The beautiful Isle of Bute, Scotland - walking the West Island Way - Walking Women

DATES Sat 17th May 2025
- Thu 22nd May 2025

6 days/5 nights

We are excited about walking the West Island Way on the small Scottish Isle of Bute. Only an hour from Glasgow and a fabulous ferry across the Firth of Clyde to get there. A long distance path of 48km/30 miles to explore this very special Island with such varying landscapes and glimpses of wildlife. You may see Basking sharks,seals,Osprey, Red Deer and more. For beer lovers you may enjoy relaxing in a traditional Scottish Pub with a refreshing ale from the local brewery! This holiday follows our Arran trip and perfect for those wanting to explore more of the Scottish Islands.

SUMMARY

Date: Saturday May 17th to Thursday May 22nd

Guide: Jo Bird

Walking Grade: 2 Goats as the West Island Way is a gentle trail with mostly well marked paths. We will be walking 48km/30 miles in 4 days so expect to cover between 5 and 10 miles(8 and 16km) per day. The distances make this the upper end of our Goat 2 walks. The lowest point is sea level and the highest elevation is 690metres/2.260 ft.

Base: The Glenburn Hotel, Rothesay – a grand old hotel which has been a destination for holidaymakers to Bute since 1892. It is a traditional Scottish seaside hotel with fabulous views over Rothesay Bay. We have confirmed all Seaview rooms so you can wake up to see the sea! Don’t expect everything to be super modern as this is what we call ‘ faded glory’ . It gives you a sense of life when Bute was a thriving seaside destination with steam boats and people flocking to the island from the mainland.

Arrivals: Arrive by late afternoon on Saturday 17th May. You will arrive by Calmac Ferry from Wemyss Bay which is a short train ride from Glasgow Central Station. We expect that some women will stay Friday night in Glasgow and travel on the ferry together on Saturday. The ferry crossing is approx. 35 minutes and there are ferries usually every hour. Calmac Ferries

Departures: Departure after breakfast on Thursday May 22nd – ferries start from 0.6.25 ish in the morning.

Price: £1300 per person for a solo occupancy ensuite room with a Seaview and all meals.

Included:

Ensuite,Seaview room
Breakfast
Welcome Drink
Packed lunches for 4 walking days
All evening meals
Guided Walks to complete the West Island Way
Local Transport required for the walks

Not Included:

Travel to Rothesay
Additional drinks not provided
Additional excursions

If you bring a friend/partner and share a room the price is £1050 per person.

DETAILS

We want to provide many opportunities to journey together and complete a trail. A sense of adventure and a sense of achievement.

The West Island Way was the first long distanced path on any Scottish Island, It is the best way to see the Isle of Bute – on foot.

Do read about it and we hope join us.

The West Island Way

ITINERARY

The itinerary could change depending on the weather but you can expect to walk the complete West Island Way.

Saturday Arrival Day – if you arrive by 4pm there will be a short orientation walk of Rothesay.

18.00 Welcome drink at the Glenburn Hotel with dinner to follow. Jo will brief you about your holiday .

Day 1 Sunday – Kilchattan Bay start. 8km/5miles . 270 ascent.

We take a bus to Kilchattan Bay at the southern tip of the island. The journey takes you through the beautiful grounds of Mount Stuart house, the stately home of the Stuart family. This is a lovely circular walk starting along the coast and then inland, going by the ancient ruins of St Blaine’s church. There may be time after the walk to see either the grounds of Mount Stuart or to visit the heritage museum in Rothesay.

Day 2 Monday – Stravanan Bay and beyond. 16km/10 miles . 240m ascent.

Once again, a bus to Kilchattan Bay with a gentle start walking across to Stravanan Bay and then inland over moorland past Loch Ascog and then lovely Loch Fad, before heading back to Rothesay. This is a long walk but the paths are mainly firm tracks with steady ascents. There are fabulous views west to the Isle of Arran.

Day 3 Tuesday – to the north of the Island. 15.25k/9.5 miles . 430m ascent.

A taxi to Rhubodach at the northern tip of the island. The path climbs steadily on a forest track onto moorland. We then follow a ridge of hills where the path is faint and the ground can be wet (boots recommended for this section). There are great views all along this path and cuckoos often heard calling in spring. We then descend on a good path to Port Bannatyne and take another path over and round to Rothesay.

For those who want to this day can be shortened by taking a short bus journey from Port Bannatyne back to Rothesay making the walk length 10km/6.5 miles with 320m ascent.

Day 4 Wednesday Completing the West Island Way 15km/9.5 miles . 230m ascent.

We take a taxi to Rhubodach again but we head off uphill through beautiful woodland past the ruined farmstead of Balnakailly to a forest trail. This leads down over moorland to the Glenmore valley and to a farm track that descends to beautiful Ettrick Bay. We then follow the old tramway path back to Port Bannatyne where we take a short bus ride back to Rothesay.

In fine weather, we may do this route in reverse, ending at Rhubodach and taking a 5 minute ferry ride over to a lovely hotel at Colintraive for celebratory drinks! Otherwise our drinks will be back at our hotel!

Day 5 Thursday – DEPARTURE DAY

The beautiful Isle of Bute, Scotland – walking the West Island Way

SUMMARY

DETAILS

ITINERARY

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