Rothesay town centre (1 mile)
Rothesay is the principal town on the Isle of Bute. It is served by regular ferry crossings from Wemyss Bay on the Renfrewshire coast. The railway station at Wemyss Bay is almost worth a visit in itself with its impressive canopies of glass and iron. Trains arrive every hour from Glasgow Central, journey time 50 minutes. A covered walkway leads to the ferry which takes just over half an hour to reach the island.
We dock right in the heart of Rothesay and can begin exploring the town immediately. After disembarking, you will pass the famed Victorian toilets. Be sure to spend a penny here at some point during your visit and marvel at the exquisite plumbing and china within. Take a walk along the promenade with its palm trees and have a look at the fountain. Double back to the Tourist Information centre, housed within the grand Winter Garden building. The iron and glass structure dates from 1924 and was formerly a theatre. Big acts of the day visited as Rothesay was a popular destination for holidaymaking Glaswegians. Nowadays it hosts a permanent exhibition on the town's history as well as a cinema and a café.
Proceed up Tower Street and work your way anti-clockwise around the castle which features Scotland's only circular curtain wall. Walk along Castle Street and then up the steep zig-zagging Serpentine Road. A handy footpath allows you to cut out most of the bends and a bench at the top of the grassy area provides a nice location to take in the views of the town and harbour.
