AROUND the Island of Bute there are still signs of the impact of Storm Eowyn well over a year after it struck in January 2025. After the storm part of the West Island Way was closed at the Greenwood Crossing on the path to Ettrick Bay, where three large trees came down on the path and others blew down in the surrounding wood. The Bute Conservation volunteers quickly cleared the path to make it accessible to walkers but a lot of branches and brash was left lying around making it all a bit of an eyesore. Plans were made to tackle the clear-up job at the beginning of March, but horrendous weather caused cancellations of the work until Thursday, March 19, when a team of eight volunteers in glorious Spring sunshine started to make the area presentable. The main trunks were sawn into manageable lengths and left available for uplift by the Mount Stuart forestry team, larger branches were laid aside and the brash and smaller branches were burnt. One side of the path has been cleared and no longer offends the eye, the other side will be tackled in the near future. Rome was not built in a day, nor has the damage caused by Storm Eowyn been cleared but it will be done as and when time permits.
Trees blown across the West Island Way during Storm Eowyn on the stretch known locally as the Bogely Road (near Port Bannatyne), which were causing difficulties for walkers, have been partly cleared and their removal has greatly improved access.
Although not part of the West Island Way, a popular walk is from the Ardscalpsie viewing platform down to Scalpsie beach. A flight of wooden steps down a steep rocky section have become badly damaged through time and footfall. These are to be replaced in the near future and, in the meantime, care should be taken when using this path.
With Spring and Summer approaching, the Conservation volunteers will be up to the task of keeping the access open for all walkers and visitors to beautiful Bute.
