Directions
Travel to Rothesay is very straight-forward and the excellent ferry service to the island makes the journey a pleasure.
road, Rail and Air To the ferry
Bute is connected to the Scottish mainland by Caledonian MacBrayne ferries via two routes:
- Wemyss Bay on the Scottish mainland to Rothesay, Isle of Bute
- Colintraive on the Scottish mainland to Rhubodach, Isle of Bute
The main ferry terminal to the island is a few minutes away from Rothesay. Ferries depart every 45 minutes to and from Wemyss Bay (30 minutes crossing) making the town ideal for commuting.
The village of Wemyss Bay is on the A78 coast road which leads to Glasgow (and the M8 motorway) and to Ayrshire. It also connects by rail to Paisley (for Glasgow International Airport) and Glasgow Central station for destinations throughout the United Kingdom. Travel from Glasgow Prestwick Airport directly to Wemyss Bay is made simple via a regular bus service.
At the north end of the island, there is another ferry service which takes a few minutes to reach Colintraive which, as well as being the main route to Dunoon, opens up to other parts of Argyll.
Travel on the island
On the island, as well as an excellent road network, there is a regular bus service along the eastern coast road and a daily service connecting the island to Argyll and the western highlands and islands. Many independent holiday-makers use the island as a stepping stone from Glasgow and Ayrshire into western Scotland using this route.