Bute & Loch Lomond questions

[yorkie]

Bute

Does anyone know whether it's worth an afternoon trip to Bute (from Glasgow) on a Saturday in mid-April, and what the public transport options to see as much of the island as possible in an afternoon are, before the open top bus starts running?

Are we better off waiting until the Summer?

Loch Lomond

I was looking at the possibility of doing Balloch to Tarbet on the waterbus, however it appears that it's only possible to do Luss to Tarbet during April, as the Balloch to Luss section does not run until May. Does anyone know if there is any way round this? Or, again, are we better off waiting until the Summer?

Also does anyone know if there is a cheaper fare available for a journey such as Balloch to Tarbet or do you have to purchase a combination of Balloch to Luss, Luss to Rowardennan and Rowardennan to Tarbet tickets? It would be expensive to buy all 3 individually! (this is most unlike the railways; I am used to each individual shorter journey being very cheap and the longer journey being expensive and having to book using a "split ticket" website to bring the price down to a sane level )

If anyone has any experiences of visiting the above places and has any answers to any of the above questions that would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance

 

[gingerheid]

I have a particularly fond spot for Bute. But even then, I still couldn't in good faith really* recommend going there unless you'd a good idea the weather was going to be nice. It's good gentle cycling territory and very lovely on an even half decent day. It's not an indoor type of place though.

Realistically your only non cycling option for an off season Saturday would be http://www.westcoastmotors.co.uk/media/26422/490-winter-17.pdf

I have just sat on the bus for a round trip to Kilchattan Bay with my mum and she seemed happy with it, but not having the opportunity to get off and have a wander would seem like a shame. I guess you can work out from Streetview if you'd be interested in a walk (if you could get a bus at a time that offered the chance). There's really not much more to see than Streetview shows, but I find it kind of charming

Might this (with a visit to both Bute and Cowal) be a better alternative to the open top bus if the times can work for you? http://www.westcoastmotors.co.uk/media/16557/dunoon-rothesay-oct-15-web-version.pdf

 

[TBirdFrank]

Wait until June and do Bute on the Waverley. Loch Lomond - sorry - I am just not familiar with the waterbus service but the preservation project Maid of the Loch is worth a visit. The train of course now terminates at Balloch Central - a fair walk from where the boats are based.

 

[318266]

Loch Lomond - In Balloch, go to the bus stances and catch the Garelochhead Coaches 305 bus to Luss Visitor Centre Car Park, get to the pier and catch the ferry.

Unfortunately, you can't get a through ticket from Balloch to Tarbet via the ferry.

Here are the times of buses from Balloch Bus Stances to Luss:

Spoiler: Balloch to Luss Bus Timetable

0622 arr 0638
0741 arr 0757
0938 arr 0954
1208 arr 1234
Saturdays only 1308 arr 1324
1408 arr 1424
1613 arr 1629
Saturdays only 1723 arr 1739
1838 arr 1854
2105 arr 2121

 

[yorkie]

Does anyone know if the water bus is likely to be running from Balloch on Bank Holiday Monday 7th May? And is it likely to be at the same times as last year?

 

[yorkie]

Unfortunately, you can't get a through ticket from Balloch to Tarbet via the ferry.

Understandable when it's a bus for part of the journey, but when it's all possible by the water bus in May, is it possible to get a through ticket, or some sort of discount, if we got the water bus from Balloch to Tarbet?

 

[318266]

Does anyone know if the water bus is likely to be running from Balloch on Bank Holiday Monday 7th May? And is it likely to be at the same times as last year?

It is running from May 1, and it is very likely for it to be running to the same timetable.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I’m afraid I have no clue about the waterbus but during my trip in January last month I took the train to Balloch then got a ScottishCitylink service to Tarbet which went all past the loch and dropped me off in a really lovely location. A short walk to Arrochar and Tarbet station where the scenery even just back into Glasgow is (for Britain) amazing.

I can’t say I saw a waterbus though.