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Historic County of Scotland
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Administrative centre Rothesay
- Chapman County Code - BUT
- Famous for:
- Landmarks and Places of Interest
- St. Blane's Chapel (ruin)
- Rothesay Castle was built 800 years ago by the hereditary High Steward of Scotland.
- Area 583 Sq.km (225 sq mi)
- Population
- Succeeded by
- County Flower - Thrift
The County of Bute (Siorrachd Bhòid in Gaelic) or Buteshire is a registration county on the western coast of Scotland. It was a local government county of Scotland with its own elected county council from 1890 to 1975. The council area consisted of the isles of Bute and Arran and the small isles of Inch-Marnock, and Great and Little Cumbray [mostly uninhabited], in the Firth of Clyde.
The area is separated on the north from Argyllshire by the straits called the Kyles of Bute, and on the west, from the penisula of Cantyre, by the Kilbrannan Sound.
The county town was Rothesay, located on the Isle of Bute.
In 1975 the county administratives area was divided between the councils of Argyll and Cunninghame districts of the Strathclyde region. The Isle of Bute became part of Argyll while the Isle of Arran and the Cumbraes became part of Cunninghame.
As a result of local government council reorganisation in 1996, when unitary council areas were created, the Isle of Bute is now part of Argyll and Bute, and the other islands are within North Ayrshire.
The Isle of Bute was for centuries the property of the Stuarts, descendants of Sir John Stuart, son of King Robert II. The Isle of Arran was for centuries the property of the Hamiltons. There are seven parishes. The civil business of the county is transacted at the royal burgh of Rothesay on the isle of Bute, which was the only town in the county. There are several villages.
The island of Bute is diversified with hills for pasture and valleys for cultivation. Arran is rugged and mountainous, interspersed with glens. Both islands have fine bays.
The Historic Parishes of Buteshire
- Cumbraes
- Kilbride
- Kilmory
- Kingarth
- Lochranza (see also Kilmory)
- North Bute (see also Rothesay)
- Rothesay
- Shisken -- see Kilmory
Islands
Islands
- Arran
- Bute
- Cumbraes
- Holy Isle
- Inchmarnock
- Pladda
Parishes of Buteshire
- Cumbraes 4
- Kilbride 5
- Kilmory 6
- Kingarth 3
- Lochranza (see Kilbride or Kilmory)
- North Bute 1
- Rothesay 2
- Shiskin (see Kilmory)
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