A couple of weeks ago, I wanted to escape Glasgow’s hustle and bustle – just for a day. There are so many tranquil and picturesque towns and villages near Glasgow you can visit for the day. One of which is the Isle of Bute.
Getting there
The easiest way to get to the Isle of Bute is to get the ferry from Wemyss Bay. The most budget-friendly way to get there is to buy a Rail & Sail ticket from Glasgow Central Station. An anytime day return ticket is £15.40 which also includes your ferry ticket. Wemyss Bay is the last station and you have enough time to get the ferry. You don’t need to buy a ferry ticket and can simply show your train ticket when boarding. The ferry trip is only about 30 minutes which gives you enough time to buy a coffee (if you haven’t brought your own!).
Rothesay
Rothesay is a small town with lovely shops, cafes and restaurants. Although there is plenty to see and do in Rothesay, you can hop on a sightseeing bus and explore the island. The bus takes you around the island and to all sights within 1 1/2 hours. Sadly, the bus wasn’t running yet as it was off-season. However, exploring Rothesay was fantastic, too. We got fish and chips from Harry’s Haw which was very tasty. After some sightseeing and strolling through the streets of Rothesay, we went to the Isle of Bute Distillery. We got the gin flight which includes 4 of their own gins. Alternatively, you can swap a gin for a rum (which we did).
A few hours (and gins) later, we got the ferry back to Wemyss Bay. You don’t need to pre-book the ferry and you simply show your return train ticket.
Costs:
- Rail and Sail ticket: £15.40
- Fish Supper: £11
- Gin tasting: £12
- Total (per person): £38.40