Note: this was originally published on Bootsnall in 2000 but as they’ve been removed from their website, I’m republishing them here. There were six posts from the start of my year abroad after university (I was in my mid-20s) and hopefully, they still have some value other than just nostalgia for myself.
Well, I have started my job as an Au Pair on a farm on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. Let’s hear a bit about Bute first. Bute is a small island in the Firth of Clyde between the Isle of Arran and the mainland. It is only 15 miles long by 5 miles across at its widest.
Being that I love hiking, that was one of the first things that I checked out after I arrived. Bute has eight (8) official walks of varying lengths and difficulty (although none of them are too hard as Bute’s highest point is only around 500 feet) as well as a new walk called the Island Way, a take off from the West Highland Way. Within the first week I had hiked half of them and found a favourite which is conveniently located close to the farm that I live on.
Also close by is Ettrick Bay, which is a mile long (1.6 km for you metric folk) beach with quite a lot of sand to play in when the tide is out. This also makes quite a nice walk but wear waterproof boots, as then you don’t have to detour too much around the little rivulets.
Bute is quite a nice little island for the outdoors minded, if a tad pastoral. There are about 7500 people that live on Bute with the majority (6100) living in the Royal Burgh of Rothesay.
Of course, there is more to do on Bute than just hike. There is an unusual castle with quite a bit of history plus Mount Stuart, the beautiful home of the current (7th) Marques of Bute. Mount Stuart was built by the third Marques of Bute, who also added significant portions on to Cardiff Castle (in Cardiff, Wales of course) as well as building or restoring over 60 other buildings. The home is on the east coast of Bute, south of Rothesay.
The castle is right in Rothesay and is quite unusual because of its shape. It is circular. I have yet to truly explore the castle as it is under renovation but the family of white swans, which are the current residents, look like they enjoy it. Speaking of the white swans, traffic stops if they wish to cross the street, which is quite funny to see. The castle also has a bit of history to go along with it. It was the home of the Stewarts (the original spelling of the royal Stuarts) before the Duke of Argyll destroyed it in the 1500’s.
There are some nice little shops in Rothesay where you can get all the basics. Food can be found in the Co-op one block to the left of the harbour, in Spar on High Street or for the largest selection in Safeway, which is located a block further to the right from Spar. Coffee shops are on every corner and there is quite a nice little chip shop (which has won awards) on a corner of High Street and one of the many little side streets.
Hopefully, my next instalment will see me tackle driving in Scotland and what being an Au Pair really is like.
Unfortunately, I never published any other instalments on my trip but it was a blast and I’m so glad I took that year off in 2000/2001 to travel, work and explore.
Rambles and Walks 