Old bird solo trip to Scotland pt 2 - Bute and West Kilbride?

[Smotheredmother]

Following on from previous recommendations for crafty stuff at West Kilbride I really fancy this, so thinking a couple of days there, and have seen a cute little place for a few days at Port Bannatyne, Bute - any views on Bute? Just a bit of escapism, swimming and switching off there needed.

Can’t offer much advice except if you go to Bute you must visit Helmis in Rothesay. It’s a Syrian bakery and the baklava is amazing!

Also, there’s a nice beach at Seamill to walk along, great views of Arran and likely a good breeze to blow away the cobwebs.

Enjoy your trip.

I can't offer much about Bute, other than to say that I visited Mount Stuart House for the first time a couple of summers ago, and it was amazing! Thoroughly recommend a visit.

West Kilbride - I keep going and discovering the shops and studios are closed because they are only open part of the week. I think - but could be wrong - that they are open Thursday?, Friday and Saturday. You'd think more would be open on a Sunday afternoon, but nope. Or at least the Barony Centre - which has exhibitions, a shop and cafe, is always closed on a Sunday. So, don't go to West Kilbride at the start of the week!

Thanks for info re West Kilbride, really useful, I will go at the end of my week.
Will make a visit to Mount Stuart also :)
Lucky you if you live in Scotland!

I LOVE baklava so worth going to Bute just for that :D :D :D

DH was on Bute last year and said it was looking run down and quite sad.
Not at all like the lovely seaside place he remembered from childhood

Take a wee drive to Portenctoss castle at Seamill. Also down to the farm end pier at hunterston to look across to Millport and wee cumbrae. With the nuclear power station behind you. Glowing.

Thanks, will do :)

My grandfather used to live in Port Bannatyne, the view out his window was beautiful 😊

I'd definitely visit in the late spring/early summer to take advantage of the weather and better for places being open.

The main drag of Rothesay does look a bit bedraggled, but we really enjoy the island as a whole.

You must go to Mount Stuart, it is fabulous, so interesting, You need to book, but the last time I was there you could book at the venue so no real issue there. Groups are taken in and given a tour together. It has extensive gardens reaching down to the sea. Great for walks.

Walk up the Serpentine just off the main street and eventually come to Canada Hill, where people would go to wave off people heading for America. Great views (walk takes you through a golf course, keep going and you can loop round back to the top of the hill, looking down at the bay.)

You can take the bus down to Ettrick bay, only a few miles, and have long beach walk, see seals. Take binoculars. Great views of Arran, and maybe some other islands. Or get off the bus at the graveyard and walk down to the bay using the little path which used to be a tram way. Maybe 20 mins. There is a great tea room on the shore. Hot food and good cakes.

If you have a car, there are other good empty beaches to stroll on, and there is a very atmospheric St. Blane's Chapel which is a ruin in a quite circular site, very medieval.

Scalpsie Bay also for seals and a good stroll.

Kingarth Hotel does great lunch.

There's the renowned men's Victorian toilets at the quay.

You can take the small ferry over to Colintraive (10 mins) to a good hotel for lunch.

There are a few 'nice stuff' shops in the town, but not great for that sort of thing.

Two Zavaroni tearooms.

A castle - never been in it.

Remember to look at the Glenburn Hotel is you pass it - amazing Victorian majestic building.

Cinema on sea front, plus gift shop with some lovely things

Other walks too that I cant remember, you would need to check detail.

Nothing in Port Bannatyne apart from boats I think.

I've gone on a bit - some people will like the place, some wont!

Thanks for all the info 😁