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The Ball Of Bute
About The Event
THE BALL OF BUTE
A Kingdom Awaits Across the Sea…
Beyond the western shores of Scotland, upon a distant island crowned by one of the most extraordinary houses, a gathering is to be held.
This spring, the gates of Mount Stuart will open for The Ball of Bute.
Join the Princess and her Knight for an enchanting daytime ball of island folklore, royalty, myth and magic beneath the painted stars of the ball room.
Cross the waters. Step into legend.
30th April & 1st May 2027 - 1PM — 6PM
Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute
Tickets go live September 1st.
The Venue
Across the waters of the Firth of Clyde, surrounded by gardens, woodland and the landscape of the Isle of Bute, stands Mount Stuart.
Guests will enter one of Scotland’s most extraordinary historic houses and discover an interior filled with colour, craftsmanship, symbolism and architectural detail.
At the heart of the afternoon lies the Ball Room, where our Princess and Knight will welcome their guests beneath Mount Stuart’s magnificent celestial ceiling. Here, the string quartet will play, dancers will perform and guests will be invited onto the floor for our guided ballroom dancing sessions.
Beyond the Ball Room, the gathering continues throughout the house.
Within the Drawing Room, guests can slow the pace of the afternoon, put pen to paper at our letter writing tables or sit down for a tarot reading.
The extraordinary Chapel will become home to our life drawing sessions, offering guests the opportunity to create something of their own within one of the house’s most atmospheric spaces.
And outside, the story continues.
Wander into the gardens and woodland, follow the clues of our scavenger hunt or gather amongst the trees as our storyteller shares tales inspired by myth, folklore and the turning of the seasons.
The Ball of Bute has deliberately been created as a daytime celebration, giving guests time to experience the island before making their onward journey after the event and also to give guests time to catch the last two ferries back from the island if they choose not to stay the night.
For ferry information, transport options, accommodation and everything you need to plan your journey to and from the Isle of Bute, please view our full Travel Guide here.
Dress Code
Guests are encouraged to embrace the world of The Ball of Bute.
Think fantasy, historical dress, armour, knights, princesses, royalty, maidens, adventurers and creatures of myth.
Whether you arrive in full armour or simply add a touch of fantasy to your formalwear, we invite you to become part of the story.
Traveling To The Isle Of Bute
⚓ Traveling to the Isle of Bute: Guest Guide
Below you will find the best ways to reach us by car or public transport from major UK cities.
🚊 Option 1: By Public Transport
If you are traveling by train, the principal gateway to the island is via Glasgow Central Station. The train connects directly with the ferry terminal at Wemyss Bay, making it a seamless journey.
Step 1: Reach Glasgow by Train
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From London (Euston): Direct trains via Avanti West Coast or Caledonian Sleeper to Glasgow Central (approx. 4.5 hours).
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From Manchester / Birmingham: Direct TransPennine Express or Avanti services to Glasgow Central (approx. 3.5 to 4 hours).
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From Edinburgh: Frequent ScotRail services run to Glasgow Queen Street or Glasgow Central (approx. 50 mins).
Step 2: The Train to the Ferry / (*Or hire a car)
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Train Travel: From Glasgow Central, take the regular ScotRail train to Wemyss Bay. Approx. 50–55 minutes. The train station at Wemyss Bay is a stunning historic glass building that connects directly to the indoor ferry walkway.
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Car Rental: There are plenty of reputable and cost-effective car hire companies available GLA airport. The drive to the Wemyss Bay Ferry Terminal is straightforward and takes approximately 35–40 minutes via the M8 and A78. Once there, you can easily take your rental car straight onto the ferry to the island.
Step 3: The Ferry to Bute (Wemyss Bay to Rothesay Isle of Bute)
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Sailing time: 35 minute (Usually runs every hour) *See timetable here Summer timetable for the period 27 March to 18 October 2026
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Arrival: You will land right in the heart of Rothesay, the island’s main town where majority of the accommodation can be found. The venue us just a 15 minutes journey from here.
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Tickets: Available to buy In person at Wemyss Bay station ticket office, the CalMac app or CamMac website. Both foot passenger (if traveling by train) or Vehicle tickets (if hiring a car) are both available on this service.
