30 miles · 3 stages · 2 nights
Where to stay on the West Island Way
Night-by-night accommodation from Kilchattan Bay to Port Bannatyne — what's actually at each stop, and where booking ahead matters.
The overall picture
Hotels and B&Bs at Rothesay and Kilchattan Bay. Rothesay has the widest choice. Easy to base yourself in Rothesay and walk in sections. Hotels and B&Bs at Rothesay and Port Bannatyne; small B&Bs at Kilchattan Bay. CalMac ferry from Wemyss Bay (ScotRail from Glasgow Central) makes car-free trips easy.
Night by night
Overnight options at the end of each stage, walking Kilchattan Bay → Port Bannatyne. Search links open Booking.com for that stop — where a night is wild-camp or bothy only, there's nothing to book and no link.
Night 1: Rothesay
Day 1 · Kilchattan Bay → Rothesay · 16km, 300m ascentRothesay has hotels, B&Bs and the Bute House. The Victorian lido is a highlight.
Search stays in RothesayNight 2: Ettrick Bay
Day 2 · Rothesay → Ettrick Bay · 16km, 250m ascentEttrick Bay has the tea room. Wild camping at the bay. Return to Rothesay by bus if preferred.
Night 3: Port Bannatyne
Day 3 · Ettrick Bay → Port Bannatyne · 16km, 250m ascentPort Bannatyne has the Port Royal Hotel and B&Bs. Ferry from Rothesay to Wemyss Bay.
Search stays in Port Bannatyne
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West Island Way accommodation — common questions
- How many nights do you need on the West Island Way?
- 3 walking days on the standard itinerary, so 2 nights on the trail. Budget an extra night at Kilchattan Bay before you start or at Port Bannatyne after you finish if your travel connections are long.
- Do you need to book accommodation in advance on the West Island Way?
- In the peak months (April, May, June, July, August, September) — yes, book ahead; the overnight stops are small places with limited beds and they fill weeks out. Off-season you have more slack, but phone ahead anyway: some accommodation closes entirely outside the walking season.
- Can I get my bags transferred between stops on the West Island Way?
- Yes — Sherpa Van Project move bags between overnight stops on the West Island Way (from around £10 per bag per day), so you can walk with a day pack. Book transfer once your accommodation is fixed — operators need the exact overnight addresses.