Isle Of Bute

Comments

• VisitScotlandAngela Member, Moderator, VisitScotland Staff ✩

  May 2016

  I totally agree @VisitScotlandAli!  I was in awe Marble Hall at Mount Stuart when I visited. I loved the colours that emerged as the sun shone through the stained glass windows and crystal stars!  It was beautiful!
  
  
  
  
  
  I will definitely need to visit again soon as I hear that visitors can now get a tour of the indoor swimming pool that's hidden in the house.

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• VisitScotlandJohn Member, Moderator, VisitScotland Staff ✩

  June 2016

  I have not been to Mount Stuart in years, but still remember how impressed I was by the Marble Hall, and amazed to discover that this is thought to be the first house in Scotland to have a telephone system.  Although I also remember being curious, as the only place in Scotland to have the phone, who exactly they were going to call?

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• ScotlandAdventures Member ✭✭✭

  June 2016 edited June 2016

  Being a Scottish travel blogger that is fortunate enough to live on The Isle of Bute I often get frustrated how overlooked it is, especially as it is the most accessible island to visit, just over 90 minutes from Glasgow by car or train.
  History - It has a massive amount of history beyond the Victorian seaside image that it is normally associated with.  The Bute Museum is petite but wonderful with some amazing exhibits and important artifacts found locally and a great place to start your visit.  The Discovery Centre also has interesting exhibits telling the story of the island.
  Rothesay Castle and St Blane's Chapel are of historic significance and there are cairns and standing stones aplenty with a few lesser known historic gems such as St Mary's Chapel and Dunagoil Fort.
  Outdoors - It is brilliant for walking and cycling, suitable for beginners upwards, with rewarding views and hidden history.  It is also great for kayaking with a dedicated camp on the north of the island.  
  Beaches - Ettrick Bay and Scalpsie Bay are 2 huge sandy beaches with stunning views to Arran although there are quite a number of lesser known beaches.
  Wildlife - Being an island it is surrounded by marine wildlife including dolphins, porpoises and occasional basking sharks.  There is a good chance of seeing local otters, ospreys, seals, Highland cows and deer. There is also a wide variety of bird life.
  Events and Festivals - Butefest is a new music festival that started last year, the Highland Games is always a big event on the island as is the annual Jazz Festival.
  
  On top of that you can visit the Bute Brewery, relax in hidden gardens, plane spot at the local airfield and of course visit Mount Stuart!
  
  If you need a few more ideas check out my blogs
  http://www.adventuresaroundscotland.com/scotland-travel-blog/category/isle-of-bute
  

  

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  Scottish Travel Blogger at Adventures Around Scotland
  
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• Margaret Member ✭✭

  June 2016

  Not been to Bute for a long time - hoping to pop over in August for a day or two -  will definitely go back to Mount Stuart - it is a stunning building and offers fantastic tours,

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• AlisonCampbell Member ✭

  June 2016

  Mount Stuart is one of my favourite places. I always harp on to people about how amazing a day trip is from the central belt. The gardens are absolutely gorgeous on a sunny day and the tours of the house are amazing (I've done it three times and you always learn something new!). My favourite part's the chapel - it's unbelievable. The food in the restaurant is delicious too

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• VisitScotlandAli Member, Moderator, VisitScotland Staff ✩

  June 2016

  VisitScotlandJohn said:

  I have not been to Mount Stuart in years, but still remember how impressed I was by the Marble Hall, and amazed to discover that this is thought to be the first house in Scotland to have a telephone system.  Although I also remember being curious, as the only place in Scotland to have the phone, who exactly they were going to call?

  Good point I have never thought of that, it was the first for a few other things as well Mount Stuart House contains the world's first heated pool in any house, and was the first home in Scotland to be lit by electricity.

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• HazelM Member ✭

  June 2016

  Margaret said:

  Not been to Bute for a long time - hoping to pop over in August for a day or two -  will definitely go back to Mount Stuart - it is a stunning building and offers fantastic tours,

  If you do manage over, pop into the Discovery Centre to say hi! There are new tours at Mount Stuart and you can now even sit on the furniture making it more accessible for all

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• argyllgirl Member ✭✭

  September 2016

  Bute is one of my favourite places to go for a day long bike ride.  It's only about 20 miles from my house, so easy to just park the car in Colintraive and hop on the ferry.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• Mern Member ✭

  February 2017

  It looks gorgeous! I'm coming back to Scotland after 25 years in OZ. What is living on Bute like? Pros and cons please
  

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