Port Ellen facilities

AngusMcDoon

AngusMcDoon

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Port Ellen harbour association have bought the former bank just over the road from the pontoons & installed showers, toilet, laundry, an office, coffee machine & a place to sit inside to use free WiFi. It's open 7am to 7pm. No increase in berthing fees. Bonza.
 
Great place to stop. Harbourmaster first class, facilities now excellent, only downside is the soulless bar in the Hotel.

Donald
 
Was there in June and found the new facilities excellent. And even better a big place to write up suggestions for improvement.
It's common to find marinas with a few things lacking in showers etc. For example 1 hook for clothes. Yes a typical yachtie (in northerly latitudes like Islay) have layers of clothing so need many hooks. And a chair or bench for stuff. And soap holders, and so on. The Port Ellen ones have been listening as some of the suggestions already implemented. Nice touch to have a seat and table, internet connection, coffee machine, laundry and a book exchange.
 
MM5AHO said:
Nice touch to have a seat and table, internet connection, coffee machine, laundry and a book exchange.
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Wow, that's an impressive shower cubicle.

Might call in the next time I'm heading north. The last two times I've been to Craighouse they've served the beer in plastic glasses.
 
lpdsn said:
...The last two times I've been to Craighouse they've served the beer in plastic glasses.
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They heard you were coming. :)

Not been to Port Ellen for a while, wee bit too far for a weekend due to tides, but will need to return. The beach is lovely there and the kids loved it when they were younger.
 
I really like Port Ellen. The hotel has been doing really good food this last few years. There is also a good Indian (or Bangladeshi) and a great bar with plenty of Whisky. I have not seen the new facilities but that was the main thing it was missing. The old shower at the B&B was pretty dire! Didn't make it there this year because of conditions forcing us to make more distance north but it will be on the list again for next season.
 
Just told a woman off a boat going through the Canal that Port Ellen is not worth the effort, just a few pontoons in shallow water and a shop that sells vintage whisky, clearly my opinions are well out of date? Though I did tell her the distillery tour by taxi was worth doing though I do not think she agreed.
Now that you can only exit the canal at HW the idea of heading south has some appeal.
 
Quandary said:
Just told a woman off a boat going through the Canal that Port Ellen is not worth the effort, just a few pontoons in shallow water and a shop that sells vintage whisky, clearly my opinions are well out of date? Though I did tell her the distillery tour by taxi was worth doing though I do not think she agreed.
Now that you can only exit the canal at HW the idea of heading south has some appeal.
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The water might be shallow, but with negligible tide range there's enough water for most.
 
Aja said:
Great place to stop. Harbourmaster first class, facilities now excellent, only downside is the soulless bar in the Hotel.

Donald
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we asked a local on the high street, and they recomended the hotel further away from the pierhead, towards the N. old fashioned hotel, needs a lick of paint. went in, deserted. within 5 minutes of sitting in the lounge, they had the coal fire on, and 3 staff running about after us (family of 5) food standard pub grub, but 10/10 for effort. the fire was brilliant for drying oilies :-)

edit White Hart hotel
 
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Yep, I have had a few pints in the White heart but the craic only starts when a few people are there. It is a bit deserted in general and the many many signs saying about where you can drink with glassware are off putting. Would be nice if it revived a bit.
 
bikedaft said:
we asked a local on the high street, and they recomended the hotel further away from the pierhead, towards the N. old fashioned hotel, needs a lick of paint. went in, deserted. within 5 minutes of sitting in the lounge, they had the coal fire on, and 3 staff running about after us (family of 5) food standard pub grub, but 10/10 for effort. the fire was brilliant for drying oilies :-)

edit White Hart hotel
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If that's the one next to the petrol station I can only agree. It was quite busy when we went in.
Donald
 
Went on my first round UK trip and logged the whole place as a dump with noisy lorries waiting for ferries. No harbour master and a village shop selling dodgy meat. The showers were disgusting.
gave it a miss next time round and went straight up to Croabh. Far better
 
pmagowan said:
I really like Port Ellen. The hotel has been doing really good food this last few years. There is also a good Indian (or Bangladeshi) and a great bar with plenty of Whisky. I have not seen the new facilities but that was the main thing it was missing. The old shower at the B&B was pretty dire! Didn't make it there this year because of conditions forcing us to make more distance north but it will be on the list again for next season.
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+1. We have spent many a night there (including my Birthday) and we love it. Yes the old showers weren't all that but the folk and the WHISKY were superb. We even had a lesson in dealing with crabs from a local fisherman. Can't recommend the place enough I think that the depth comment might have been in relation to the Crinan (?). We draw 2.1m and had no problem on the outer pontoons but you do have to stay close in.
 
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