What you get on this adventure: An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area 6-day women-only West Island Way walking tour Accommodation for 5 nights in the grand Glenburn Hotel (solo occupancy, but can be shared and the price decreases) All meals Breakfasts from Day 2 to Day 6 Packed lunches from Day 2 to Day 5 Dinners from Day 1 to Day 5 Welcome drink Local travel required for walks What’s not included: Transportation to Rothesay, Scotland Additional drinks Additional excursions Guide gratuities — optional Travel and medical insurance — optional

How fit do I need to be?

While this West Island Way walking tour is beginner-friendly and does not require any previous hiking experience, a basic level of fitness is still a must. You’ll walk between 5 to 10 miles per day (8-16 km)—you can find detailed day-by-day distances and elevation gains in the itinerary. Still, this is a gentle trail with mostly well marked paths. The lowest point is sea level and the highest elevation is 690 m (2,260 ft). For more adventures in Scotland, click here ! Looking to discover more women-only trips? Discover them here !

What do I need to bring?

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring: Day pack large enough to carry all the items you might need throughout the day Hiking poles — optional Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity) Lightweight hiking boots or shoes Comfortable hiking clothes Spare clothes for layering Waterproof rain jacket Sunhat Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.) Headlamp or flashlight Sunglasses Camera — optional (but recommended) Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?

While wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, the Isle of Bute is rich in diverse habitats that support a variety of wildlife. An experienced guide will take you to areas where you have the best chances of seeing animals such as sharks, seals, osprey, and red deer. The natural beauty of the island itself, combined with the potential for wildlife encounters, makes every walk a memorable experience!

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes and pricing This West Island Way walking tour is women-only. The usual client-to-guide ratio is 10:1. The price of the tour is based on solo occupancy at The Glenburn Hotel. If you choose to share a room with a partner/friend, the price of the tour goes down by $370—you can choose this upon checkout. West Island Way walking tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements If you are older than 18, you’re good to go. Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join this West Island Way walking tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

The starting point of your West Island Way walking tour is Rothesay, the principal town on the Isle of Bute. To get there, it’s best to first fly into Glasgow Airport (GLA) . From Glasgow Central Station take a one-hour train ride to Wemyss Bay. That’s where you’ll take Calmac Ferry to Rothesay. Trains and ferries run every hour or so, and you’ll have no problem reaching Rothesay. Both the train and the ferry are very affordable. Make sure to arrive by late afternoon for a check-in and orientation guide on Day 1 of the tour.

Safety measures and insurance

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible , we partnered up with Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner ! Redpoint tailors their insurance packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered. Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s insurance. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

View overlooking Port Bannatyne and Rothesay

ISLE OF BUTE | SCOTLAND

Scotland’s West Island Way: All-Women Walking Trip on the Isle of Bute

5.00 ()

Season

May through June

Duration

6 days

Accommodation

The grand Glenburn Hotel

Difficulty

Guides

Jo Bird, Walking Women

Questions, additional dates, private groups

Book a call

From $1,890 () / 6 days

Intro
Itinerary
Brochure
Guides
Accommodation
Reviews
Things to know

The small Scottish Isle of Bute is home to the stunning West Island Way, a long-distance path that offers a gorgeous display of different landscapes and thriving wildlife. This all-women, 6-day walking adventure will have us following a portion of this trail, allowing us to take in the remoteness and ruggedness of this island. We’ll spend our days exploring this special island, with a good chance of spotting sharks, seals, osprey, red deer, swans, and more! As for our lodging, it’s second to none—the grand Glenburn Hotel has been welcoming guests since 1892, and we’ll stay at this traditional Scottish hotel in already booked seaview rooms!

Jo Bird

Adventure highlights

The first long-distance path on a Scottish island

West Island Way is the first long-distance path on any Scottish island, and an incredibly scenic path
Room with a view at a century-old hotel

The Glenburn Hotel, hosting guests since 1892, is our base—you’ll wake up with views of the Rothesay Bay
Traditional Scottish pubs

Scotland is THE destination for beer lovers—relax in a pub with a refreshing ale from a local brewery

Itinerary

The Isle of Bute is home to the first long-distance path on any of the Scottish islands: the West Island Way. Over 6 days (with 4 days of walking), we’ll explore a portion of this scenic trail and experience the beauty and the ruggedness of this island. There’s also a chance of spotting wildlife, so keep an eye out! All meals are included in this trip, as well as a terrific local guide, and the most charming accommodation imaginable, at the Glenburn Hotel.

