Long distance
West Island Way
Explores the Isle of Bute from Kilchattan Bay in the south to Port Bannatyne, with a circuit at each end: rocky headland, seashore and sandy beach, moorland, farmland and forest. CalMac ferry from Wemyss Bay makes it one of the most accessible island walks in Scotland. Around 48 km (30 mi) and 690 m up in four stages, with Port Bannatyne at the middle; allow 2–4 days. Well waymarked.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 48 km/ 30 mi
- Typical days
- 3
- Total ascent
- 690 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Start → Finish
- Kilchattan Bay → Port Bannatyne
- Best direction
- South to North
- Water sources
- Kilchattan Bay and Port Bannatyne are the settlements on the route; Rothesay is close to Port Bannatyne but off the line. Carry water for each stage, especially the northern moorland between Rhubodach and Port Bannatyne.
- Mobile signal
- Signal is generally good on Bute near the settlements; expect it to drop in places on the northern moorland and around Glen More.
✔ Waymarked throughout
Approximate profile derived from per-stage ascent — accurate on total climb and pattern, not a pixel-precise GPX trace.
Our take
The West Island Way is a good first island walk — Bute is 35 minutes by ferry from Wemyss Bay (train from Glasgow), it is well waymarked, and Port Bannatyne sits at the middle so you can split it into half-days. It is not all gentle: the rugged south has strenuous, rough sections, and the high moorland between Rhubodach and Port Bannatyne can be indistinct and boggy (there is a low-level alternative). Rothesay and Mount Stuart are off the line but worth a day of their own.
Highlights
- Kilchattan Bay and the rocky south end of the island
- The medieval chapel of St Blane
- Abandoned townships in Glen More, in the north
- Balnakailly village ruins (the optional, 3 km longer line to Rhubodach)
Day-by-day itinerary
A suggested 4-day schedule. Adjust to your fitness and conditions.
1Kilchattan Bay circuit8km
The southern circuit from Kilchattan Bay through the rugged south end of Bute, past the medieval chapel of St Blane.
- Terrain
- Rocky headland, seashore and rough hill paths; some strenuous sections.
- Overnight
- Return to Kilchattan Bay; Rothesay (off the route) has the widest choice of beds.
- Stats
- Kilchattan Bay → Kilchattan Bay · 8km
2Kilchattan Bay to Port Bannatyne18.5km
North up the island through seashore, farmland and forest to Port Bannatyne, the middle of the Way.
- Terrain
- Mixed: coastal paths, farm tracks, forest and some rough ground.
- Overnight
- Port Bannatyne has some accommodation; Rothesay is close by.
- Stats
- Kilchattan Bay → Port Bannatyne · 18.5km
3Port Bannatyne to Rhubodach14km
Into the north of Bute towards the Rhubodach ferry slip. An optional, more scenic line (about 3 km longer) goes via the ruins of Balnakailly village.
- Terrain
- Tracks, woodland and coastal paths.
- Overnight
- Nothing at Rhubodach; walk on, or arrange transport back to Port Bannatyne or Rothesay.
- Stats
- Port Bannatyne → Rhubodach · 14km
4Rhubodach to Port Bannatyne8.5km
Back south over the high moorland, past the abandoned townships of Glen More, finishing with a gentle downhill walk through farmland to Port Bannatyne.
- Terrain
- High moorland paths that can be indistinct and boggy (boardwalks and plenty of waymarkers); a low-level alternative exists.
- Overnight
- Port Bannatyne; ferry home from Rothesay to Wemyss Bay.
- Stats
- Rhubodach → Port Bannatyne · 8.5km
Best months
Accommodation
SGT says there is plenty of choice, particularly in Rothesay and Port Bannatyne (Rothesay is off the route; Port Bannatyne is at the middle of the Way). A regular bus connects Kilchattan Bay with Port Bannatyne, so it is easy to base yourself in Rothesay or Port Bannatyne and walk the four stages as day or half-day walks. CalMac ferry from Wemyss Bay (ScotRail from Glasgow Central) makes car-free trips easy. There is no specific baggage-transfer service; SGT suggests local taxis instead.
Night-by-night guide: where to stay →Resupply
Full shops in Rothesay, off the route. Port Bannatyne sits at the middle of the Way. Carry what you need for each stage, especially the moorland stages in the north.
Current conditions
Weather at the start point (Kilchattan Bay)
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:17
- Sunset
- 16:51
- Civil dawn
- 06:38
- Civil dusk
- 17:29
NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 2026
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Getting to and from the West Island Way
Train and town anchors at each end of the route — on TripSCOT.
Start: Largs station
Cumbrae ferry; Ayrshire coast; Nardini's
11km from Kilchattan Bay
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTFinish: Wemyss Bay station
Ferry to Rothesay (Isle of Bute) — West Island Way start
11km from Port Bannatyne
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTStock up: Rothesay
Isle of Bute base; West Island Way; short Glasgow break
tripscot.co.uk