries is no longer important; although the Clyde was once the finest fishery in Europe it is now all but gone. There are strictly speaking no fish left in the Clyde for commercial capture and the few fishermen left are reduced to scraping the seabed for scallops and prawns.

According to Glasgow's Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Lamlash Bay is a good natural harbour offering very good shelter. It has accommodated the Royal Navy Home Fleet and Atlantic Fleet.

Lamlash has an RNLI Lifeboat station with a B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat, covering the inshore waters around the coast of Arran.

In summer, there is a regular ferry service from Lamlash harbour to Holy Isle.

From the Wikipedia article Lamlash, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Notable people from Lamlash

Born in Lamlash, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.

Where to stay7

Churches and places of worship1

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Shopping5

Schools, colleges and libraries3

Healthcare2

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Map of Lamlash

33 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 21 miles away.

  • Ardrossan 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
  • Saltcoats 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
  • Millport 17 mi northeast, about 28 min by car
  • Troon 18 mi east, about 29 min by car
  • Kilwinning 18 mi northeast, about 30 min by car
  • Irvine 19 mi east, about 31 min by car
  • Ayr 20 mi east, about 32 min by car
  • Prestwick 20 mi east, about 33 min by car
  • Largs 21 mi northeast, about 34 min by car
  • Kilmarnock 25 mi east, about 41 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

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Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.