Make your way to the charming Rothesay town on the Isle of Bute. If you arrive by 4 pm, there will be a short orientation walk of Rothesay. At 6 pm, we’ll have a welcome drink at the Glenburn Hotel with dinner to follow. The guide will brief you about the upcoming days.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: The Glenburn Hotel
We’ll take a bus to Kilchattan Bay at the southern tip of the island. The journey takes us through the beautiful grounds of Mount Stuart house, the stately home of the Stuart family. This is a lovely circular walk starting along the coast and then inland, going by the ancient ruins of St Blaine’s church. There may be time after the walk to see either the grounds of Mount Stuart or to visit the heritage museum in Rothesay.

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 8 km / 5 miles
Elevation gain: 270 m / 885 ft
Accommodation: The Glenburn Hotel
Once again, a bus will take us to Kilchattan Bay, where we’ll start our day with a gentle walk across to Stravanan Bay. Then we’ll continue inland over moorland past Loch Ascog, and then lovely Loch Fad, before heading back to Rothesay. This is a long walk but the paths are mainly firm tracks with steady ascents. There are fabulous views west to the Isle of Arran!

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 16 km / 10 miles
Elevation gain: 240 m / 790 ft
Accommodation: The Glenburn Hotel
A taxi will take us to Rhubodach at the northern tip of the island. The path climbs steadily on a forest track onto moorland. We then follow a ridge of hills where the path is faint and the ground can be wet (boots recommended for this section). There are great views all along this path and cuckoos are often heard calling in spring. We then descend on a good path to Port Bannatyne and take another path over and round to Rothesay. For those who want, this day can be shortened by taking a short bus journey from Port Bannatyne back to Rothesay making the walk length 10km (6.5 miles) with 320 m (1,050 ft) ascent.

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 15.3 km / 9.5 miles
Elevation gain: 430 m / 1,410 ft
Accommodation: The Glenburn Hotel
We’ll take a taxi to Rhubodach again, but then head off uphill through beautiful woodland past the ruined farmstead of Balnakailly to a forest trail. This leads us down over moorland to the Glenmore valley and to a farm track that descends to beautiful Ettrick Bay. We then follow the old tramway path back to Port Bannatyne, where we take a short bus ride back to Rothesay.
In fine weather, we may do this route in reverse, ending at Rhubodach and taking a 5 minute ferry ride over to a lovely hotel at Colintraive for celebratory drinks! Otherwise our drinks will be back at our hotel!

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Hiking: 15 km / 9.3 miles
Elevation gain: 230 m / 755 ft
Accommodation: The Glenburn Hotel
After our final breakfast at the grand Glenburn Hotel, our adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to keep on exploring the area, just ask us for some recommendations!

Meals: Breakfast

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Meet your guides

5.00

Jo Bird

Although a born Londoner, Jo has lived in Yorkshire since her mid 20s. She feels very lucky to have wild and beautiful countryside on her doorstep, and easy access to the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, and all the other wonderful places for walking in the north. Jo loves to walk wherever she goes, and finds it the best way to see a new place and meet new people. She enjoys organizing walks and turning them into fun and interesting days! Apart from exploring her surroundings on foot, she’s also done some wonderful walking abroad, including Nepal and New Zealand, which she lists as her highlights.

5.00

Walking Women

Sisters Sara and Ginny, the owners of Walking Women, are passionate about sharing their love for walking and having fantastic experiences with friends and family. Walking Women’s mission is to provide a safe space for women to explore and venture together. Their focus is always on supporting local communities and prioritizing women-led businesses as their partners and suppliers.

Accommodation

The Glenburn Hotel

Set in a prime position atop terraced gardens, The Glenburn Hotel offers fantastic views overlooking Rothesay Bay. Originally built in 1892 as a hydrotherapy retreat, this grand hotel has since been a go-to destination for holidaymakers to Bute.

