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Bute

The island of Bute is the second largest of the islands in the Firth of Clyde, about 15 miles long by five miles wide. The island displays something of a split personality. Its sheltered east coast has been a popular holiday venue for Clydesiders since Victorian times; the west coast, however, never more than 5 miles distant, is sparsely populated, its most northerly minor road coming to a halt some 8 miles short of the northern tip of the island. Fortunately, there’s no difficulty getting to the mile-long sands of Ettrick Bay on the west coast, regarded by many visitors and locals as the most beautiful place on the island.

Two ferries connect Bute to the mainland. The main one is from Wemyss Bay in Renfrewshire to Rothesay, while another, smaller one, runs between Colintraive on the Cowal Peninsula and Rhubodach on the north east tip of the island. The latter crossing takes only about five minutes, with the distance being only a third of a mile. At one time cattle, instead of being transported between the Bute and the mainland, were made to swim the crossing.