Help! Going to a island near Bute in Scotland any recommendations!!

[Everythingstaken]

We’re staying near Bute next week and I’m having a panic about how to entertain the kids as the weather isn’t looking promising so days at the beach aren’t looking like they’re going to happen. We can’t take our bikes due to space etc and I’m worried that the children will just be bored silly. Ages are 13, 10 and 5, I just want to try to make the most of it as we’ve never visited Scotland before! Any advice greatly appreciated!

an island near Bute......Great Cumbrae? Little Cumbrae?
If you give us a better location we might be able to suggest some day trips but without knowing where it's hard to advise as places that look close together can be hours apart in that part of the world!

Waterproofs and shorts! Scottish beach holidays are usually wet, a dry day is a bonus. Board games, DVDs etc but honestly, you just need to get out every day.

Thank you for your responses! We’re staying at Tighnabruaich. I’m preparing like I would for an October holiday but I’m worried about how to make it fun as we had hoped the weather might be better than it’s actually forecast to be! The older children love outdoors activities etc and we do want to get out and about. I think I have just underestimated how remote we might be! Originally I thought we were in Bute so had researched there!

Tighnabruaich isn't on an island (unless you count the UK mainland!).

Nearby ideas-

Seafood for lunch at Botanica at the Barn.
Walk at Ostell Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland.
Ferry from Colintraive to Bute, walk at Ettrick Bay.
Ferry from portavadie to Tarbert.
Portavadie for a swim in the infinity pool, expensive but great for a wet day. Pizza lunch there.
Trip to Carry Farm for a walk to see the shore and the donkeys, nice coffee and a look at the hayshed gallery.
Tide and Thyme in Tighnabruaich do nice takeaway evenings.
The Kames Hotel is good for lunch or dinner.

Further afield-
Inveraray for a day out, including the jail which is good for a wet day. Lunch in the George.
Glasgow is only about an hour and a half from Tighnabruaich.
Benmore botanic Gardens by Dunoon is a lovely walk.
Castle Lachlan and Inver restaurant.
Otter Ferry for nice restaurant and a paddle at the shore.

And if you're researching online follow the instagram tag argyllssecretcoast, it covers the whole Cowal area. It really is a hidden gem

The Tighnabruaich pier association annual cruise on the Waverley is on Saturday the 14th. Look it up on the waverley website. She's the last sea going paddle steamer in in the UK, and this is a short taster voyage. It's great!

I would also contact Carry Farm and ask if they can hire you paddle boards.

Also, don't be too alarmed at cloud and rain symbols, they rarely mean heavy rain all day, what usually happens is its sunny in the morning, clouds gather by lunchtime, shower or two in the afternoon, brightens up in the evening (veteran of many west coast camping holidays). Don't stay in just too avoid getting rained on as threatened rain often doesn't amount to much.

Remember you all still need your masks too.
Also, it’s not on an island as @Appin said. Are you driving up?
I would book now for any ferry trips you might want to take as they’re all very full already, although I don’t know about The Waverley (so good to see it back).
Largs & Kelburn (although a wee drive away) might be good for you too.
Hope you enjoy!

Also look into combining the walks with geocaching to give a bit of purpose to your jaunts!

Also agree with PP who said not to be put off by the weather. It rarely rains from dawn to dusk - you're much more likely to get all seasons in one day.

Ferry from Dunoon to Gourock would make Largs an option, but more than 2 hours to do the drive the long way.

Also forgot, bring waterproofs! Most of my suggestions have been enjoyed by us on rainy days.

Thank you so much for all of these amazing tips and suggestions!

Help! Going to a island near Bute in Scotland any recommendations!!

Don't!

Seriously I had an absolutely hideous 'holiday' not far from there, so it's not my favourite area...but in fairness I do have some good memories.

If you're outdoorsy and don't mind a drive there's lots to do.

Inveraray is cute and the jail is fun to visit
Trip up the coast to Oban
Kilmartin is good...the museum is closed but there are guided walks around the ancient burial cairns and standing stones.

We also managed days out to Blair Drummond Safari Park in Stirling and Edinburgh.