Who says dogs don’t go to heaven?

Arran is surely the closest thing that mutts have to nirvana with its wealth of walking opportunities and dog-friendly hostelries.

Given the number of four-legged passengers on the ferry from Ardrossan, owners seem to have cottoned on to this fact too - it’s like a floating dog show.

The minute Mac sets paw on that Cal Mac ferry he knows that the good times are about to roll. Only this time, things are going to be different.

He is still on a Walkies Ban due to his healing paw, which was badly cut on glass in the local park. I wonder how he’ll react when he realises that his usual holiday pastimes of swimming off Brodick beach and racing up Glen Rosa are sadly not on the cards . . .

Mac’s holiday diary


Day 1: Woo hoo! We’re on Arran, my favourite place. So excited. We travelled across on the boat with a whole bunch of other dogs. Amazing how many people want to pat me at the moment. They keep pointing at my big blue bandaged paw. Can’t wait to go to the beach.

Day 2: Excellent. A dry day. Arran looks great in the sunshine. So, when we going to the beach guys? Guys?

Day 3: As we head out for walkies I’m so relieved things are back on track. We’re walking through Brodick and I’ve got the wind in my hair and the smell of the sea in my nose. Perfect.

But wait, this isn’t the path to the beach. Why are we going into this building? This rooms smells of the fear of a hundred doggies; this is a VET'S! A dastardly trick. After suffering the indignity of having my sore paw examined and re-bandaged I remain in a huff for the remainder of the day. I want adopted.

Day 4: Another day of incarceration. No matter how many times I drop my lead at their feet, it doesn’t seem to be having the usual effect. They took me on a paltry walk down to the village shop this morning.

On the way back I could see the other dogs leaping off the rocks along the front and into the water but no matter how much I strain on my lead I can’t even get a paw in the water.

Day 5:  Finally, I break into a celebratory run round the house as my lead is attached; we are definitely going out. Admittedly we don’t appear to be heading for the water, we’re going to Brodick Castle, but this will do.

There are miles and miles of walks and a funny little nature centre with some animals which don’t appear to move very quickly. They said something about “stuffed” but I don’t know what that means.

Day 6: I had almost given up hope today but just before bedtime we head out to the Ormidale hotel for the legendary pub quiz. It’s not what I’d call a proper walk, but there is a nice warm fire here and a couple of other mutts to chew the fat with and the owner Tommy is always nice to me.  

Day 7: So excited to be getting out of the house today. Hang on a second, why are they bringing those cases with them? Oh, you cannot be serious, we haven’t even been to the beach!!!