🚗 Option 2: By Car
Here is a breakdown of the driving options and rough travel times from major UK cities to the Wemyss Bay Ferry Terminal (the main port for Bute, Satnav- Wemyss Bay Ferry Terminal (PA18 6AR)
Step 1: Drive to Scotland
All routes south of the border will naturally merge onto the M6, which connects seamlessly into Scotland via the M74 and M8 past Glasgow.
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From Edinburgh: * Route: Take the M8 west all the way past Glasgow, then follow the A8 and A78 coastal road down to the port.
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Drive Time: Approx. 1 hour 45 minutes (approx. 80 miles).
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From Manchester: * Route: Take the M6 north, which seamlessly turns into the M74 at the Scottish border. Follow this toward Glasgow, then merge onto the M8 and follow the A78 to Wemyss Bay.
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Drive Time: Approx. 4 hours (approx. 240 miles).
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From Birmingham: * Route: Head north on the M6, staying on it all the way up through the Lake District to the Scottish border (M74), before skirting Glasgow on the M8 and taking the A78.
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Drive Time: Approx. 5 hours 15 minutes (approx. 310 miles).
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From London: * Route: Take the M1 north, merge onto the M6, and follow it all the way up through the border onto the M74/M8 network toward the A78 coast road.
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Drive Time: Approx. 7.5 to 8 hours (approx. 430 miles). Highly recommended to schedule a rest stop around the Lake District or Carlisle!
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Step 2: The Ferry to Bute (Wemyss Bay to Rothesay Isle of Bute)
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Sailing time: 35 minute (Usually runs every hour) *See timetable here Summer timetable for the period 27 March to 18 October 2026
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Arrival: You will land right in the heart of Rothesay, the island’s main town where majority of the accommodation can be found. The venue us just a 15 minutes journey from here.
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Tickets: If traveling by vehicle, you can pre book your ferry ticket on the CalMac Website, you’ll want to arrive 20–30 minutes before your preferred sailing.
🧳 Helpful Travel Links
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Ferry Timetables & Fares: Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac)
🛏️ Where to Stay
To help you plan your trip, here are the top accommodation options on the Isle of Bute, if you choose to stay on the island, or Glasgow if you’d like to just pop over for the day.
🏰 On the Isle of Bute (stay the night on the island)
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The Glenburn Hotel (Rothesay): Grand, historic, and overlooking the bay. It’s Bute’s premier classic hotel option. Use our discount code for 10% off: BALL27
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The Esplanade Hotel (Rothesay): Situated right on the seafront, offering brilliant coastal views and close proximity to the ferry terminal.
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The Victoria Hotel (Rothesay): A charming boutique hotel located right in the heart of town, ideal for easy access to local restaurants and bars.
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Rothesay Waterfront Apartments: The main town features traditional, high-ceilinged Victorian tenement flats converted into bright, stylish Airbnbs. Many offer large bay windows with direct views of the ferry arriving.
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Port Bannatyne & Ascog: For a quieter stay just a few minutes outside Rothesay, look for coastal cottages or converted stables near Port Bannatyne Marina or the scenic Ascog bay.
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Rural Cabins & Farmhouses: For total seclusion, there are luxury eco-cabins and large farmhouses tucked away near Ettrick Bay or Scalpsie Bay, perfect if you want to see the island's famous seals or stargaze at night.
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🚉 Glasgow City Center (Catch the Ferry back to the big city)
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The Grand Central Hotel (voco): Located directly inside Glasgow Central Station—you literally walk off the train and into the lobby.
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Radisson Blu / Motels One Glasgow: Both are stylish, highly reputable options located less than a 2-minute walk from the station entrance.
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Air B&B: There are plenty of self catering Air B&B options in the big city.
🛳️ + 🚊 Returning to Glasgow (Ferry & Train Connection)
Getting back to Glasgow from the Isle of Bute via public transport is incredibly straightforward, as the ferry and train schedules are designed to link up smoothly. We’ve left plenty of time to catch the last ferry back to the Scottish mainland.
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The Last Ferry: The final Saturday evening boat leaves Rothesay at 19:00 (7:00 PM).
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The Train Connection: This ferry arrives at Wemyss Bay at 19:35, perfectly connecting you to the train back into Glasgow Central.
Always check the live CalMac app and ScotRail app on the day of travel, as service times can vary slightly depending on the season or weather conditions.