BOATKID
Well-Known Member
given that both have undergone new developments can anyone give an opinion which one is best for an overnight stop
Rothesay or Port Banatyne marinas
- Thread starter BOATKID
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island163
Well-Known Member
I used Rothesay inner harbour marina several times last year and it was very good, well sheltered and close to the town. When you get close to Rothesay it's worth calling up the harbour master as he will advise when the ferries are coming and going and let you know when he can open the bridge to let you into the inner harbour marina. You have to use the showers in the legendary Victorian toilets next to the harbour which are actually very good. Plenty of pubs and restaurants and shops within a short walk.
We walked over to Port Bannatyne and the set up looks good there too although less protected than Rothesay. The Post office/Shop in Port Bannatyne is very good but have not eaten at the The Russian Tavern and have heard mixed reports about it.
We walked over to Port Bannatyne and the set up looks good there too although less protected than Rothesay. The Post office/Shop in Port Bannatyne is very good but have not eaten at the The Russian Tavern and have heard mixed reports about it.
Latestarter1
Well-Known Member
Island 163
Which Rothesay did you go to??
Town looked great from a distance, once ashore GRIM. Scottish hole in the wall boozers, once beautiful buildings falling into disrepair, the resturant in the council gardens has tatty menus stuck to windows with Blu-Tack showing food at outrageous prices, found just ONE decent resturant.
As for Port Banatyne, this is also better viewed from a distance..................as far as possible.
I have some 1904 publicity pictures showing the paddle steamers alongside on a Saturday night, I think civic pride deserted them after WW1
Which Rothesay did you go to??
Town looked great from a distance, once ashore GRIM. Scottish hole in the wall boozers, once beautiful buildings falling into disrepair, the resturant in the council gardens has tatty menus stuck to windows with Blu-Tack showing food at outrageous prices, found just ONE decent resturant.
As for Port Banatyne, this is also better viewed from a distance..................as far as possible.
I have some 1904 publicity pictures showing the paddle steamers alongside on a Saturday night, I think civic pride deserted them after WW1
asteven221
Well-Known Member
Disagree with Latestarter1 as Rothesay is nothing like as grim as he/she puts it. It has a lot going for it. Yes there are some buildings that could do with some TLC, but it's not a big deal. I have not been in the restaraunt he refers to in the "council gardens" (which are stunning when all the flowers are out BTW) however I have eaten in there in the past and found the food okay and also enjoyed the sea view. There are not too many resaraunts (at least 11 I can think of) but the ones you would expect are all their at all prices points, including fairly posh if you want that i.e. circa £45 a head sort of posh. You just need to know where to look. I would be beware of the Chinese at the harbour called the Sea Dragon as it's very poor, however the one further along the road offers very decent Chinese. The Indian on the front nearest the harbour is very good, albeit the decor is a bit out of date. There are plenty more.
As for the harbour, you need to call the harbourmaster on Ch12 to ask him to open the bridge if you want in to the inner harbour marina. Otherwise use the outside marina pontoons. The outside marina pontoons suffers a bit from ferry wash, but it's no big deal really.
Port Bannantyne is new and I have only popped in for a look, however it looks a good facility although maybe a wee bit exposed if there is a northerley. On the shore there is not a lot that I know of as "the port" as it's called has been a fairly neglected place for a long time IMHO. The golf course is good though! Regarding the Russian restaraunt, we dropped in for a beer/wine and had a look at the menu out of interest. My reaction was that the prices were outrageous - like really outrageaous for what seemed like stew variations! The wine was cheap rubbish as well. A strange place it has to be said. Worth a look though!
Note: If you plan to visit when the Jazz Festival is on i.e. newxt week I think, you might find it difficult to get a berth from about Wednesday throught to Monday, so worth checking first.
As for the harbour, you need to call the harbourmaster on Ch12 to ask him to open the bridge if you want in to the inner harbour marina. Otherwise use the outside marina pontoons. The outside marina pontoons suffers a bit from ferry wash, but it's no big deal really.
Port Bannantyne is new and I have only popped in for a look, however it looks a good facility although maybe a wee bit exposed if there is a northerley. On the shore there is not a lot that I know of as "the port" as it's called has been a fairly neglected place for a long time IMHO. The golf course is good though! Regarding the Russian restaraunt, we dropped in for a beer/wine and had a look at the menu out of interest. My reaction was that the prices were outrageous - like really outrageaous for what seemed like stew variations! The wine was cheap rubbish as well. A strange place it has to be said. Worth a look though!
Note: If you plan to visit when the Jazz Festival is on i.e. newxt week I think, you might find it difficult to get a berth from about Wednesday throught to Monday, so worth checking first.
Viscount
Well-Known Member
Unless weather is poor, the outer area on pontoons will be fine in Rothesay. I was there on Sunday. The town is fine but all down to personal preferences - there's not a lot of wine bars for example.....
Port Bannatyne I visited last year; clearly they are trying but there's really just one pub that I could find. As mentioned on another post, it could be quite exposed I would think. Also, watch your depth going in; I draw less than a metre and at nearly high tide was having to be careful; maybe its been dredged since then however. It was shallow to the point that yachts were mooring outside and using the pontoons for tenders.
Good luck.
Port Bannatyne I visited last year; clearly they are trying but there's really just one pub that I could find. As mentioned on another post, it could be quite exposed I would think. Also, watch your depth going in; I draw less than a metre and at nearly high tide was having to be careful; maybe its been dredged since then however. It was shallow to the point that yachts were mooring outside and using the pontoons for tenders.
Good luck.
BOATKID
Well-Known Member
thanks for comments guys - what I was really hopeing for was for someone to have been to port bannatyne very recently as I have heard that it now complete, I drove past it last year and it looked like porticabin bogs !
BTW went portavadie last weekend - what a fantastic marina - pity about the weather
BTW went portavadie last weekend - what a fantastic marina - pity about the weather
Ludd
Well-Known Member
Problem with Portavadie is that's all there is. No shops and you're stuck with their restaurant. Having said that the resaurant and other facilities are top quality,but as I say,no choice.
Rothesay is fine by me ,I use the buoys and dinghy ashore,but inner harbour is superb.
Port Bannatyne is,I think,a work in progress. Will have a look soon,would think depth would have been sorted out.
BOATKID
Well-Known Member
Bojangles
Well-Known Member
Bad luck with the weather last weekend Boatkid, I was at Portavadie the weekend before and the weather was stunning (see photo). Facilities there are superb, the food is great and well priced. Nipped across to Tarbert the following day and had a walk up the hill, there's a better choice of pubs and restaurants in Tarbert.View attachment 4763
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John_Mackay
Active Member
Rothesay
I disagree with latestarter Rothesay is fine. Iv had some great weekend there. But its not a good as it used to be. Moored at outer pontoons with no problem. I think if you want to have a walk round the town visit bars, castle etc Rothesay fine but Port Banantyne is quiet but you could walk to Rothesay 2/3 miles
Heard nothing but good reports about Portavadie but as already said there is nothing there.
I disagree with latestarter Rothesay is fine. Iv had some great weekend there. But its not a good as it used to be. Moored at outer pontoons with no problem. I think if you want to have a walk round the town visit bars, castle etc Rothesay fine but Port Banantyne is quiet but you could walk to Rothesay 2/3 miles
Heard nothing but good reports about Portavadie but as already said there is nothing there.
AndieMac
Well-Known Member
Nice pics and boat (yours) Bojangles.....
Is that a beautiful Nordhavn on the very right end of the inshore pontoon ?
Looks like a great location.
Doghousekeeper
Well-Known Member
You's better have a word with the Duke of Rothesay - I hear he's pretty keen on architecture and gardens!
Bojangles
Well-Known Member
Nice pics and boat (yours) Bojangles.....
Is that a beautiful Nordhavn on the very right end of the inshore pontoon ?
Looks like a great location.
Cheers AndieMac, yes that is a Nordhavn (47 I think) its called Annie R and is based at Kip Marina also
GOURMANDGUY
New Member
Port Bannantyne is new and I have only popped in for a look, however it looks a good facility although maybe a wee bit exposed if there is a northerley. On the shore there is not a lot that I know of as "the port" as it's called has been a fairly neglected place for a long time IMHO. The golf course is good though! Regarding the Russian restaraunt, we dropped in for a beer/wine and had a look at the menu out of interest. My reaction was that the prices were outrageous - like really outrageaous for what seemed like stew variations! The wine was cheap rubbish as well. A strange place it has to be said. Worth a look though!
Note: If you plan to visit when the Jazz Festival is on i.e. newxt week I think, you might find it difficult to get a berth from about Wednesday throught to Monday, so worth checking first.[/QUOTE]
Gosh, sounds like an alien Port Bannatyne to me! The one I know and love is pretty, old-fashioned and welcoming. The views are unsurpassed ( if you like colours and hills, lochs, etc.)
Eating in the Russian Tavern ain't cheap, but the food is great, and lots of it too. Compare to £ 14.99 pastas at Regattas largs for example....yukk. No comparison. I enjoy a pint or three there, and usually Russian Sausages or Stroganoff- the portions are enormous and hearty old-fashioned well-cooked fare. Sure, it IS a bit strange, but hey, vive la difference!
Note: If you plan to visit when the Jazz Festival is on i.e. newxt week I think, you might find it difficult to get a berth from about Wednesday throught to Monday, so worth checking first.[/QUOTE]
Gosh, sounds like an alien Port Bannatyne to me! The one I know and love is pretty, old-fashioned and welcoming. The views are unsurpassed ( if you like colours and hills, lochs, etc.)
Eating in the Russian Tavern ain't cheap, but the food is great, and lots of it too. Compare to £ 14.99 pastas at Regattas largs for example....yukk. No comparison. I enjoy a pint or three there, and usually Russian Sausages or Stroganoff- the portions are enormous and hearty old-fashioned well-cooked fare. Sure, it IS a bit strange, but hey, vive la difference!
Alrob
Well-Known Member
been to both - rothesay very lively, port banantyne nice & quiet
walked into rothesay but gotb he bus back
walked into rothesay but gotb he bus back
oldmanofthesea
New Member
Rothesay marina is deteriating the outer pontoons are very poor, Port Bannatyne while being a work in progress is excellent (Kip and Largs would do well to look at the standard of the berths) also the boat yard is excellent too and very helpfull I wish there were more marinas like this to visit in the Clyde, west coast area, As for Portavadi the facilities consantly improve but the food gets worse (violently ill after the last time) and the service is no better they seem to think they are doing you a favour even speaking to you.
