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Major city · United Kingdom

Isle of ButeEilean Bhòid

Give Bute one full day from Glasgow or two nights on the island: ferry 35 min, buses hourly, Mount Stuart the one thing to book ahead.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many sights closed)
Airports
GLA · PIK
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Bute is a low, green island in the Firth of Clyde, 35 minutes by ferry from Wemyss Bay and about 90 minutes from Glasgow by train and boat. Rothesay is the arrival town; Mount Stuart House, the coast road and the West Island Way are the reasons to stay longer than a day trip. Distances are short and the island is not hilly, so a bike or the hourly bus covers most of it.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Isle of Bute, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a Rothesay café£2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£10–16 (≈ US$14–25)
  • BeerPint of beer£4–5.50 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Museum or sight ticketBute Museum entry£4 (≈ US$6)
  • Budget bedFamily room or static caravan (up to 4), a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
  • High-end bedB&B or hotel double room, a night, per room£180 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £85 (≈ US$120) · High £150 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Mount Stuart HouseRothesay CastleVictorian Gents LavatoriesWest Island WayEttrick Bay
Airports
GLA Glasgow (Train to Wemyss Bay via Glasgow Central, then ferry; about 2 h 30 min door to door.) · PIK Prestwick (Rail to Glasgow Central, then Wemyss Bay; longer than from Glasgow.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Isle of Bute: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C

2°C

18 rd

Feb

7°C

2°C

14 rd

Mar

9°C

3°C

15 rd

Apr

11°C

4°C

12 rd

May

15°C

7°C

12 rd

Jun

17°C

10°C

12 rd

Jul

19°C

12°C

13 rd

Aug

18°C

12°C

14 rd

Sep

16°C

10°C

15 rd

Oct

13°C

7°C

17 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

17 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

18 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

West Coast Motors buses 90 and 490 run hourly year-round Mon–Sat along the south coast to Kilchattan Bay, and 90/477/479/490 run north via Port Bannatyne to Rhubodach. Buses 90, 490 and 493 turn inland to Ettrick Bay. Bike hire near the Rothesay ferry terminal; the island is flat enough for most riders. Taxis from Rothesay cover the whole island.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Mount Stuart House

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus 90, 490 or 493 from Rothesay, about 15 min, then a short walk

Apr–Jun, Sep, Oct: Sat–Wed 11:30–16:30; Jul–Aug daily. Adult £16.50.

Ettrick Bay

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Bus 90, 490 or 493 from Port Bannatyne, about 20 min

Sandy horseshoe beach; ButeFest is held here.

St Blane's Church and Kilchattan Bay

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus 90 or 490 to Kilchattan Bay, then walk Plan Road and the track

Norman ruin with a 6th–7th century monastery site; wear shoes for the track.

Rhubodach and the Kyles of Bute

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Bus 90, 477, 479 or 490 to Rhubodach pier

Five-minute ferry to Colintraive if you are touring Argyll; the strait is a National Scenic Area.

Inchmarnock

caution

Door to door: Varies

Boat trip by permission only

Private, farmed island; no regular service.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Rothesay

Ferry pier, buses, pubs and most B&Bs; walk to everything in town.

Port Bannatyne

Quieter coast village 2 miles north; one pub with food, marina berths.

Kilchattan Bay / south coast

Near Mount Stuart and St Blane's; thin bus service, best with a car or bike.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
High
£120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × £110£220
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × £85£340
Calmac return, Wemyss Bay–Rothesay, adult foot passenger2 × £9£17
Calmac return, Wemyss Bay–Rothesay, car with driver1 × £31£31
West Coast Motors day ticket on the island2 × £8 · check£16
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£64
Trip total≈ £177 per person per day, bed included£708≈ US$950

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to the island excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a Rothesay café£2.50–4 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course£10–16 (≈ US$14–25)
Fish and chips£9–14 (≈ US$12–19)
Pint of beer£4–5.50 (≈ US$6–8)
Bute Museum entry£4 (≈ US$6)
Mount Stuart House entry£16.50 (≈ US$25) adult
Victorian Gents Lavatories entry£0.40 (≈ under US$1)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Bute is a low-crime, quiet island; the real risks are weather, tide and cliff edges on the coast path, and thin Sunday transport. Tell someone your route on the West Island Way.
  • Ferries: no booking on the Wemyss Bay–Rothesay route, but be at the pier at least 20 min before sailing.
  • Mount Stuart House closes in winter and is sometimes booked for private events: check dates before you travel.
  • Rothesay Castle has been closed for works: check Historic Environment Scotland before relying on it.
  • Sunday buses and ferries are thinner than weekdays; plan the last connection back.
  • Midges on still evenings near water in summer; bring repellent.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Isle of ButeEilean Bhòid

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Tae this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies on the island; the nearest consulates and the US embassy are in Edinburgh, and most others in London.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Wemyss Bay → Rothesay, Calmac: about 35 min, adult return £8.70 (≈ US$12)
  • Colintraive → Rhubodach, Calmac: about 5 min, adult return £3.40 (≈ US$5)
  • Rothesay → Mount Stuart, bus 90/490/493: about 15 min, day ticket about £8 (≈ US$11) (check)

Say or show

  • Ta — Thank you
  • Cheerie — Cheers / goodbye
  • Wee / muckle — Small / large

Cash is useful for small cafés and the Victorian lavatories; most Rothesay shops take cards.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Isle of Bute. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many sights closed) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry-to-bed contract for Rothesay: last Calmac sailings, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters: Rothesay town, Port Bannatyne and Kyles, south coast and Mount Stuart, Ettrick Bay and the west.
  3. Place pages with verified opening seasons (Mount Stuart, Bute Museum, Ascog Fernery) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Weather and ferry-disruption fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources