West Island Way

West Island Way
The West Island Way near Kilchattan Bay.
Length48 km (30 mi)[1]
LocationIsle of Bute, Scotland
Established2000
DesignationScotland's Great Trails
TrailheadsKilchattan Bay (55°45′04″N 5°01′26″W / 55.751°N 5.024°W / 55.751; -5.024)
Port Bannatyne (55°51′36″N 5°04′55″W / 55.860°N 5.082°W / 55.860; -5.082)
UseWalking
Elevation gain/loss690 metres (2,260 ft) gain[1]
Lowest pointSea level
WaymarkYes
Websitehttp://www.westislandway.co.uk/

The West Island Way is a waymarked long distance footpath on the Isle of Bute. The route opened in September 2000 as part of Bute's millennium celebrations, and was the first waymarked long distance route on a Scottish island.[2] As of 2018 it was estimated that between six and seven thousand people were using the trail each year.[3] The route is designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by NatureScot.[1]

Description

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It is a fairly easy walk of approximately 48 kilometres (30 mi), passing through seashore, moorland, farmland and forest.[4] The route begins at Kilchattan Bay in the south of the island, and finishes at Port Bannatyne in the north, with Rothesay, the main town on Bute, as a central point. The hike can be completed over two fairly lengthy walking days, or four shorter days. The official map and guide of the route is available from the Bute Discovery Centre in Rothesay.[2]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c "Trails". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b "The West Island Way". Bute Conservation Trust. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Scotland's networks of paths and trails: key research findings" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. August 2018. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  4. ^ "West Island Way". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
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55°50′N 5°5′W / 55.833°N 5.083°W / 55.833; -5.083