West Island Way Section 1 Section 2 Section 3

Section 3: Langalbuinoch—Scoulag Moor—Loch Ascog—Loch Fad—Rothesay

The third section of the West Island Way climbs to Scoulag Moor and reaches Rothesay via Loch Ascog and Loch Fad. This section had a very tall map unsuitable for small computer screens so the map has been split in two. Click the thumbnail maps to the right in order to see larger maps of the route. The northern map is above the southern map—logical, eh? The small thumbnail photos on the rest of the page are also clickable to see full size photographs of the scenes.

If you're continuing the walk from section 2 then simply turn left when you arrive at the road from the Langalbuinoch farm track up from Stravanan Bay. If you're doing this section separately then you can catch the bus to the Kingarth Hotel from Rothesay and walk the mile to Langalbuinoch along the road.

A couple of hundred yards along from Langalbuinoch the roads dips and at the bottom of the dip is the track going uphill to the right (north). This begins the long but gentle uphill climb to Scoulag Moor. About half a mile up the tree-fringed track you'll pass the charming Upper Stravanan, and a further half mile brings you to the T junction with the Drumreoch track. You go left to continue on the West Island Way: the right fork takes you to the A844 between Mountstuart and Kingarth via Drumreoch. The left fork takes you along a level section which will join with Lord James' Ride. The view to the Sound of Bute and Arran opens up above the hedgerows on the left along this stretch. There's a green signpost which is marked 'Path' on your left too, this is a different path and not the West Island Way, so keep going straight ahead and you'll shortly seeing the track of Lord James' Ride going downhill in front of you past the first of the Birgidale Crieff Butts. The track you are on meets Lord James' Ride at a T junction. The downhill track is a good walkers' route to Scalpsie Bay and Loch Quien. The gate you go through to join Lord James' Ride is the last fence-enclosed section of track before the open parts of Scoulag Moor which is used for grazing sheep, horses, and cattle (as well as the odd bull) so if you have a dog with you this is a good place to put it back on the leash. The track uphill takes you to the viewpoint cairn. The viewpoint cairn is the original trig point which has been eclosed with hewn stone and has a decorative and informative plaque affixed to it. There's a bench just below the cairn and it's a place you should pause to appreciate the views all the way from the south end of the island to Arran and fine views of Scalpsie Bay and Loch Quien. Northwards you can see the top of Ballochgoy in Rothesay and Barone Hill, and just east is the line of three cottages which run north along the Moor Road and mark your route to Rothesay. Cross the track and you'll get a good view south to the Little Cumbrae. This is a good spot to enjoy coffee and sandwiches if you've got them. When you finally tear yourself away from the viewpoint and descend from the highpoint, keep your eyes open to the right. Withing a hundred yards you'll see the ruins of Birgidale Butt. A 'Butt' was a small farm, tenured to a large farm and usually with an obligation on the tenant to work on the main farmer's lands for certain periods of time, as well as any rental arrangements. Don't be surprised if you meet horses and riders on the track; New Farm is a working stables and lies at the eastern end of Lord James' Ride. You'll see the junction where the Moor Road crosses Lord James' Ride quite a ways before you reach it. At the crossroads you turn left (north) onto the Moor Road. The first of the butts you pass, Grouse Butts, which is the white, modern cottage, marks the 10 mile point on the West Island Way. After passing the third of the third of the cottages on the route north the track goes through a short forest section (with a gate to pass through) through Cnocnicoll Wood and then opens up to moorland again. Keep your eyes open for deer along this stretch as boundaries between woodland and moorland are just the sort of territory to spot them. There's a viewpoint on the right but the gate that gives access to it is usually protected by a stretch of water and mud so I've yet to reach the actual viewpoint. From the track you can see Largs and the Inverkip power station. The track goes leftward as it reaches Lochend Wood and runs downhill along the edge of the wood. At the end of the wooded stretch there is a gate and then you get some nice views of Loch Ascog to the right. The track continues downhill and there is a second gate at the bottom with a charming and poetic reminder of the countryside code. The track passes very close to the south western end of Loch Ascog, which is not only popular with fishermen (although they prefer the northern end) but also with bird watchers and you'll see the bird hide from the track. If you get caught in a downpour this is the only shelter in the vicinity. The track goes uphill past Lochend Farm (the dogs will bark as you pass) to reach the B881 at a point more than 2 miles south of Rothesay Pier. Cross the road and the stile on the other side then follow the path down the edge of the field. The path then enters another field and the gate lies to the left across the field. This puts you on the track which takes you past Lochly stables and house to the fishing area at Loch Fad. This is a natural place to pause and enjoy the views of Loch Fad. There's a bench, picnic table, toilets,a rain shelter, and even a shop where you can buy a soft drink or chocolate bar if it's open. The Way continues along the road which goes across the causeway separating the main loch from the small northern part which is a bird sanctuary and you pass Bute's other bird hide. At the other side of the causeway is the rough car park for fishermen and other visitors to the loch, then there is a junction where 2 tracks join the road from the left. Going hard left is the track to Woodend House; next left goes up the hill to lower Loch Dhu and Barone Hill, and the rightmost road (straight ahead) is the road to Rothesay and our route. If time permits and you have energy left you might want to take a short detour to the famous gates of Woodend House. These lie under a mile along the track through charming woodland along the shore (i.e. hard left). Built by Edmund Kean, superstar Victorian actor who owned Woodend House, the gateposts have busts of Massinger, Shakespeare, Kean and Garrick. Vanity and ego are not modern inventions! From the car park at Loch Fad, follow the road and about a mile further is a gate on the right which leads to a path with a stream running along the right of the path, heading to a line of trees. This is Lovers' Walk and a pleasant end to this section of the Way since it's a manicured and pretty short walk to the High Street which is a favouraite walk for locals (and their dogs). There are several places where you could finish this section of the Way in Rothesay, but if you are a visitor and haven't seen Lovers' Walk then that's a good enough reason to finish here. The West Island Way carries on along the road and we'll pick it up again for section 4.