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Visitor Information: MV Bute at Rothesay |
As an island, Bute is heavily dependant on its two ferry services, both for meeting its day to day needs and to bring the visitors on whom its economy so much depends. For current timetable and fare information, and for bookings, visit the website of the ferry operator, CalMac.
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The Isle of Bute's main ferry service links Rothesay with Wemyss Bay, providing a connection to train services to Glasgow. This is supplemented by the second service, linking Rhubodach in northern Bute with Colintraive on the Cowal Peninsula.
The Wemyss Bay service takes some 35 minutes and lands you in the heart of Rothesay itself. The service is in a state of transition. Until 2004 it was in the hands of a generation of ships dating back to the mid 1970s, Streaker Class ships such as Jupiter, Juno and Saturn. In 2005 a new vessel, the MV Bute, came onto the route, usually operating alongside the Juno. The Bute can carry 60 cars compared with the 40 car capacity of the earlier ships and it represents a significant improvement, both in terms of capacity and the quality of the accommodation on offer.
 MV Loch Dunvegan at
Rhubodach, 2006 |
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 ...and at Kyle of
Lochalsh in 1992 |
One oddity of this route remains, however. At Rothesay vehicles are unloaded or loaded via ramps on the rear side of the ship, meaning that the service is not "drive through". The main consequence is rather longer loading and unloading times than would otherwise be possible: coupled with a premium on drivers' ability to reverse their vehicles effectively.
From the end of 2006 a sister ship of the Bute, the MV Argyle, is due to replace the Juno on this route and serve alongside the Bute. This will complete the modernisation of the service.
The Rhubodach to Colintraive service crosses the Kyles of Bute at their narrowest point, taking just five minutes to complete the trip. Since 1999 the service has been operated by the MV Loch Dunvegan, perhaps remembered by many as one of the ferries displaced from the Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin crossing on the completion of the Skye Bridge in 1995.
 MV Juno at Wemyss Bay |
