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

SUMMARY

Date: Saturday May 30th to Thursday June 4th 2026

Guide: Jo Bird 

Walking Grade: 2 Goats as the West Island Way is a fairly gentle trail with well marked paths. We will be walking a little over 48km/30 miles in 4 days so expect to cover between 5 and 10 miles(8 and 16km) per day. The distances make this at the upper end of our Goat 2 walks with 3 days walking 8-10 miles per day, needing to keep a reasonable walking pace. 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 30th 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 June 4th – ferries start from 6:25ish in the morning.

Price: £1,700 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 in the hotel restaurant with one meal out at a local restaurant.
• Guided Walks to complete the West Island Way
• Local Transport required for the walks
• WalkingWomen Support throughout

Not Included:

• Travel to Rothesay
• Additional drinks not provided
• Additional excursions

If you bring a friend/partner and share a room the price is £1400 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 we hope to walk the complete West Island Way.

Saturday Arrival Day  – if you arrive by 16:00m 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 – 15km/9.5 miles .  250m/820ft ascent.   Mixed terrain – woodland paths, rough moorland, quiet lanes.

We take a taxi to Rhubodach at the north of the island and 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 Bannatynewhere we take a short bus ride back to Rothesay.  The moorland section can be wet, so boots or gaitors recommended

Day 2 Monday – Stravanan Bay and beyond. 16km/10 miles .  260m/853ft ascent. Mixed terrain – footpaths, moorland tracks, meadows, quiet lanes

We take a bus south to Kilchattan Bay with a gentle start walking across to peaceful Stravanan Bay and then inland on good moorland paths past Loch Ascog and then lovely Loch Fad, before heading back to Rothesay.  This is another 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 – 8km/5miles .  270m/885ft ascent.  Mixed terrain – rocky shoresidepath, footpaths, meadows, fairly steep footpath descent through woodland

We take the bus again 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. We do 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 the grounds of Mount Stuart.   This is our shorter walking day, although there are still hills to climb with a good level of ascent and descent

Day 4 Wednesday – 15.6k/9.75 miles .  430m/1,400ft ascent.

A travel north once more to Rhubodach.  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 very 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.

In or after wet weather, the moorland section of this path can become extremely boggy.   It may be necessary to miss out this part of the trek and do an alternative walk.  We will still have walked the whole island from the northern tip to the southern point.   The guide will decide what is in the best interests of the whole group!

Day 5 Thursday – DEPARTURE DAY – Continue on your way after breakfast