The recent horrendous weather had scuppered earlier plans for the bus and representatives of Beith Transport Museum enthusiasts to visit Bute.

But even though the weather was still less than friendly for its appearance last week, the wind was low enough to allow for its ferry passage.

And a number of residents took full advantage of the free bus journeys to experience Bute from a height which few local road users normally get to see.

The bus's appearance on the island was the brain-child of owner Thomas Graham, who regularly holidayed on Bute when he was younger and whose aunt, Isa McWilliam, still lives in Rothesay.

Recently restored to its 1980s Kelvin Scottish colours at the Beith Transport Museum, the bus and its occupants were given a warm welcome by local residents - and Thomas was delighted to see the reaction the bus drew from passers-by.

"I'm pleased to be over. We've been getting looks from people we drive by who aren't used to seeing something like this. Drivers are waving at us too," he said.

"The only thing we don't have today is the weather," he added.
The weather may have been unkind, but those who did make the journey were given a warm welcome by the enthusiasts, who had free sweets, First Scotrail goodies and colouring-in books for passengers and youngsters.

Thomas also spoke a little about the bus, the work done to restore it, and the need to preserve it for future generations.

Bought for just £500 the bus, which had been used for school runs since 1992, has had £1200 spent on it to bring it back up to full roadworthiness, and a further £500 restoring it to its Kelvin Scottish paint-job.

It may now have made the journey back to the mainland, but those who were unable to make last week's trips can console themselves with the fact that Thomas and the enthusiasts hope to be back with a different bus later in the year - probably August or September when the weather is better.

In the meantime, those who can't wait may be able to pop onto the bus on and around the Easter holidays, when the museum has plans to use the bus to link up the ferry terminals at Wemyss Bay, Largs and Ardrossan.