West Island Way 2: Kilchattan Bay to Port Bannatyne

Summary

This second stage of the West Island Way links Kilchattan Bay with the outskirts of Port Bannatyne. The route passes picturesque Stravanan Bay with views to Arran and then climbs over farmland and open moor with varied views. It leads past Loch Fad, a popular fishery and bird watching loch, before a final stretch above Rothesay to Port Bannatyne.

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Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Paths, farm tracks and minor roads - mostly easy going but some patches can be very muddy.

Getting there

Start

Kilchattan Bay.

Public Transport

Bus to Kilchattan Bay.

Start Grid Ref

NS101550

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 18.5km / 11.5 miles
Time: 4.5 - 5.5 hours
Ascent: 260m (Profile)

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Explorer 362 - Cowal West

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

From the parking area by the old jetty on the seafront at Kilchattan Bay walk NW along the shore road, turning left after the phone box and then right to follow a lane behind the houses. Continue behind the gardens until the route eventually bears left and goes through a kissing gate, continuing on the path through the trees with open fields to your right. When the path emerges at a minor road, go straight across and through the kissing gate opposite to follow the path alongside the fence. Go through a gate and across a bridge into the field with the wind sock - the island's airstrip - and continue alongside the fence.

Stage 2

After the next field, a gate brings you onto Bute golf course. The line of the path keeps to the left of the main course although you need to watch out for golfers, follow the signs and a few steps to reach the beach. There are great views across to Arran on a clear day. Continue onto the sandy Stravanan Bay, a good spot for a rest. Follow the beach for a short while until after the burn, and then take to the springy turf at the back of the bay. There is a faint track which keeps between the shore and the field fence and then heads diagonally across the wider open grassy area to reach a wooden fingerpost indicating a track heading inland.

Stage 3

Go through the gate and up the track, passing through another gate on the way to the farm buildings. At Langalbuinoch Farm, keeping the buildings to your left and turn right through the farmyard gate and along the farm track to the main road. Turn left here to follow the road for a short section. Take the first lane on the right (signed), at a dip in the road, and follow it gently uphill. At a fork keep right and at a T junction turn left following the West Island Way marker. Follow the green lane until it reaches another lane at T junction, with a gate. Turn right here and head uphill. There are great views back over farmland and to the mountains of Arran

Stage 4

The track goes through gorse and bears left near the top onto open moorland used as sheep and cattle grazing. At the summit there is a trig point cairn a short detour to the left, offering a grand view over much of the island. The track here, known as Lord James' Ride, was once a popular charabanc outing route when Glaswegians would come in large numbers on the steamer excursions on the Clyde.

Stage 5

Continue on the track, slightly downhill, until you turn left at a crossroads. The track now crosses open land with good views and passes three houses on the left before entering woodland.

Stage 6

Keep straight ahead at a metal farm gate and head downhill where you go through another gate before passing the end of Loch Ascog and then Lochend Farm on the right. Keep following the farm track until it emerges at the road. Here cross diagonally right and climb the signed stile into the field on the other side. Go straight down the field and through a kissing gate and then follow the faint path which bears diagonally left down towards buildings and reaches another track at a kissing gate.

Stage 7

Go left here and past the buildings to reach the fishery and bird hide at Loch Fad. Bear right to cross the causeway and then follow the track to the right on the far side; this soon becomes a tarred road. Follow this for some distance, eventually climbing to reach a junction with a main road. Turn right here to head towards the houses on the outskirts of Rothesay. Just before the first house, turn left up a signed path and over a stile into a field.

Stage 8

The route here can be hard to follow, keep the hedgerow on your right at first and then, as you approach more houses and after you cross a stile, head to the left of the houses around a metal barn to reach a gate. Go straight across a track onto a grassy path heading downhill. At the road turn left opposite the old school building and follow the road uphill passing a waste transfer station. At a fork keep right, before the road reaches Westland Farm turn right along a signed raised track.

Stage 9

After a gate, the path is lined with a beech hedge. Just before a gate take a sharp turn to the left (signed) onto a path. Follow this through two kissing gates looking out for the way markers. After another pedestrian gate turn left before a stone wall and through another gate into a wood. With tall pine trees on the right hand side, ignore a path coming in from the right and continue downhill, passing though another gate and then emerging onto a minor road. Turn left towards the modern Golf Club building. Just before the building turn right along a narrow path which bears left to head downhill through trees. Just before reaching the road a path is reached; the West Island Way continues to the left here for the third stage, or a right turn leads into Port Bannatyne.

Next stage: Northern Bute circular

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