The West Island Way is a waymarked long distance footpath on the Isle of Bute

Isle of Bute

Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...

. It is the first such route on a Scottish

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 island.

Description

It is a fairly easy walk of approximately 30 miles (48.3 km), passing through seashore, moorland, farmland and forest. The route opened in 2000 as part of Bute's millennium celebrates.

The route begins at Kilchattan Bay

Kilchattan Bay

Kilchattan Bay is village on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. It lies the island's southern end, along the coast road at the foot of a steep hill called the Suidhe Chattan which shields the village from the prevailing westerly wind. The village faces the mainland to the east across the Firth of Clyde...

 in the south of the island, and finishes at Port Bannatyne

Port Bannatyne

Port Bannatyne is a coastal village on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. It is a popular harbour for yachts.It is approximately north of Rothesay and from Rhubodach....

 in the north, with Rothesay

Rothesay, Argyll and Bute

The town of Rothesay is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It can be reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay which offers an onward rail link to Glasgow. At the centre of the town is Rothesay Castle, a ruined castle which dates back to the 13th...

, the main town on Bute, as a central point. The hike can be completed over two fairly lengthy walking days. The official map and guide of the route is available from the Bute Discovery Centre.

Footnotes