A Wee Taste of Bute…
ute is Scotland’s most accessible B island, only 90 minutes from Glasgow, on the west coast in the Firth of Clyde. Packed with stunning scenery, Bute offers something for everyone, with plenty to eat, drink, see and do! EAT Rothesay, Bute’s main town, has a range of eateries. You can sample local cuisine like smoked salmon from Ritchie’s of Rothesay, relax in Musiker, a music café with in-house bookstore, or try delicious treats from Helmi’s Syrian Bakery. Further south is Kingarth Hotel and Smiddy Bar - the perfect base after a walk or a round of golf. Here, you can enjoy a burger made with local butcher’s meat, or sample some freshly caught seafood. DRINK Port Bannatyne, it the north of the Island, is home to The Port Inn, a cosy, welcoming pub with live music and a magnificent sun-trapped beer garden. The island also gives its name to two gin companies, Isle of Bute Gin Co. and Spirit of Bute – available at Spirit
of Bute shop in Rothesay. DO Rothesay Castle, in the town centre, had a long association with the Stewart Kings of Scotland and can be explored daily from April 1. Behind the castle, also reopening on this date, is Bute museum. April 3 brings the reopening of Mount Stuart House and Gardens, a 19th-century mansion with extravagant interiors, nestled in a 300-acre estate with striking backdrop of the Firth of Clyde. After your house tour you could head to the courtyard to sample fantastic homebaking, learn more at the Visitors Centre, or enjoy some outdoor fun in the adventure playground. It’s a day out for the whole family! Bute boasts spectacular beaches including Ettrick Bay in the north home to a tearoom where you can grab an ice cream and take a walk along the mile-long golden sand. With a playpark and glamping pods, its the perfect base.
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