The Kyles of Bute is the passage between the charming Scottish villages of Tighnabruaich and Kames on the the mainland of Argyll, and the north end of the Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde. At their widest less than two miles across, the Kyles narrow to just a few hundred yards at Rubha Ban (pronounced roo-baan). Tighnabruaich is a Gaelic name meaning "the house on the hill". Aptly named, as the steep hills rising above the shoreline have many "houses on the hill". Whether you are approaching by road, driving along the narrow and twisty road chiseled and blasted out of the hillside, or sailing up the Kyle, you are met with spectacular views. There are several lay-bys with viewpoints along the road, and on a clear day there are great views of Bute, Arran and the Ayrshire coast. An article in the Scotsman called it "The best scenic drive in Scotland".

"THE 10 miles drive to Tighnabruaich from Glendaruel, on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll is not just a passage from one sublime spot to another but is a destination in itself. It helps that to get to it by road from Glasgow, you take in Loch Lomond, Loch Fyne and the Rest and Be Thankful Pass, all beautiful in their own right. But the gob smacking highlight is the A8003, running down the western Kyle of Bute." read more

Approximately 80 miles from Glasgow by road, Tighnabruaich and the neighboring village of Kames offer a tranquil getaway for sailors, fishermen and folks who just want to enjoy the view. There are several small hotels with restaurants, B&Bs, several pubs, several shops, a Post Office, an RBS bank, petrol station, a couple of cafes, a mechanic and towing service, a bustling boatyard, a primary school, a hilly 9 hole golf course with sheep wandering across it, and a fish farm or two.

Where to stay?

The village of Tighnabruaich and Kames offer a number of hotels and B&B acomodations. The latest to open is the Wellpark Hotel, near Tighnabruaich Pier. Other hotels including the Royal An Lochan Hotel, Kames Hotel and Tighnabruaich Hotel, along with various B&Bs and other accomodations in the area are listed on this page.

Sailing The Kyles

The Kyles are synonymous with sailing. Tighnabruiach and Kames are popular weekend crusing destinations, and as stop overs on the way north to the West Highlands via the Crinan Canal. Sailors have many sheltered anchorages to choose from, both on the Bute side and along the mainland. Among my favorites is Caladh Harbor at the top of the Narrows, where you can nestle in a tranquil spot behind a small island. Closer to civilization, there are free moorings and boat ramps at Tighnabruaich village, and at the Royal Hotel by the now dismantled Auchenlochan Pier, where the petrol station is located. You will also find moorings by Kames Pier, just below the Kames Hotel. The Kyles of Bute Sailing Club (KoBSC) is a small but active sailing club, organizing racing and childrens activities. And Tignabruaich Sailing School (now located at Carry Point, a few south of Kames village) offers an outstanding environment where you can learn dinghy sailing and wind surfing. My first experience of sailing was here, learning in such craft as the Loch Long, Wayfarer, Enterprise and GP14. Today's fleet is much more modern, though the Wayfarer still has a place, 30+ years on!

A new option for sailors is the nearby Portavadie Marina, over the hill from Tighnabruaich on Loch Fyne, across the loch from Tarbert. Built on the site of a 1970s oil-rig construction yard which never opened, the giant "hole in the ground" built with a £14 million government subsidy, has finally been turned into something useful! The "ghost-village" at Pollphail by Portavadie, which was to have housed the oil rig workers is finally to be demolished, with plans to build new homes.

Photo courtesy Catherine McEwan

While road is the normal way to get to Tighnabruaich, the Waverley paddle steamer and other Clyde steamers stop at Tighnabruaich pier a few times a week. Tighnabruaich has been featured in Para Handy's Vital Spark. With a car ferry connection from Portavadie to Tarbert on the Mull of Kintyre, Tighnabruaich is no longer a "dead end". You can hop over on the ferry to the Mull of Kintyre, to Crinan, Inverary, Tarbert, Carradale and Campbeltown.

My connection to the Kyles

I first came to Tighnabruaich in the early 70s with my parents to visit my step-father's partner who had retired there. Dad fell in love with the place, and a few years later acquired shorefront property near Auchenlochan Pier and built a bungalow. He named the house "Dumbiedykes" as he was a big fan of Sir Walter Scott's writing. An enthusiastic gardener, he worked hard to make his garden interesting. The original bungalow was torn down when it was 18 years old — defects during the original construction were discovered which caused extensive dampness and wood rot in the floor. After a lot of legal wrangling with the builder, a new bungalow, an almost exact replica, was constructed in 1992, and today commands wonderful views over to Bute and the hills above Colintraive. My sister and her husband now own the house and are lucky enough to live there full-time.

On a recent visit in June 2012 with my daughter, we enjoyed absolutely fabulous weather and had a wonderful holiday. We had a great dinner at the new Portavadie Marina restaurant, and also enjoyed a curry at the Wellpark Hotel's "Indian Night". It was great to be home.

Buyers sought for 'ghost village' of Pollphail in Argyll and Bute.

Recent fact finding mission to Portavadie Marina by tourism officials, politicians showcases visionary project

Dunsyre, Tighnabruaich
5 beds £240,000
Waterside,
4 beds £375,000
Tighnabruaich House,
8 beds £975,000
Kames Farm, 3 beds £125,000

5 bed home, Kyles view, 4.5 acres, £425,000

2 Bed flat, Kyles views, £75,000


More properties for sale

It was at Tighnabruaich Sailing School that I learned to sail as a teenager. The school, then run by the late Robin Stevens and his wife Kath, operated Wayfarer, Enterprise, GP14, and National 12 dinghies as well as the classic Loch Long. I enjoyed crewing and racing on dinghies and yachts around the Kyles. There were always retired folks looking for young and more agile crewmembers to crew in the local races!

Whether waking up with the sun streaming across the morning calm, hearing the waves lapping at the shore, sitting out and admiring the boats passing through, or being out on the water sailing, it's a very special and beautiful place. Though I now live several thousand miles away in Florida, home of the hurricanes, Tighnabruaich remains one of my favorite places. (Believe me, midges are nothing compared to Florida mosquitoes and hurricanes!) This site is dedicated to the memory of my dear departed Dad, Dr. Matthew Hamilton, a "well kent GP of the King Street Surgery, Paisley." He always said "It never rains at Tighnabruaich". Which was his way of saying that there is never a bad day to be beside the Kyles.

Doug Noble
The Webmaster