Set off to Largs in the late afternoon (4.15ish), with Steve and his two friends - Steve & Nigel. Had a pleasant but late meal in Scotts, within the Largs Marina and then slept on board 'Wavecrest' - Steve's Sadler 34. We set off at roughly 9.30 for the Kyles and the top of Bute, so we could sail down the west kyle and then up Loch Fyne to Portavadie, opposite Tarbert, (which is also on the mainland - part of the peninsula of Kintyre), for the night at Portavadie marina.
The Kyles is a narrow sea channel which separates the northern end of the Isle of Bute from the Cowal peninsula, (part of the Scottish mainland). The narrowest strait is only about 300 yards across, (the Calmac ferry operates from Rhubodach (Bute) to Colintraive (mainland).
The Kyles are split into the east and west kyles. The east kyle (An Caol an Ear) runs from Rothesay Bay north west up to the entrance to Loch Riddon. Here at the northern end of the east kyle are the Burnt Islands and the island of Eilean Dubh, whih we have to sail near to get to the west kyle (An Caol an Iar/An Caol Ceathrach), which runs from here south west, past the village of Tighnabruaich out to the Sound of Bute.
Bute is divided in two by the Highland Boundary Fault. North of the fault the island is hilly and largely uncultivated, (mostly forests), whereas to the south the terrain is smoother and more farmed - though in the far south the island's most rugged terrain is found around Glen Callum. Loch Fad is Bute's largest body of freshwater and runs along the fault line.
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