ARRAN, BUTE & CUMBRAE

The three islands of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae have a special place on the GSPC web site thanks to their particular location.

Technically, Arran is part of North Ayrshire, while Bute is part of Argyll & the Isles.   But their location in the Firth of Clyde and their particular appeal to buyers means that it makes sense to group them together here. Their location means that they are unusually accessible compared to more far flung islands, while their size and geography guarantees a true island experience.  It is little wonder, then, that houses on the islands are in great demand or that the main difficulty for buyers is finding a property for sale.

All of the islands have a main town, Rothesay on Bute, Brodick on Arran and Millport on Cumbrae (technically, Great Cumbrae, since there is also a Little Cumbrae to the south).  These were all popular holiday spots in the great Victorian heyday of holidays by the sea and much of the architecture is of that vintage.  There are still many large Victorian villas and, although some new homes have been built recently, the supply of homes for sale rarely matches demand.

All of the islands are served by regular ferries, Arran by ferries from Ardrossan in Ayrshire, Cumbrae is served by ferries from Largs, also in Ayrshire and Bute has a ferry service to Brodick from Wemyss Bay in Inverclyde and another very short crossing at the northern tip of the island from Colintraive in Argyll.