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Kyles of Bute
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Kyles of Bute
The Kyles of Bute (Scottish Gaelic: Na Caoil Bhòdach) form a narrow sea channel that separates the northern end of the Isle of Bute from the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, on the Scottish mainland. The surrounding hillsides are roughly wooded, and overlooked by rocky tops and areas of moorland.
The Kyles are split into the East and West Kyles. The East Kyle (Scottish Gaelic: An Caol an Ear) runs from Rothesay Bay north west up to the entrance to Loch Riddon. Here at the northern end of the East Kyle are the Burnt Islands and the island of Eilean Dubh. The West Kyle (Scottish Gaelic: An Caol an Iar/An Caol Ceathrach) runs from here southwest, past the village of Tighnabruaich out to the Sound of Bute. The area is a designated National Scenic Area.
The Kyles are reflected in the name of Tighnabruaich-based Shinty team Kyles Athletic.
The narrowest strait is only some 300 m (980 ft) across and is spanned by the Calmac ferry from Rhubodach to Colintraive. The crossing takes only five minutes, and runs every half hour throughout the day, seven days a week. Since 1999, the service has been operated by MV Loch Dunvegan, which formerly served on the route from Kyle of Lochalsh to the Isle of Skye. Due to her size relative to the short crossing, the ferry normally sails with both ramps unfolded. As the crossing is so short, the issue of whether the ferry should be replaced by a bridge has been discussed a number of times, for example by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in 1995.
The A8003 road runs above the West Kyle, reaching a height of 130 m (430 ft) just north of Tighnabruaich. On the mainland shore of the East Kyle, the A886 road also takes a route above the shoreline, however the B866 road runs closer to the shore of Loch Riddon. The A and B roads meet just north of Colintraive, from where the route of the A886 continues over the ferry to run along the east shore of Bute to Rothesay.
A trip through the Kyles of Bute was a common feature of a trip "doon the watter" on a Clyde steamer during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. As of 2025, the PS Waverley, the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world, still operates on the Clyde and continues to offer sailings through the Kyles in spring, summer and autumn. The Kyles are also very popular for yachting, and there are many sheltered anchorages.
The Cowal Way, a waymarked footpath between Tighnabruaich and Tarbet, follows the shoreline of the West Kyle, below the A8003. The West Island Way, a waymarked footpath on the Isle of Bute, follows the western shore of the East Kyle for a section of its northern loop: this section is along the A886. Both routes are officially designated as being among Scotland's Great Trails.
The Kyles form part of an area marketed for tourism purposes as "Argyll's Secret Coast".
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Kyles of Bute
The Kyles of Bute (Scottish Gaelic: Na Caoil Bhòdach) form a narrow sea channel that separates the northern end of the Isle of Bute from the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, on the Scottish mainland. The surrounding hillsides are roughly wooded, and overlooked by rocky tops and areas of moorland.
The Kyles are split into the East and West Kyles. The East Kyle (Scottish Gaelic: An Caol an Ear) runs from Rothesay Bay north west up to the entrance to Loch Riddon. Here at the northern end of the East Kyle are the Burnt Islands and the island of Eilean Dubh. The West Kyle (Scottish Gaelic: An Caol an Iar/An Caol Ceathrach) runs from here southwest, past the village of Tighnabruaich out to the Sound of Bute. The area is a designated National Scenic Area.
The Kyles are reflected in the name of Tighnabruaich-based Shinty team Kyles Athletic.
The narrowest strait is only some 300 m (980 ft) across and is spanned by the Calmac ferry from Rhubodach to Colintraive. The crossing takes only five minutes, and runs every half hour throughout the day, seven days a week. Since 1999, the service has been operated by MV Loch Dunvegan, which formerly served on the route from Kyle of Lochalsh to the Isle of Skye. Due to her size relative to the short crossing, the ferry normally sails with both ramps unfolded. As the crossing is so short, the issue of whether the ferry should be replaced by a bridge has been discussed a number of times, for example by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in 1995.
The A8003 road runs above the West Kyle, reaching a height of 130 m (430 ft) just north of Tighnabruaich. On the mainland shore of the East Kyle, the A886 road also takes a route above the shoreline, however the B866 road runs closer to the shore of Loch Riddon. The A and B roads meet just north of Colintraive, from where the route of the A886 continues over the ferry to run along the east shore of Bute to Rothesay.
A trip through the Kyles of Bute was a common feature of a trip "doon the watter" on a Clyde steamer during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. As of 2025, the PS Waverley, the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world, still operates on the Clyde and continues to offer sailings through the Kyles in spring, summer and autumn. The Kyles are also very popular for yachting, and there are many sheltered anchorages.
The Cowal Way, a waymarked footpath between Tighnabruaich and Tarbet, follows the shoreline of the West Kyle, below the A8003. The West Island Way, a waymarked footpath on the Isle of Bute, follows the western shore of the East Kyle for a section of its northern loop: this section is along the A886. Both routes are officially designated as being among Scotland's Great Trails.
The Kyles form part of an area marketed for tourism purposes as "Argyll's Secret Coast".
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