Bute has become the first Scottish island to have a long distance walking trail, with the launch today (Monday 11th September) of the 26 mile West Island Way.

The £40,000 (pounds) project is the latest step in the drive by a number of agencies to give the Clyde island a prime place on the activity holiday map. Argyll & the Islands Enterprise (AIE) invested £20,000 (pounds) in the initiative with the balance made up by Scottish Natural Heritage; Argyll & Bute Council; Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs Tourist Board; and Bute Estate.

Beginning at Kilchattan Bay in the south of ths island, the trail winds to the north end and comes south again to finish at Port Bannatyne. It connects a number of paths opened in 1998 as part of the Bute Tourism Management Programme (TMP). The island's location, in the middle of the Firth of Clyde guarantees walkers with spectacular views across to Ayrshire in the east, and the hills of Arran and Argyll in the west. The trail covers a variety of terrain, providing enjoyment for all sorts of walkers - from beginners to the more experienced.

Broadcaster and journalist, Janet Street Porter, officially opened the new route. She said: "Bute is so beautiful I am honoured to be the West Island Way's inaugural walker. I'm sure the trail will prove very popular."

The route begins at Kilchattan Bay and ends at Port Bannatyne, connecting a number of paths opened in 1998 as part of the Bute Tourism Management Programme (TMP).

The West Island Way complements work done under the Tourism Management Programme to raise awareness of Bute as an activity holiday destination and provide for the needs of this growing market. As part of a £250,000 (pounds) investment package, popular paths for walkers and riders were upgraded and sign posted, access extended to sites of archealogical and natural history interest and high quality information maps produced.

Ken Abernethy, chief executive of AIE, said, "Bute is just a short ferry crossing from central Scotland, making it ideal for short breaks, especially for people who love the outdoors. The island now has trails to please walkers of every level of ability, and people preparing for longer routes, such as the West Highland and Southern Upland Ways, will find the West Island Way a convenient training ground."

"Bute's success in responding to new challenges in the tourism industry has had national recognition, with the TMP and Mount Stuart House short listed in the 1998 Scottish Tourist Board's Thistle Awards and an outright win in the 'Best on the Waterfront' category in the Scottish Tourism Supreme Awards".