Port Bannatyne is a coastal village on the Isle of Bute, Scotland. It is a popular harbour for yachts.
It is approximately 2 miles north of Rothesay and 6 miles from Rhubodach.
Port Banmnatyne is a village of slate and stone on the Scottish Isle of Bute, built two hundred years ago by Lord Bannatyne who lived in the ancient castle that stands just to the north. The substantial houses face the sea around Kames Bay which is mooring for yachts and fishing boats, and there is a small marina and boatyard. http://portbannatynemarina.co.uk The village is famous for its daily catch of the European Marine Crayfish, or Langoustine, and trucks arrive to carry the seafood off to Paris, Rome, and to the airport too, to end up in New York and Tokyo. Above the village with magnificent views across the sea to the Isle of Arran, and the Argyll hills, is the Port Bannatyne Golf-course. Visitors love this ancient eccentric course with 13 holes and wild deer grazing the herbage. http://www.portbannatynegolf.co.uk But the village has stong links overseas and has its own club for the French game of Petanque, and there's a pitch, or piste, on the seafront http://www.portbannatynepetanque.org.uk The old village inn, The Port Royal Hotel, was bought ten years ago by a Russian family who renovated the building and turned the old pub into a recreation of a Russian Tavern of Imperial Times. Today they serve freshly landed seafood and Russian specialities, Russian beers, wines and vodkas. Reputedly in the top five affordable serious restaurants in Scotland, The Russian Tavern ensures there is always a luxurious cruising yacht visiting the bay. They have four inexpensive guestrooms. http://www.butehotel.com The Isle of Bute is easily reached by train from either of the Glasgow Airports to Wemyss Bay where a ferry leaves every 45 minutes (journey time 35 minutes.) A collection of independent guides, articles, blogs and photos can be seen on http://delicious.com/RogerMortimer
History
Port Bannatyne started in 1801 with the building of a small harbour on Kames Bay. It was created by the Bannatynes of Kames as a planned village in an attempt to rival Rothesay. Initially known as Kamesburgh, by the mid 1800s steamers were calling there regularly.
In 1860 the Marquess of Bute purchased this part of the island and renamed the village Port Bannatyne in honour of the long historical association of the Bannatyne family with the area and the nearby Kames Castle, which lies on the western outskirts of the village.
In 1879 a narrow gauge horse drawn tram linked Port Bannatyne with Rothesay. This was electrified and extended across the island to Ettrick Bay in 1902.[1]
In the Second World War midget submarines exercised in the bay and nearby Loch Striven.[2]
Port Bannatyne developed into the 1900s as a quieter alternative to Rothesay. Boat building became an important local industry, and in the 1920s an unusual 13 hole golf course was opened.
Today Port Bannatyne remains a quiet alternative to Rothesay. The village's focus was the stone pier mid-way along the south shore of Kames Bay, but in 2005 work was started on the new yacht marina which has grown from a small boatyard to a stonebuilt seawall enclosure to part of the bay, shortly to moor hundreds of vessels.
In 2009 on the seafront you will find a vibrant Post Office/shop, The Port Inn, the local pub with beer garden and pool room, The Anchor Tavern a bar for the retired sailors and oldsters, just along the road is the old village inn: The Port Royal Hotel now run by a Russian family with four guestrooms and in their Russian Tavern fine seafood and Russian Cuisine (according to TIME OUT in the top five affordable serious restaurants in Scotland.)[3]
References
- ^ Undiscovered Scotland. "Port Bannatyne". http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/bute/portbannatyne/index.html. Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
- ^ About Britain. "Port Bannatyne". http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/port-bannatyne.asp. Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
- ^ "The Port Royal Hotel, Russian Tavern". http://www.butehotel.com/.
- ISLE OF BUTE GUIDE
- Port Bannatyne Marina
- Port Bannatyne Golf Club
- Port Bannatyne Petanque Club
- Kames Castle holiday cottages
- Famous Russian Tavern restaurant with guestrooms
- Articles, reviews, photos and blogs on BUTE
Coordinates: 55°51′45″N 5°3′38″W / 55.8625°N 5.06056°W
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