The village of Kilchattan Bay on the south-east corner of Bute has long enjoyed a sheltered spot, in the lee of the Suidhe hill, protecting it from the prevailing westerly winds. The Bay itself was a place of respite for fishing boats and sailing craft in storms. With Cumbrae across the water to the east, ferry crossings to the mainland to Bute were established north of the bay but the surrounding farmlands of Kingarth for many years provided cargoes of produce, including the early potato crop shipped from the old stone quay that was constructed in 1822. Smacks at the old quay at Kilchattan Bay (Stengel) Kilchattan Bay in the shelter of the Suidhe (Valentine) It seems likely that in the early days of steamboats on the Firth, that the Castle steamers on their sailings from Glasgow or Rothesay to the east Arran ports would make occasional, unadvertised calls at Kilchattan Bay to drop off...