Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
stonework: the earlier, lower half comprising light ashlar, the upper half darker and
of rougher hew.
Bute Museum
Stuart St • April-Sept Mon-Sat 10.30am-3.30pm, Sun 1.30-3.30pm; Feb, March, Oct & Nov Tues-Thurs & Sat 1.30-3.30pm • £3 •
W butemuseum.org
At first glance, Bute Museum , just up behind the castle, looks like your average, rather
dull local-history museum, but it's well worth popping into. Inchmarnock, a tiny
island to the west of Bute, provides the greatest source of treasures, not least a stunning
beaded necklace made of jet, which belonged to the so-called “Queen of the Inch”,
whose remains were discovered in a Bronze Age cist in 1961. Look out, too, for some
exquisite pieces of incised slate on which children would practice their writing or
drawing, such as one depicting horses grazing; these date from around the eighth
century. The local photographs make for fascinating viewing too.
Ardencraig Gardens
Ardencraig Lane • May-Sept Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat & Sun 1-4.30pm • Free • T 01700 504644
On the fringes of Rothesay heading east along the coast, not far from Craigmore Pier,
you'll come to Ardencraig Gardens , a small riot of colour in summer, the centrepiece of
which is a magnificent walled garden alongside a series of Victorian hothouses. There's
also an aviary full of exotic birds surrounding a lovingly tended hillside garden.
Ascog Hall Gardens
Ascog • Easter-Oct Wed-Sun 10am-5pm • £4 • T 01700 504555
A mile or so east of Rothesay along the coastal road is the Ascog Hall Gardens , which is
chiefly notable for its highly unusual Victorian fernery , a beautiful, dank place, sunk into
the ground, and featuring ferns from all over the world. This one fairly recently replaced
the original fernery dating from around 1870, its red, weathered sandstone walls, shade
and humidity ideal conditions for cultivating these plants. The gardens themselves are
likeably dishevelled, and feature species from Europe, Asia and Oceania, though the best
time to visit is in spring, when azaleas, tulips and blue poppies are in full bloom.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
ROTHESAY
By ferry The CalMac terminal is right in the middle of
the Esplanade.
Destinations Wemyss Bay-Rothesay (every 45min; 30min).
By bus The main point for bus arrivals and departures is
Guildford Square, opposite the ferry terminal.
Destinations Kilchattan Bay (Mon-Sat hourly, 3 daily on
Sun; 30min); Mount Stuart (Mon-Sat hourly; 15min);
Rhubodach (Mon-Fri 2-3 daily; 20min).
INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES
Tourist o ce Inside the Winter Gardens on Victoria St
(daily 9.30am-5pm; T 01700 502151, W visitbute.com);
also located here is the “Discovery Centre”, w hich has some
well-presented displays on the life and times of Bute.
Bike hire The Bike Shed, 23-25 East Princes St (Mon-Sat
9.30am-5.30pm; T 01700 505515, W thebikeshed.org
.uk), has great-value bike hire (£10/day) and also does
repairs and servicing.
ACCOMMODATION
Boat House 15 Battery Place T 01700 502696,
W theboathouse-bute.co.uk. Chic and utterly contem-
porary B&B with ten sparkling rooms offering all the
modern conveniences you could wish for, including iPod
docks. The lounge area is equ ally inviting, with a DVD
player and stereo for guests' use. £80
Bute Backpackers 36 Argyle St T 01700 501876.
Conveniently located five minutes' walk along the seafront
towards Port Bannatyne, the island's sole hostel offers
reasonably furnished three- to- six bedded rooms.
Breakfast n ot in cluded but there's a large kitchen for guests'
use. Dorms £20
Cannon House Battery Place T 01700 502819,
W cannonhousehotel.co.uk. A really elegant Georgian
building close to the pier with an ever-so-slightly old-
fashioned atmosphere, but seven extremely comfortable
(if slig htly too floral) rooms, though not all possess sea
views. £70
 
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