The Kyles of Bute are a narrow sea channel which separates the northern end of the Isle of Bute

Isle of Bute

Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...

 from the Cowal

Cowal

thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...

 peninsula, part of the Scottish

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 mainland.

The narrowest strait is only some 300m across and is spanned by the Calmac ferry

Caledonian MacBrayne

Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast...

 from Rhubodach

Rhubodach

Rhubodach is a small settlement on the north-eastern shore of the Isle of Bute, Scotland.The name Rhubodach may come from the Gaelic Rubha a’ Bhodaich which translates as old man's point or promontory or alternatively may be from An Rubha Bhódaich meaning the Bute headland.Rhubodach lies at the...

 to Colintraive

Colintraive

Colintraive is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Ferries sail between Colintraive and Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute. It is located on the Kyles of Bute or Loch Riddon on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula...

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The Kyles are split into the east and west kyles. The east kyle (An Caol an Ear) runs from Rothesay Bay

Rothesay, Argyll and Bute

The town of Rothesay is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It can be reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay which offers an onward rail link to Glasgow. At the centre of the town is Rothesay Castle, a ruined castle which dates back to the 13th...

 north west up to the entrance to Loch Riddon. Here at the northern end of the east kyle are the Burnt Islands

Burnt Islands

The Burnt Islands is the collective title for three small islands that lie in the Kyles of Bute off the west coast of the Scottish mainland. The islands are located at ....

 and the island of Eilean Dubh

Eilean Dubh, Kyles of Bute

----This particular Eilean Dubh is sometimes known as Glen Caladh Island and is situated just off the Cowal peninsula in the Kyles of Bute. The island is around 0.3 kilometres along its longest length and rises to a height of 19 metres above sea level...

. The west kyle (An Caol an Iar/An Caol Ceathrach) runs from here south west, past the village of Tighnabruaich

Tighnabruaich

Tighnabruaich is a village on the Kyles of Bute in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.Tighnabruaich is part of Argyll's Secret Coast, just an hour and a half west of Glasgow, and is nestled along the east coast of Loch Fyne and stretching into the beautiful Kyles of Bute.Tighnabruaich is popular for...

 out to the Sound of Bute. The Kyles are designated as a National Scenic Area

National Scenic Area

National Scenic Area is a designation for areas of natural beauty used by more than one nation.* National Scenic Area * National Scenic Area * National scenic areas in Taiwan* National Scenic Area...

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The Kyles are reflected in the name of Tighnabruaich based shinty

Shinty

Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...

 team Kyles Athletic

Kyles Athletic

Kyles Athletic Shinty Club is a shinty team from Tighnabruaich, Argyll, Scotland. It is one of the sport's most illustrious names, presently playing in the Premier Division after recently being outwith the top flight of Scottish Shinty.-History:...

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