MenuButeshire, Scotland
Buteshire is made of islands in the Firth of Clyde, only five of which are inhabited. The influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the North Atlantic Drift create a mild, damp oceanic climate.
Place Type: Historic County
Lat, Long: 55.832274,-5.095609
Grid Reference: NS062642
Country: Scotland
GBPNID: 305774
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Buteshire,_305774
Explore Buteshire on Wikishire
The Isle of Bute stands just off the Cowal peninsula of Argyll. Its main town is the wee port of Rothesay on its east coast. The western side of Bute is known for its beaches, many of which enjoy fine views over the Sound of Bute towards the Isle of Arran. The northern part of the island is sparsely populated. The eccentric Mount Stuart House is often cited as one the world's most impressive neo-Gothic mansions. Rothesay Castle was built 800 years ago by the hereditary High Steward of Scotland. Scalpsie Bay has a colony of over 200 seals. The island also has many herds of deer, rich bird life and some large hares. Wild goats with large curled horns may be seen in the north of the island. Farming and tourism are the main industries, along with fishing and forestry.
Mount Stuart House, Isle of Bute
The Isle of Arran lies southward of the Isle of Bute. Arran is a mountainous island, full of wild, beautiful scenery, but sparsely populated. The main industry is tourism. Arran's villages are mainly found around the shoreline. Brodick is the site of the ferry terminal, several hotels, and the majority of shops. Brodick Castle (NTS) is a seat of the Dukes of Hamilton. Lamlash is the largest village on the island. Arran has a particular concentration of early Neolithic Clyde Cairns, a form of Gallery grave. There are numerous standing stones dating from prehistoric times, including six stone circles on Machrie Moor. Arran is a paradise for nature lovers. Over 200 species of bird have been recorded including black guillemot, eider duck and golden eagle. Red deer are numerous on the northern hills, and there are populations of red squirrel, badger, otter, adder and common lizard. Offshore there are harbour porpoises, basking sharks and various species of dolphin. The island has three endemic species of tree, the Arran Whitebeams.
Machrie Moor stone circles
Holy Isle is a small island lying inside Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran. The island has a long history as a sacred site, with a spring or Holy well held to have healing properties, the hermit cave of 6th-century monk St Molaise, and evidence of a 13th-century monastery. It is now a religious retreat and a nature reserve.
Holy Isle from Lamlash Bay on Arran
Great Cumbrae lies to its east of Arran, off the Ayrshire coast. Great Crumbrae is 2.4 miles long by 1.4 miles wide, rising to a height of 417 feet at "The Glaidstone" - a large, naturally occurring rock perched on the highest summit on the island. Millport, the island's only town, is spread around a bay which makes up the entire south coast of the island.
Little Cumbrae, half a mile south of Great Cumbrae, is a rough and rocky island. The island is privately owned. Cumbrae Lighthouse was built in 1793 and lies on a broad raised beach on the western shore of the island looking out into the Firth.
Millport, Great Cumbrae with Little Cumbrae in the distance
Buteshire was created around 1388 when a heritable sheriff was first appointed to the islands. Prior to that they had formed part of Kintyre district of Argyllshire.
Place Type: Historic County
Lat, Long: 55.832274,-5.095609
Grid Reference: NS062642
Country: Scotland
GBPNID: 305774
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Buteshire,_305774
Explore Buteshire on WikishireThe Isle of Bute stands just off the Cowal peninsula of Argyll. Its main town is the wee port of Rothesay on its east coast. The western side of Bute is known for its beaches, many of which enjoy fine views over the Sound of Bute towards the Isle of Arran. The northern part of the island is sparsely populated. The eccentric Mount Stuart House is often cited as one the world's most impressive neo-Gothic mansions. Rothesay Castle was built 800 years ago by the hereditary High Steward of Scotland. Scalpsie Bay has a colony of over 200 seals. The island also has many herds of deer, rich bird life and some large hares. Wild goats with large curled horns may be seen in the north of the island. Farming and tourism are the main industries, along with fishing and forestry.
Mount Stuart House, Isle of Bute
The Isle of Arran lies southward of the Isle of Bute. Arran is a mountainous island, full of wild, beautiful scenery, but sparsely populated. The main industry is tourism. Arran's villages are mainly found around the shoreline. Brodick is the site of the ferry terminal, several hotels, and the majority of shops. Brodick Castle (NTS) is a seat of the Dukes of Hamilton. Lamlash is the largest village on the island. Arran has a particular concentration of early Neolithic Clyde Cairns, a form of Gallery grave. There are numerous standing stones dating from prehistoric times, including six stone circles on Machrie Moor. Arran is a paradise for nature lovers. Over 200 species of bird have been recorded including black guillemot, eider duck and golden eagle. Red deer are numerous on the northern hills, and there are populations of red squirrel, badger, otter, adder and common lizard. Offshore there are harbour porpoises, basking sharks and various species of dolphin. The island has three endemic species of tree, the Arran Whitebeams.
Machrie Moor stone circles
Holy Isle is a small island lying inside Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran. The island has a long history as a sacred site, with a spring or Holy well held to have healing properties, the hermit cave of 6th-century monk St Molaise, and evidence of a 13th-century monastery. It is now a religious retreat and a nature reserve.
Holy Isle from Lamlash Bay on Arran
Great Cumbrae lies to its east of Arran, off the Ayrshire coast. Great Crumbrae is 2.4 miles long by 1.4 miles wide, rising to a height of 417 feet at "The Glaidstone" - a large, naturally occurring rock perched on the highest summit on the island. Millport, the island's only town, is spread around a bay which makes up the entire south coast of the island.
Little Cumbrae, half a mile south of Great Cumbrae, is a rough and rocky island. The island is privately owned. Cumbrae Lighthouse was built in 1793 and lies on a broad raised beach on the western shore of the island looking out into the Firth.
Millport, Great Cumbrae with Little Cumbrae in the distance
Buteshire was created around 1388 when a heritable sheriff was first appointed to the islands. Prior to that they had formed part of Kintyre district of Argyllshire.