Welcome to
Grand promenades, luscious gardens, rugged beaches, a neo-gothic estate and one of Britain’s best-preserved Victorian bathrooms – it can only be Bute!
Food & drink
Outdoor adventures
Whisky
Watersports
Bute truly has a bit of something for everyone. Renowned for the Victorian splendour of its main town, Rothesay, the island also has much to offer beyond the palm tree lined promenade. It is an island just crying out to be explored.
From a day trip to Mount Stuart, the perfectly preserved neo-gothic estate, to wild and woolly adventures in its many beaches and woodlands, its various bars and restaurants will also cater for all tastes.
Just five miles south of Rothesay sits the architectural wonder of Mount Stuart, a Victorian neo-gothic mansion surrounded by 300 acres of manicured grounds and gardens. The ancestral home of the Marquess of Bute, Mount Stuart is visually arresting – a heady combination of arches, elegant windows and intricate sandstone sculptures. Inside, the building comes to life in a whole different way, the lavish and ornate detail of the stunning interiors recreating an era of beauty and innovation. Nowhere is this more apparent than the Marble Hall, an 80ft high dome composed of over 20 different types of Marble. The house is also home to a collection of fine art and a library of rare books including an original copy of Shakespeare’s 'first folio' of plays.
Bute’s food and drink offerings are as varied as the island itself. From friendly bistros, traditional establishments and local legends - Zavaroni’s. Rothesay itself is home to a small batch distillery, producing an award-winning range of craft gin, which even features the world’s first oyster infused gin. The distillery’s Scottish spiced rum is intended to capture the essence of maritime adventure. On Bute, there’s a whole host of options to tempt your tastebuds.
Outside of the town, there’s plenty of wild adventures to have around Bute’s craggier edges. The striking red sands of Scalpsie Bay is a sheltered beach on the island’s West coast. Home to a colony of seals, you can watch the creatures from the aptly-named Seal View viewpoint. Likewise Ettrick Bay provides the perfect natural architecture to enjoy swimming in the clear blue waters. Safely on dry land, why not spend some time in the company of some unusual walking partners with Leafield Alpaca Trekking? Encounters with the furry friends include feeding, petting and walking with them through the beautiful Bute countryside.
You can also tackle Bute by bike, with its varied landscapes providing the perfect backdrop to a day’s cycle. See every angle of Bute on the 23-mile loop around the island. Go off-road with one of the many mountain bike trails. Or tame the Serpentine – one of Scotland's most gruelling, technical hill climbs – a category 2 climb with no fewer than 14 hairpin bends. If walking is more your mode then explore the West Island Way, a specially designated long-distance footpath that opened in 2000. See the island over one, two or three days as the walk is split into different stages – each one showing off a little more of the wonderous island of Bute.
Prior to your journey, familiarise yourself with VisitScotland’s #RespectProtectEnjoy
VisitScotland | Responsible tourism
Take care on our coast: slips and falls can happen in all locations, not just high cliffs.
RLNI | Safety tips
