The historic village of Kingarth lies to the south of the island, north of Kilchattan Bay. Once the religious centre of Cenél Comgaill — a kindred of the Gaelic over-kingdom of Dál Riata in the early 6th century — today it is a sleepy place of long views, wildlife, and one very good pub.
Established in the 1700s, the Kingarth Hotel still serves food and ales to today's standards. A friendly country inn with a number of seating areas, locally brewed beer, and rooms upstairs for those who'd rather not drive home.
The ruined 12th-century chapel of St Blane's sits in a sheltered hollow about 150 feet above sea level, eight miles south of Rothesay and two from Kingarth. The site itself is far older — a circular monastic enclosure dating to the 6th century, with breathtaking views across the sea to Arran.
The southernmost village on Bute, reached along the coast road via the steep hill of Suidhe Chatten — said to shield the village from the prevailing westerlies. The start of the West Island Way begins here.
Named after Saint Cathan, who founded a religious settlement on the site in AD 539. He was the uncle of St Blane. The village began as a row of fishermen's houses, briefly enjoyed Victorian prosperity, and today is a small step back in time — a shop, a post office, and the wide sandy ‘wee bay’ to the north.
