Ivybank Villa
Ivybank Villa is an elegant, beautifully restored Georgian Villa with spectacular, panoramic views over Rothesay Bay to the scenic Cowal hills and Peninsula.
Built and occupied by a ‘Captain John Stuart’ (namesake of Lord Bute, without the ‘Crichton’!) in 1795, the house sits in over two acres of exotically planted gardens which are a haven for ‘resident’ wildlife such as deer, owls, bats, hedgehogs, fish and the full spectrum of wild birds.
We are central for all local amenities/activities, yet at the same time completely private with no passing pedestrians or cars.
Munro’s Bed & Breakfast
Munro’s opened for business in August 2007 after extensive internal upgrading and decoration plus a good lick of paint on the outside. (We used low VOC paints throughout the re-design to minimise the toxic emissions - and smells - normally associated with standard paints.)
At Munro’s relax and enjoy our quiet location up on the hill in Ardbeg. Our large garden has marvellous views over the bay and on beautiful mornings you can have your breakfast on the terrace. You may even spot a fish in the lily-pond.
All our beautifully decorated rooms are ensuite - one with a whirlpool bath - and also include flat screen TV’s, wireless broadband access, underfloor heating in the bathrooms, lovely soft bathrobes, speciality teas and luxury toiletries.
Commodore Guest House
Commodore 3 Star Guest House is run by your Hosts Hazel & Harry Greene and faces West into the setting sun and is ideally situated for that midweek break, long weekend or longer stay
Just a 3 minute stroll from Rothesay Pier and bustling town centre, we enjoy panoramic views over Rothesay Bay and the rolling hills of the Cowal peninsula.
All our rooms are tastefully furnished to a high standard complete with double glazing, colour DVD television and free wireless internet. All the bedrooms are en-suite and have just been toatally refurbished (2009). We provide complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits, which are replenished daily. There is also a Hairdryer in each room.
We now have 2 new ground floor en-suite rooms, family rooms are now also available.
Try our famous ”Full Hearty Scottish Breakfast”. Evening Meals & Packed Lunches available by request.For the continued comfort and well being of all our guests the Commodore is completely NON smoking, but you can smoke outside on our patio area.
The Ardyne Guest House
The Ardyne is an elegant guest house in a prominent position on the seafront, overlooking Loch Striven and the Cowal Hills beyond. We have 10 en suite bedrooms, all comfortably furnished and well appointed. There is a cosy lounge with free Wi-Fi access and the dining room has stunning sea views.
Our full choice breakfasts are made with local produce, free range eggs from the Mount Stuart Estate, smoked salmon from Ritchie’s smoke house and marmalade and jam from prize winning Henshelwood’s all feature on the menu.
The Ardyne Guest House
37 Mountstuart Road, Rothesay, PA20 9EB
For bookings telephone 01700 502052
Go to the website
AdsZoo Bute
This is a brand new site for local people to sell their unwanted stuff on line. Designed especially for Local to Local transactions anyone can register and advertise items locally. The site can also be used for publicising local events, swapping skills or even looking for free stuff.
Go to the website at www.adszoo.co.uk to post a listing.
Fishing on Bute
THE LOCHS OF BUTE
Bute has around half a dozen Lochs available to the fishing enthusiast.
Loch Fad and Loch Quien have some very good Rainbow, Brown Trout and Pike sport. Full details are available at www.lochfad.com
The Isle of Bute Angling Association has the fishing rights to Loch Ascog, the 2 Dhu Lochs and the Greenan Loch. Loch Ascog and the Dhu Lochs have good quality Pike,perch and roach fishing available. The Greenan Loch has common carp, mirror carp, crucian carp, bream, tench and roach available to the angler who relishes a challenge. Full details about these Lochs are available on the association website at http://isleofbuteanglingassociation.webs.com
SEA FISHING
Here’s an extract from the Angling Association website:
We also have some fantastic fishing around the coast of Bute. Mackerel are plentiful in the summer if you fancy a bit of fun. Why not try lightening up for them and i assure you that you’ll have more fun than you can imagine. They’re also a great species to target on the fly.
Ballan Wrasse are my personal favourite and can be caught all around the island although i prefer the south end of Bute. They are the Perch of the sea in my opinion and will readily take a bait as soon as it hits the water. Lugworms do well but the top bait has got to be small Shore Crabs. Fish of around 2-3lb are abundant but 3-4lbers are also there too. Possibly bigger who knows??? When you do connect with a Wrasse then you’d better hold on tight because they do give their all!
Pollack can also be taken around the coast and i have had them to 5 1/2lb in previous years. Baits to use are lugworm,ragworm or fresh strips of mackerel under a float. Jelly worms,spinners and shads also take a fair amount of fish.
Other species which i target through the year are Dogfish, Codling and Conger Eels which can be caught at various locations around the island.
Roseland Lodge Park
Fancy your own luxury lodge on Bute. Roseland is a Holiday Park with a difference. Brand new superior build timber lodges that have been fitted out to an extremley high standard. You can be sure that these stunning homes take full advantage of the views with their fully glazed bay windows and full height french doors.
Double glazing, full residential insulation and central heating keep you cosy, whilst the stunning bathroom is the perfect place to relax after a busy day in the great outdoors.
You can contact Roseland at:
Roseland Lodge Park
Canada Hill
Rothesay
Tel: 01700 501840
Mob: 07990 691946
Visit the Roseland Lodge Park website for more details
Stay & Play Bute
The Stay & Play scheme is a new initiative to attract more golf tourists all year round. The scheme combines some of the best accommodation providers on Bute with a good round or two of golf on the challenging holes at Rothesay Golf Club.
More details are available at the Stay & Play Website CLICK HERE
Bute FM goes live
Bute FM, our new local radio station went live in July. Full details and programming info can be found at www.butefm.com
Rhubodach Forest Community Buyout
UPDATE - There is now a dedicated website at www.buteforest.com
Can we do it?
The Rhubodach Forest which was put up for sale recently with an asking price in excess of £1.3 million could become a community owned asset for Bute. The community has the statutory right to buy-out the privately owned forest at the north end of Bute and 95% potential funding for a community buy out could be available making this a real possibility.
John McGhee QC who is spearheading the campaign has had “exciting discussions” with government ministers this week. John said “we need the community to get behind this to get it off the ground but it needs to do so straightaway – we need to have over 6oo signatures from eligible voters on the Island before Wednesday the 16th of September to be able to make a bid”.
John said the forest – described by the sellers as a “dream location” in a “magical situation” should be owned and used by the people of Bute. He described how the area could be made more accessible and attractive to tourists and visitors (as well as locals of course!) with walkways, cycle paths, pony trekking, forest crafts, children’s play areas and interpretation boards. John urged people to sign up and support this important development for the wider benefit of the island.
Rhubodach Forest is home to a Site of Special Scientific Interest. John has discussed the proposal with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and said the aim would be to enhance this area in conjunction with SNH to protect the important bird populations and ancient woodland while at the same time generating an income from managing the area of commercial forest for the benefit of the community.
The forest will provide employment and training opportunities for local people and the improved access and attractiveness of the area will provide significant benefits to the economy of the island as a whole from increased tourism. But in John’s view, more important that all that, it provides probably the only opportunity that will ever arise for the community as a whole to own and have a stake in the future management of a large and important part of the island.
If you are an eligible voter from Bute and would like to add your support to the campaign for a community buyout of this beautiful forest please fill out your details in the form below and press the send button:
