Craobh Haven

[webcraft]

Got our two sons staying for a week, so been doing a lot of day sailing. Today we went down to Craobh with the intention of filling up with diesel and having a meal.

The diesel was 45p/litre - the most expensive I have come across anywhere.

They then told us that if we wanted to stop for a meal it would be £8.00, even if we were only there for an hour and did not use any facilities. I pointed out that we would be spending money in the place, but it cut no ice so I told them we would not be staying, but would go up to the Loch Melfort Hotel and pick up one of their mooring buoys (free to patrons).

As I came out of the office a bloke who had been in there buying petrol at the same time said, "Well done".

We duly sailed up to the LM Hotel (about a mile N) and had an excellent meal, with very friendly service. Including beer we spent over £70 - money which would have gone into the Craobh economy if they had been a little more reasonable.

We've driven to Craobh before with friends to have a meal in the Lord of the Isles, but won't be doing that again either - we'll take them to the Loch Melfort Hotel instead.

For anyone looking for an alternative overnight stop to Craobh the 5 hotel buoys are checked every year, it's a short dinghy ride ashore, you can get a shower (£2.50) and the food, beer and views are excellent. You save £20 on the berthing fees for a 10m boat - which will buy you a meal and a few pints of the hotel's excellent Kronenberg.

Of course, if you're used to the Clyde or the Solent Craobh prices probably seem quite reasonable- and in fact their long term berthing charges are not too bad. But for a day visit I wouldn't recommend it.

- Nick



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[Danthegorrila]

We had a similar experience about 3 years ago. They were really snotty and charged us the most we had ever paid for an overnight stay. The most awful attitude.

Then looking around the chandlry, where many items we were over priced, looking at something we were told "Don't bother because you can't afford it!"

We wrote to sail Scotland and certainly will never go there again, fortunatly the area is covered with good anchorages.



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[Samphire]

Just returned from a cruise from Ireland to Scotland and back.Called into Craobh
for two nights (the only two marina nights in 31 days) and have to agree with the place being very expensive.
However in mitigation it is very efficient and spotless.Within 5 minutes of arriving unnanounced on a wet midweek evening at 20.30 we were fuelled up and allocated a berth,showers were included in the berthing fee (£22.00 per night for 11m)
which although very expensive,by the time you deduct three showers a night which can cost up to £3.00 per person elsewhere it didnt seem so bad.
The Lord of the Isles served good Guinness and allowed the ships dog in, and the chandlery provided a much needed item.
Moral of the story is you get what you pay for but maybe use sparingly!
Samphire.

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[Twister_Ken]

Salterns Poole

Croabh sounds cheap. £42.60 for an 8.5m boat in Salterns Marina Poole, plus another £4 something for harbour dues. Only two showers each for M & F. And you're not even on reasonable walking distance of anywhere pleasant to spend an evening. We won't be back.

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[vyv_cox]

Re: Salterns Poole

Surely that must be a record? Unbelievable amount of money. I suppose electricity was extra?

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[longjohnsilver]

Re: Salterns Poole

Ken, £42-60 sounds reasonable for a week, but why did you only shower once during that time, is it a sailing tradition? ;-)

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[oldsalt]

Tried a meal at the Lord of the Isles with our children a few years ago. Despite a nearly empty dining area we were made to sit in the grotty, filthy family area. The service was rude and apalling, the food extremely poor quality- probably all microwaved. I've never been back to Croabh since.

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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Salterns Poole

Electricity - dunno, Indigo doesn't plug into the mains, but at that price I would have expected everything to be provided, including topless go-go dancers.

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[Rowana]

Tend to agree. Much prefer Ardfern, nice pub within stagering distsnce as well !

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[vyv_cox]

Ardfern

Last time we were at Ardfern, probably about 12 years ago, a local lady was passing from boat to boat selling smoked trout. First time we had ever tried it and were we impressed! Much tastier than smoked salmon, which I love, but rarely seen since. Is it still available?

The pub was very nice at that time, too.

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[Sybarite]

In over 20 years of using marinas in France I have never ever been charged in a marina unless it is for an over night stop.

John

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[Gordonmc]

I always had the impression Craobh was geared to absentee South Coast owners who wouldn't baulk at the prices. I haven't been for years, put off by the generally inhospitable nature of the place. Friends who called in on the way to Crinan walked across the peninsula to Ardfern for a meal.

Craobh is certainly not representative. I have just got back to the desk after a week's cruising and the most I paid for a night was £12.50 on the pontoons at Tarbert. Elsewhere there were moorings aplenty, both visitor and hotel for free.

I am suprised no-one at Craobh has woken up and smelled the coffee.

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[Spacewaist]

Dunno what it is about Poole

....but they do have a healthy attitude to charging. The town quay marina is about the most expensive I had (hitherto) heard of; they even now charge you for lying to your own tackle in the harbour.

Sooner or later the boating fraternity will vote with its keels.

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[Budgie]

I have just returned from a West Coast cruise including West Highland Yachting Week and spent a couple of nights at Croabh. They were pleasant enough, although expensive, but did not seem to really care about anything. Chandlery is minimal.

Dunstaffnage on the other hand was a real breath of fresh air. The staff there could not have been more helpful and welcoming. On our first arrival they were there to take our lines, introduce themselves and give us a briefing on the facilities, and they took our lines on most subsequent arrivals. Costs were £1.95/metre including power - highish but worth it, especially compared to Kerrera.

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[whisper]

Interesting, a few years ago the feeling was the other way around re Dunstaff. & Croabh. Has the management/ownership changed ?

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