Bute’s Best Bird Sites
Bute has some wonderful birding sites where a wide range of birds can be found all year round. With a little effort well over 50 species can be ticked off on any day of the year if you plan your visit well. Bird hides are located at The Kirk Dam, Ettrick Bay, Loch Ascog and Loch Quien. Click for more information on a specific site.
St Ninians Bay / Straad
Grid Refs St Ninian’s Bay NS040617 Straad Saltmarsh NS035617 How to get there The Straad and St Ninian’s Bay are about 4 miles from Rothesay. From the pier walk (or drive) south on High Street, passing Rothesay Castle, turning right onto...
Loch Quien
Grid Ref - NS064593 How to get there From Rothesay Pier travel south, passing the castle on your right, for 4 miles on the B881, then turn right (west) on the A844 Travel for 500m to the signposted path to the...
Kirk dam
Grid Ref- NS082626 How to get there The Kirk Dam is about a 2 miles from Rothesay. From the pier walk (or drive) south on High Street, taking 2nd on the right (south west) into Russell Street. Follow Russell St out of Rothesay for 3/4 mile, bearing left (south)...
Greenan Loch
Grid Ref – NS067640 How to get there The Greenan Loch is about 2 miles from Rothesay. From the pier walk (or drive) south on High Street, passing the castle on your right, and then turning 2nd right (south west) into Russell...
Ettrick Bay
Grid Ref – NS035657 How to get there Infrequent bus service from Rothesay, number 490. On foot/ cycle/ car – From Rothesay Pier turn right (head north) on A844 towards Port Bannatyne and Kames Bay. After approx 3 miles, at Kames Bay,...
Loch Fad
Grid Ref – NS078625 How to get there Loch Fad is about 2 miles from Rothesay. From the pier walk (or drive) south on High Street. Once passed the castle, take 2nd on the right...