Bute-iful Island
So close to Scotland’s west coast, Bute is popular with locals and visitors – offering adventure in stunning scenery and boundless green spaces
ACCESSIBLE, close to the mainland and most of all beautiful, Bute is the perfect place for a Scottish island adventure. Sitting just off the west coast of the mainland, Bute is 53km (33 miles) from Glasgow, and ferries cross from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay, the isle’s main town, every hour. The ferries take 35 minutes, which means you have loads of time to explore the island and its many highlights – even in a day trip from the city.
There is no shortage of things to do on Bute, it’s a hotbed of culture and beauty, home to festivals, history and many brilliant bike and walking trails. One of the best sites to include on your itinerary, is Mount Stuart House and Gardens in Rothesay.
This 19th-century home is a four-star Visitscotland attraction, with lots to see both inside the house and in the surrounding 121-hectare (300 acre) gardens.
“Our house is unlike any other,” says Ash Park, communications officer at Mount Stuart. “Visitors are stunned by the neo-gothic design of the house. Inside, design inspired by astrology, art and mythology dazzles.
“You can see a map of the stars on the ceiling of the Marble Hall, or take the spiral staircase to what is believed to be the world’s first domestic heated swimming pool. This house is filled with innovations – from an early telephone system to our Victorian passenger lift.”
The current Mount Stuart may have been built in the 19th century, but its contents go back a lot further. Originally built in 1719, the home burned down in 1877, before being rebuilt. Luckily, many of the artefacts survived and can still be seen today.
The site is run by the Mount Stuart Trust and is still the seat of the Crichton-stuarts. Alongside tours of the house and the luscious gardens, the trust also
holds exhibitions and events throughout the year.
“We have three amazing events coming up this year,” says Ash. “An exhibition celebrating the arts and crafts era in the main house called Fantasy to Fabrication will run between May and October. We also have a new garden opening in August – a rediscovered area of the grounds, known as the Calvary Garden.”
Away from Mount Stuart, Rothesay Castle, a circular 13th-century castle managed by Historic Environment Scotland is quite the imposing sight. Unfortunately, it is currently closed to visitors, but it’s still impressive to see from beyond its moat.
Just next to the castle on Stuart Street, Bute Museum is the place to explore the island’s past and present. The museum houses a brilliant collection of photographs and artefacts, focusing on all aspects of the island.
Bute is also packed with amazing gardens and green spaces. Ardencraig Gardens in Craigmore is a walled garden with many striking plant species and also houses exotic birds within the aviaries. There’s also a tearoom. When it comes to stunning scenery, Bute is unrivalled. From the views to Arran from Ettrick Bay to the red sands of Kilchattan Bay in Kingrath, the island’s beaches are fantastic. Walkers will love the West Island Way, a 48km (30 mile) walk across the island from Kilchattan Bay to Port Bannatyne, taking in some of the area’s most magnificent sights. The walk can be completed in two to four days.
As Scotland’s fifth largest island by population, and with such easy access to the country’s largest city, it’s little wonder that so many make Bute their home. With so much to enjoy, there is never a bad time to head across the water.