All seaview rooms are confirmed for this trip so you can wake up to views of the sea! Staying at the Glenburn will give you a good sense of life when Bute was a thriving seaside destination with steam boats and people flocking to the island from the mainland.

There’s a bright airy Ettrick Restaurant as well as the smaller Pattersons Grill overlooking the bay. Relax with a drink in the bar or enjoy the hotel’s terrace, ideal for soaking up stunning views across the Rothesay Bay!

5.00 (4 reviews)

Joann Poinelli (source: Google Reviews)

this group is wonderful. I’ve gone on two of their tours and enjoyed both of them because of the groups on the tours and the care and support that the tour company takes for each of its tours.

Meriem adib (source: Google Reviews)

I have been on a few adventures with WW and highly recommend them. I’ve had brilliant experiences. There is something very special about a group of random women meeting up to walk and discover new things together. Each time the groups have been mixed, warm and inviting. The guides have always been excellent. I’ve been cross country skiing, hill climbing and rambling. Each time I have come back highly inspired. A brilliant company and a wonderful way to ‘build memories’ and enjoy life.

Carolyn Hallam (source: Google Reviews)

A wonderful holiday with walking women, I wouldn’t hesitate to go again. Extremely well organised from start to finish.

Lyn Romeo (source: Google Reviews)

I have throughly enjoyed my holidays with Walking Women ! Well organised and responsive and always lovely warm and inclusive groups. The fab accommodation and wonderful places ensure that I will be booking regular trips with them

Things to know

What you get on this adventure:
- - An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - 6-day women-only West Island Way walking tour
  - Accommodation for 5 nights in the grand Glenburn Hotel (solo occupancy, but can be shared and the price decreases)
  - All meals
    
    Breakfasts from Day 2 to Day 6
    
    Packed lunches from Day 2 to Day 5
    
    Dinners from Day 1 to Day 5
  - Welcome drink
  - Local travel required for walks
What’s not included:
- - Transportation to Rothesay, Scotland
  - Additional drinks
  - Additional excursions
  - Guide gratuities — optional
  - Travel and medical insurance — optional
While this West Island Way walking tour is beginner-friendly and does not require any previous hiking experience, a basic level of fitness is still a must. You’ll walk between 5 to 10 miles per day (8-16 km)—you can find detailed day-by-day distances and elevation gains in the itinerary. Still, this is a gentle trail with mostly well marked paths. The lowest point is sea level and the highest elevation is 690 m (2,260 ft).

For more adventures in Scotland, click here! Looking to discover more women-only trips? Discover them here!
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
- - Day pack large enough to carry all the items you might need throughout the day
  - Hiking poles — optional
  - Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
  - Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
  - Comfortable hiking clothes
  - Spare clothes for layering
  - Waterproof rain jacket
  - Sunhat
  - Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
  - Headlamp or flashlight
  - Sunglasses
  - Camera — optional (but recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
While wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, the Isle of Bute is rich in diverse habitats that support a variety of wildlife. An experienced guide will take you to areas where you have the best chances of seeing animals such as sharks, seals, osprey, and red deer. The natural beauty of the island itself, combined with the potential for wildlife encounters, makes every walk a memorable experience!
Group sizes and pricing
- - This West Island Way walking tour is women-only.
  - The usual client-to-guide ratio is 10:1.
  - The price of the tour is based on solo occupancy at The Glenburn Hotel. If you choose to share a room with a partner/friend, the price of the tour goes down by $370—you can choose this upon checkout.
West Island Way walking tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  - Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join this West Island Way walking tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your West Island Way walking tour is Rothesay, the principal town on the Isle of Bute. To get there, it’s best to first fly into Glasgow Airport (GLA). From Glasgow Central Station take a one-hour train ride to Wemyss Bay. That’s where you’ll take Calmac Ferry to Rothesay. Trains and ferries run every hour or so, and you’ll have no problem reaching Rothesay. Both the train and the ferry are very affordable.

Make sure to arrive by late afternoon for a check-in and orientation guide on Day 1 of the tour.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, we partnered up with Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

Redpoint tailors their insurance packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s insurance. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
Deposits

You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

Cancellations

Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

Basic
- - In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  - For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.
Flexible
- - In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  - For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 30-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, there is no refund.
Super Flexible
- - In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  - For cancellations 30 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
  - For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.