Port Bannatyne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port Bannatyne
|
|
|---|---|
 Port Bannatyne village |
|
 Port Bannatyne
|
|
| OS grid reference | NS072672 |
| • London | 455 miles |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ISLE OF BUTE |
| Postcode district | PA20 |
| Dialling code | 01700 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
|
| Scottish Parliament | |
Port Bannatyne (Scottish Gaelic: Port MhicEamailinn) is a small village right by the sea. You can find it on the Isle of Bute in Scotland. This island is in the Firth of Clyde.
Long ago, Port Bannatyne grew as a quieter spot than the bigger town of Rothesay. Today, it's a popular place for boats. It has a small harbour and a yacht marina. The village also has a unique 13-hole golf course. Most golf courses have 18 holes, so this one is a bit different!
Contents
Discovering Port Bannatyne's Location
Port Bannatyne is located on the Firth of Clyde. It's about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) north of Rothesay. Both towns are on the Scottish Isle of Bute.
If you travel further north, about 6 miles (9.7 km) more, you'll reach Rhubodach. From there, a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry can take you to the Cowal peninsula. This ferry leaves every 30 minutes during the day. In Rothesay, there's another Caledonian MacBrayne ferry. It goes to Wemyss Bay in Inverclyde. This journey takes about 35 minutes and ferries leave every 45 minutes.
Around Kames Bay, you'll see many large houses. They are built from slate and stone and face the sea. The main part of the village used to be the stone pier. This pier is in the middle of the south shore of Kames Bay. The bay is a good place for yachts and fishing boats to anchor.
Exploring the Village Today
Along the seafront, you can find a shop that also has a Post Office. There are also places to eat and stay. The Port Royal Hotel is a historic building. It was bought in 2000 and now has a unique Russian style. It offers guest rooms and serves seafood and Russian food.
Above the village, you'll find the Port Bannatyne golf course. It was built in 1912. This course has 13 holes. Sometimes, you might even see wild deer grazing there! From the golf course, you get amazing views. You can see across the sea to the Isle of Arran and the hills of Argyll.
The village has connections with other countries. It even has its own club for the French game of Pétanque. They have a special playing area, called a piste, right on the seafront.
In 2005, work began on a new yacht marina. The small boatyard grew into a stone-built area. It now provides 105 places for boats to dock.
A Look Back at Port Bannatyne's Past
The village started in 1801. This was when a small harbour was built on Kames Bay. Lord Bannatyne, who lived in Kames Castle, wanted to create a village that could compete with Rothesay. At first, it was called Kamesburgh.
By the mid-1800s, steamboats were stopping there often. In 1860, the Marquess of Bute bought this part of the island. He changed the village's name to Port Bannatyne. This was to honour the Bannatyne family. They had a long history in the area. Building boats became a very important job for the people living there.
In 1879, a special horse-drawn tram line was built. It was a narrow gauge line. This tram connected Port Bannatyne with Rothesay. Later, in 1902, it was made electric. The line was also extended across the island to Ettrick Bay.
During the Second World War, small submarines called midget submarines trained in the bay. They also trained in nearby Loch Striven. A fancy hotel, the Kyles Hydro Hotel, was taken over by the Navy. It became the main base for these midget submarine operations. This hotel, renamed HMS Varbel, was where a top-secret plan was created. This plan was a brave attack on a very important enemy ship called the Tirpitz.
See also
In Spanish: Port Bannatyne para niños
