West Island Way

West Island Way
The West Island Way near Kilchattan Bay.
Length48 km (30 mi)[1]
LocationIsle of Bute, Scotland
Established2000
DesignationScotland's Great Trails
TrailheadsKilchattan Bay (55°45′04″N 5°01′26″W / 55.751°N 5.024°W / 55.751; -5.024)
Port Bannatyne (55°51′36″N 5°04′55″W / 55.860°N 5.082°W / 55.860; -5.082)
UseWalking
Elevation gain/loss690 metres (2,260 ft) gain[1]
Lowest pointSea level
WaymarkYes
Websitehttp://www.westislandway.co.uk/

The West Island Way is a waymarked long distance footpath on the Isle of Bute. The route opened in September 2000 as part of Bute's millennium celebrations, and was the first waymarked long distance route on a Scottish island.[2] As of 2018 it was estimated that between six and seven thousand people were using the trail each year.[3] The route is designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by NatureScot.[1]

  1. ^ a b c "Trails". Scotland's Great Trails. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  2. ^ "The West Island Way". Bute Conservation Trust. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Scotland's networks of paths and trails: key research findings" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. August 2018. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2018.