Welcome toBute
Bute has one of the finest Victorian mansions in the UK, and secluded bays for picnics, paddling, and seal-spotting.
More about Bute
Ideal for:
History & heritage
Nature & wildlife
Cycling
Landmarks
From a Victorian gothic mansion to Bronze Age stone circles
Bute's Mount Stuart is an elaborate and ambitious piece of Victorian architecture - complete with a white marble chapel that wouldn't be out of place in Venice. The ferry to Bute docks at Rothesay, where the jazz festival transforms the art deco Pavilion in May each year. Drive out to the hills and you'll come to a ruined chapel from the 12th century, and a Bronze Age stone circle looking out to the Firth of Clyde.
Ettrick bay is great for its beautiful views over Arran, and the mile-long beach is an excellent spot for a paddle in the sea. Further south, try Scalpsie Bay for a picnic, where you might catch sight of a colony of over 200 seals - and some wandering cows - on the shore.
For more information on Bute visit the Visit Bute website.
How to get here
The ferry leaves from Wemyss Bay on the mainland, arriving at Rothesay on Bute. The journey takes 35 minutes.
There's also a ferry from Colintraive on the mainland to Rhubodach on Bute, which takes 5 minutes.
No advance booking is necessary on the above routes. Simply turn up at the port of departure, buy a ticket, and go on the next available sailing.
Looking for the best form of travel to and from our ports? Our Public Transport Journey Planner can help you plot your journey from anywhere in the UK, using a wide range of public transport companies.
We have also listed some travel information below that you may find useful:
Getting to Wemyss Bay from Glasgow:
By car
Wemyss Bay is 32 miles from Glasgow, and it takes about 50 minutes to get there. There are no electric vehicle charging points at either Rhubodach or Rothesay ports. However 2 22kW, 32A charging points are available at Guilford Square Car Park, Rothesay, less than 100m from the Terminal Building. The Isle of Bute has a Community Car Club which is open to both residents and visitors, further information can be found on the Visit Bute website.
Helpful tips for driving on Bute
Video transcript - How to drive on single track roads
Postcodes for sat nav
Wemyss Bay: PA18 6AR
Colintraive: PA22 3AP
Travelling without a car?
By train, bus, on foot, or by bike to Bute
Regular trains to Wemyss Bay leave from Glasgow Central Station, and take 52 minutes. Why not purchase a ticket from Glasgow to Rothesay?
You can get to Wemyss Bay by bus from Glasgow, which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, including a change at Greenock. Check Citylink for bus times.
The Isle of Bute is only 33 miles from Glasgow and is easily accessible from the Scottish Central Belt. It's only 15 miles long and 4 miles wide, but contains some of the grandest Victorian buildings and glorious gardens anywhere in the UK. Architectural marvels such as Mount Stuart House are a must. The Visit Bute website has a wealth of local information about walking on Bute.
Enjoy cycling? Bute is a superb destination for cyclists. It's big enough to offer variation among cyclists, but still close enough to the main town of Rothesay. Details of bike hire, cycle routes and cycling events can be found on Visit Bute. Plan your cycle journey at CycleStreets
Public transport on Bute
The local bus company operating on Bute is West Coast Motors. You can find up to date bus timetables by visiting www.westcoastmotors.co.uk.
