Sharing is caring

In case you haven't noticed, I am kinda into my Scottish pad on beautiful Bute. Some might say that I am enamored - and I tend to agree. So, it brings me enormous joy when I get to share that love with my friends and family.

At one point during the whole renovation journey, I thought I would share my little haven with others via Air BnB. Certainly as the renovation costs mounted up, this seemed like a very sensible course of action.

However, the number of hurdles and red tape that would need to be cleared made me question the logic. And, if I am honest, the thought of sharing my little Scottish abode and its carefully curated treasures with strangers was not terribly appealing.

Despite living on the other side of the world, my Kyles of Bute flat has not been lonely this year. I have managed several trips to Bute and I have also happily welcomed friends in my absence.

My good friends Ange and Rich from England, who have been to the flat once already, decided to make the journey again. I can tell that they love Bute as much as I do, and I always marvel at their photos. They find completely different photo opportunities to me, and it is really enjoyable seeing the island through their eyes.

On this trip, they visited Rothesay Castle, which I am busting to do! I haven't been there since my early 20s and I am dying to go back and have a good look, now that it has re-opened. This is an incredibly old castle with deep historical significance, dating back to the beginning of the 13th century.

As I learn more and more about Scottish history, I am thrilled to be so close to such an important piece of Scotland's past. More on that another day.

Ange and Rich have also managed to explore parts of Bute that I have not yet seen - I particularly love that they have been out on the water. And, to my surprise, in the water. As an Australian, I am a little scared of how cold that water might be...

Ange took some amazing shots of the town, which really showcase the character of Rothesay. It is such a beautiful seaside spot and I can see why it was so popular as a retreat in the Victorian era.

And from the plentiful supply of gorgeous pics from around the island, it was clear that Ange and Rich had a great time. I love those sheep and the thistles!

More recently, I was so pleased that my Australian friend Milly and her newly wed husband Bede, decided to spend a wee bit of their honeymoon at my flat. My lovely local friend Aud, helped prepare the flat for them - including some flowers to make sure they felt welcome.

And from the looks of it, they felt very much at home in my flat! Just look at those smiley faces!

Milly said that they had a wonderful time exploring and were particularly taken with Mount Stuart (aren't we all?!). Their photos showcased yet another side of Rothesay and Bute and I was really interested to see what caught their eye.

Both couples found their way to Bute Yard - no surprise from my side, as there is always so much going on there! I love the close proximity to my little place, as it is a very short stroll away.

And of course, everyone who visits the flat loves the view from the kitchen. I have to agree - I never tire of that view. Here are the latest iterations from Ange & Rich, and Milly & Bede.

Milly made my day, when she took a video from the kitchen, showcasing not only the view but also the birds calling to each other. It immediately transported me back to Bute - I can't wait for my next trip!

Ps. A big thank you to Ange & Rich, and Milly & Bede for sharing their photos! I will likely update my website with some of these gems.