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Isle of Bute
Rothesay Castle, Mount Stuart and quiet beaches a short ferry from Glasgow
Bute sits in the Firth of Clyde, 35 minutes by ferry from Wemyss Bay, whose station is next to the pier, so it is easy to reach by train from Glasgow. Wikipedia gives a population of 6,047, most living in Rothesay, the Victorian resort town around the harbour. The island's highest point, Windy Hill, is only 278 m.
Rothesay has the moated Rothesay Castle, with what Historic Scotland calls Scotland's only circular curtain wall, and the listed Victorian toilets on the pier. South of the town is Mount Stuart, the Gothic Revival home of the Marquesses of Bute. The west coast has sandy bays at Ettrick and Scalpsie, and the West Island Way crosses the island.
- Wemyss Bay to Rothesay35 minutesCalMac; Colintraive to Rhubodach takes 5 minutes
- Glasgow to Wemyss Bay52 minutes by trainCalMac; the station is next to the ferry terminal
- Population6,047Wikipedia; most live in Rothesay
Gegenden
Where to begin
The Rothesay and the island guide has 14 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay.
Sehenswürdigkeiten
Highlights across Isle of Bute
A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.
Rothesay Castle
Moated castle of the Stewart kings with Scotland's only circular curtain wall; the great hall has displays.
Victorian Toilets
Public toilets on the west pier, opened in 1900 and renovated in 1994; now a listed tourist attraction.
Mount Stuart
Gothic Revival home of the Marquesses of Bute, designed by Robert Rowand Anderson in the late 1870s; seasonal opening.
Dunagoil
Vitrified Iron Age fort on a volcanic headland, its ramparts melted by intense heat.
Kilchattan Bay
Village at the south end of Bute, sheltered by Suidhe Chattan hill, with a sandy bay to the north.
Ettrick Bay
Wide sandy bay about 2 km across on the west coast, used for D-Day landing practice.
West Island Way
Waymarked route opened in 2000, the first on a Scottish island; one of NatureScot's Great Trails.
Port Bannatyne
Village on Kames Bay north of Rothesay, with Kames Castle at the head of the bay.
Fotos
1 / 3With kids in Isle of Bute
Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our Isle of Bute guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.
Beaches and swimming
- Ettrick BayBeach, Rothesay and the island
- Scalpsie BayBeach, Rothesay and the island
Practical help: travelling with children and where to stay in Isle of Bute.
Anreise
Arriving in Isle of Bute
Two CalMac routes serve Bute: the main ferry from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay and the short crossing from Colintraive on Cowal to Rhubodach in the north of the island. Book vehicle space in advance in summer.
Ferry from Wemyss Bay
CalMac says the crossing from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay takes 35 minutes and recommends booking in advance online.
Train to Wemyss Bay
Regular trains from Glasgow Central take 52 minutes, according to CalMac, and the station is next to the ferry terminal.
Ferry from Colintraive
The Colintraive to Rhubodach ferry takes 5 minutes and links Bute with the Cowal peninsula.
Journey times are CalMac's own figures, checked on 3 November 2026. We do not publish timetables or fares.
Mit dem Bus
West Coast Motors runs the buses on Bute, and CalMac mentions an open-top bus tour of the island.
Zu Fuß
The West Island Way was the first waymarked long-distance route on a Scottish island, according to Wikipedia, and can be walked in stages.
By bike
CalMac describes Bute as big enough for challenging rides and shorter family cycles.
Paying for local transport in Isle of Bute
ScotRail (Scotland’s trains).ScotRail runs most trains within Scotland. Its tickets page refused automated access, so check ticket types and any Scotland-only offers on its site.ScotRail tickets (opens in new tab)
Beste Reisezeit
Isle of Bute through the year
Bute is close enough to Glasgow for a visit at any time of year, but Mount Stuart is seasonal.
Mount Stuart opens for a summer season and offers private tours outside it; check its website for dates.
A quiet time; Rothesay Castle and the Historic Scotland sites at St Blane's and St Mary's Chapel remain worth a visit.
FAQ
Gut zu wissen vor der Reise
Can I visit Bute without a car?
Yes. Trains from Glasgow Central reach Wemyss Bay in 52 minutes and the ferry to Rothesay takes 35 minutes, according to CalMac; buses run on the island.
What are the Victorian toilets?
Listed public toilets on Rothesay's west pier, opened in 1900 and restored in 1994, now visited as an attraction in their own right.
Nearby places
Guides near Isle of Bute
Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.
Fotonachweise
- Isle of Bute (header): Daniel from Glasgow, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, source
- Rothesay and the island: Otter, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Rothesay Castle: Otter, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Victorian Toilets: Kristijrn, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mount Stuart: Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dunagoil: Anne Burgess, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Kilchattan Bay: Nicholas Mutton, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ettrick Bay: John Firth, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- West Island Way: Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Port Bannatyne: Frank Jordan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kames Castle: Rob Farrow, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St Colmac's Church: Thomas Nugent, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Rothesay Town Hall: Leslie Barrie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Gründlich planen
More guides for Isle of Bute
- Where to stay in Isle of ButeWelches Gebiet zu welchem Reisenden passt, mit allen von uns geprüften Unterkünften.
- Getting around Isle of ButeMit und ohne Auto, nach offiziellen Verkehrsseiten.
- When to go to Isle of ButeWetter, Tageslicht und Packliste Monat für Monat.
- Rainy-day ideas in Isle of ButeAktivitäten drinnen, nach Gebiet.
- Events in Isle of ButeFestivals, Märkte und saisonale Veranstaltungen der Veranstalter.
- Attractions in Isle of ButeSehenswürdigkeiten und Museen mit geprüften Angaben zu Eintritt und Zugang.
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