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Kyles of Bute

Coordinates: 55°55′48″N 5°11′13″W / 55.930°N 5.187°W / 55.930; -5.187
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Kyles of Bute National Scenic Area
Caladh Harbour, Kyles of Bute. Taken in the anchorage behind Eilean Dubh. The Isle of Bute can be seen in the distance.
Map showing the location of Kyles of Bute National Scenic Area
Map showing the location of Kyles of Bute National Scenic Area
The location of the Kyles of Bute within Argyll and Bute.
LocationArgyll and Bute, Scotland
Coordinates55°55′48″N 5°11′13″W / 55.930°N 5.187°W / 55.930; -5.187
Area57.4 km2 (22.2 sq mi)[1]
Established1981
Governing bodyNatureScot

The Kyles of Bute (Scottish Gaelic: Na Caoil Bhòdach) form a narrow sea channel that separates the northern end of the Isle of Bute from the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, on the Scottish mainland. The surrounding hillsides are roughly wooded, and overlooked by rocky tops and areas of moorland.[2]

The Kyles are split into the East and West Kyles. The East Kyle (Scottish Gaelic: An Caol an Ear) runs from Rothesay Bay north west up to the entrance to Loch Riddon. Here at the northern end of the East Kyle are the Burnt Islands and the island of Eilean Dubh.[3] The West Kyle (Scottish Gaelic: An Caol an Iar/An Caol Ceathrach) runs from here southwest, past the village of Tighnabruaich out to the Sound of Bute.[3] The area is a designated National Scenic Area.[4]

The Kyles are reflected in the name of Tighnabruaich-based Shinty team Kyles Athletic.[5]

Transport

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The narrowest strait is only some 300 m (980 ft) across and is spanned by the Calmac ferry from Rhubodach to Colintraive.[6] The crossing takes only 5 minutes, and runs every half hour throughout the day, seven days a week.[7] Since 1999 the service has been operated by MV Loch Dunvegan, which formerly served on the route from Kyle of Lochalsh to the Isle of Skye. Due to her size relative to the short crossing the ferry normally sails with both ramps unfolded.[8] As the crossing is so short the issue of whether the ferry should be replaced by a bridge has been discussed a number of times, for example by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in 1995.[9]

The A8003 road runs above the West Kyle, reaching a height of 130 m (430 ft) just north of Tighnabruaich. On the mainland shore of the East Kyle the A886 road also takes a route above the shoreline, however the B866 road runs closer to the shore of Loch Riddon. The A and B roads meet just north of Colintraive, from where the route of the A886 continues over the ferry to run along the east shore of Bute to Rothesay.[3]

Tourism

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A trip through the Kyles of Bute was a common feature of a trip "doon the watter" on a Clyde steamer during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.[10] As of 2018 the PS Waverley, the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world, still operates a summer season on the Clyde and continues to offer sailings through the Kyles.[11] The Kyles are also very popular for yachting, and there are many sheltered anchorages.[2]

The Cowal Way, a waymarked footpath between Tighnabruaich and Tarbet, follows the shoreline of the West Kyle, below the A8003. The West Island Way, a waymarked footpath on the Isle of Bute, follows the western shore of the East Kyle for a section of its northern loop: this section is along the A886.[3] Both routes are officially designated as being among Scotland's Great Trails.[12]

The Kyles form part of an area marketed for tourism purposes as "Argyll's Secret Coast".[13]

Conservation

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The area is designated as the Kyles of Bute National Scenic Area, one of the forty such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development.[4] The designated area covers 5,739 ha (14,180 acres) in total, of which 4,723 ha (11,670 acres) is on land, with a further 1,016 ha (2,510 acres) being marine (i.e. below low tide level),[1] and includes land on Bute and the Cowal peninsula, extending to take in the surroundings of Loch Riddon.[14]

Bird species that can regularly be seen in the Kyles include eider ducks, oystercatchers and herons.[2]

One of the Burnt Islands, Eilean Buidhe, is the site of the remains of a circular vitrified fort about 19.5 m (64 ft) in diameter. The remaining walls stand up to 1.5 m (5 ft) on the eastern side of the site.[15] Further north, Eilean Dearg in Loch Riddon is the site of a Medieval castle that was destroyed by naval action during Argyll's Rising in 1685.[16][17]

Ownership

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View from near the National Trust for Scotland viewpoint.

The eastern shores of the East Kyle forms the Ardentraive Estate, which is owned by the Mount Stuart Trust,[18] which also owns Mount Stuart House, and most of the Isle of Bute (including the eastern shoreline of the West Kyle).[19] The Mount Stuart Trust is still largely controlled by the family of the Marquess of Bute, the Crichton-Stuarts.[20] The Rhubodach estate on Bute, which includes the western shoreline of the East Kyle was formerly owner by actor and director Lord Attenborough.[21] In August 2009 he placed 2,012 acres (8.14 km2) estate up for sale, and a referendum carried out on 12 February 2010 showed 93% of islanders supported a plan land to buy the land for the community.[22] In January 2011 he sold the estate, which consists mostly of forest for the reduced fee of £1.48 million.[23] The Rhubodach estate is now owned by the Bute Community Land Company, a charitable company formed by residents living on the island.[24] The main landowner on the western shoreline of the West Kyle is the Ardlamont Forest, which as of 2002 was owned by Loch Lomond Distillery.[25] A viewpoint and indicator on the A8003 road overlooking the Kyles belongs to the National Trust for Scotland.[26]

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  • Kyles of Bute
    Kyles of Bute
  • Caladh harbour light
    Caladh harbour light
  • Burnt Islands Kyles of Bute
    Burnt Islands Kyles of Bute
  • Admiralty Chart No 1906 Kyles of Bute and Inchmarnock Water
    Admiralty Chart No 1906 Kyles of Bute and Inchmarnock Water

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Scenic Areas - Maps". SNH. 20 December 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2010. pp. 77–81. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d Ordnance Survey Explorer Map. Sheet 362: Cowal West & Isle of Bute.
  4. ^ a b "National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Home". Kyles Athletic. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Colintraive". VisitScotland. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Summer Timetable | Bute Colintraive to Rhubodach". CalMac. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  8. ^ Caledonian MacBrayne: Ferries of the Clyde, Highlands and Islands. Ships Illustrated. Special Issue No. 11. ISBN 978-1-910554-17-3. p. 39.
  9. ^ "Bridge to Bute 'only way to combat high ferry fares'". HeraldScotland. 26 August 1995. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Scottish phrase of the week: Doon the watter". The Scotsman. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Waverley Summer 2018 Timtable" (PDF). Waverley Excursions Ltd. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Scotland's Great Trails". NatureScot. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Join Us". Argyll's Secret Coast. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Kyles of Bute NSA". NatureScot. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Eilean Buidhe". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Eilean Dearg, Loch Ruel". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  17. ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1-84195-454-3. p. 26
  18. ^ "Property Page: Ardentraive". Who Owns Scotland. 16 August 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Property Page: Isle of Bute". Who Owns Scotland. 20 December 2002. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Mount Stuart Trust: People". Companies House. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Property Page: Rhubodach". Who Owns Scotland. 14 August 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Ballot backs Attenborough buyout". BBC News. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  23. ^ Johnson, Simon (23 January 2011). "Richard Attenborough seeks compensation after he is forced to sell Scottish estate at knock-down price". The Telegraph.
  24. ^ "Bute Forest". Bute Forest. 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  25. ^ "Property Page: Ardlamont Forest". Who Owns Scotland. 21 August 2002. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  26. ^ National Trust for Scotland. 2018 Guide. p.117
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