Lochranza
Brambles
The systematic excursions from Lochranza of bramble-pickers, often here
cock crow at Ballarie, became such a nuisance to us at St Bride's that,
finally, we felt justified in pinning the following notice to the trunk
of a tree at the farther end of the footbridge: It is earnestly requested
that visitors will NOT cross this footbridge to pick brambles, as the
inmates of St Bride's are vegetarians, and meanwhile are subsisting largely
on the brambles growing on their own property. (signed) MacLean, Bogle
& MacGregor.
Alasdair Alpin MacGregor Somewhere in Scotland (1948)
Arran is especially famous for its wild brambles with brambling excursions to the island reaching a peak around the end of September.
Though
there are other cultivated fruits growing in domestic gardens such as
apples, pears, plums and cherries, none are grown commercially. The source
of fruits on Arran was traditionally of the wild variety. The young clerk
who stayed in Prinmill in the 1880s (see p.29) was sent round the back
of the house to pick wild strawberries and raspberries for an impromptu
dessert. Soft fruits are now being grown commercially in Whiting Bay:
raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants and tayberries. Some are being
grown in poly tunnels which extends the season from June through to September.
