DaveS
Well-Known Member
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Scottish Berth recommendations?
- Thread starter CFarr
- Start date
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Sneaky Pete
Well-Known Member
Half year swinging mooring.
I agree with what has been said both Rhu and Fairlie do a launch service and I believe both operate from April to September inclusive but they are a little pricey Rhu this year are reducing the number of mooring they are renting and I believe they have some for sale now. What I am looking at for this year is six months on a swinging mooring and six months winter afloat and yes Clyde marina is the cheapest on that coast the train station is 100m away however Portavadie is in my opinion the best marina in Scotland and also one of the cheapest to keep a boat in, the straighteners that were spoken about are in the gents toilet just beside the selection of hand moisturisers.
I agree with what has been said both Rhu and Fairlie do a launch service and I believe both operate from April to September inclusive but they are a little pricey Rhu this year are reducing the number of mooring they are renting and I believe they have some for sale now. What I am looking at for this year is six months on a swinging mooring and six months winter afloat and yes Clyde marina is the cheapest on that coast the train station is 100m away however Portavadie is in my opinion the best marina in Scotland and also one of the cheapest to keep a boat in, the straighteners that were spoken about are in the gents toilet just beside the selection of hand moisturisers.
JoeQ
Well-Known Member
Is it cheaper that James Watt Dock at Greenock? It's also very handy for the train station.
http://www.jameswattdockmarina.co.uk/
I'm not saying they're great, I often complain about being squeezed in, but in general terms it is a good facility and quite sheltered in the storms.
I've been in Clyde marina when I used to live in Ardrossan and it's a nice facility but Ardrossan lacks something. The marina is also a pig when it's stormy.
I was in Troon for a few years and can recommend it but you've a few hours sailing before you get anywhere.
Sneaky Pete
Well-Known Member
If James Watt is cheaper it is not by very much since the tall ships a couple of years ago this marina has developed well with more facilities being added could be the place to be in the not to distant future.
RIBW
Well-Known Member
My comment is based on living in the West Country and often chartering in Scotland. I find the most relaxed destinations for me are Dunstaffnage, Oban & Craobh but travelling via Callander. Its a bit counter-intuitive when looking at the map but, except for my first mile, its all dual carriageway to Stirling followed by scenic, fast, traffic free roads with plenty of easy refreshment stops - a beautiful drive! The same cannot be said for struggling through Glasgow or cross country to Largs etc.
Also, the destinations from D, O & C are far more varied for cruising!
Just a thought
Bob
Also, the destinations from D, O & C are far more varied for cruising!
Just a thought
Bob
uxb
Well-Known Member
RIBW,
Rant Alert!
It should be a fast drive on good roads but for the ignorant awful drivers who crawl along holding every one else up and never pull in to allow others to pass.
Only four months of decent driving time left before the idiots arrive...
Rant Alert!
It should be a fast drive on good roads but for the ignorant awful drivers who crawl along holding every one else up and never pull in to allow others to pass.
Only four months of decent driving time left before the idiots arrive...
agurney
Well-Known Member
awol
Well-Known Member
I'm torn between an almost overwhelming instinct to discourage any of the auld enemy from coming north and an urge to discuss some of the statements being made. As a frequent traveller from the capital to the Oban area I can only endorse UXB's rant on the "summer" A84/85 drivers who can easily add over an hour to the journey. The journey to the Clyde via Glasgow, unless attempted at rush hour, and even that has improved notably since the M74 extension, is motorway or dual carriageway all the way and can be forecast almost to the minute. Don't forget to include the cost of fuel in your deliberations.
Clyde to the west via the Crinan is a joy in itself but does need an acceptance of "canal time" - if you are stressed and/or in a hurry you will hate it; relax, enjoy the experience and all, except the culicoides impunctatus, will be fine. Otherwise the trip round the M of K is an opportunity to visit C'town, Sanda, Gigha, Islay, Jura (3 of those have distilleries) and doesn't take much (if any) longer to get to Oban if you are in a hurry.
Cost is always a factor and for most of us is uncomfortable to calculate. I do my best to keep it down but it always ends up more than I could possibly justify, so I keep a bucket of sand handy for inserting my head. My 6 months of a swinging mooring (you're welcome to use it while I'm away!) including capital cost, maintenance, club subscription (launch service - dinghy/outboard/etc. storage) and CE charge has averaged out over the last 5 years at a tad under £100 p.m. (and I still have the mooring). The JWD adds ~£900 for the winter including lifts, wash and cradle. Private moorings at Oban (D'staff' or Cardingmill Bay) come with a considerably greater capital cost (if you can get one) and without the launch service. The paranoia associated with leaving my boat on a mooring is assuaged by the eagle eyes of the boatman and the local club members - I even get reassuring phone calls after gales. Access is all weather (if you really must!) by launch, and all hours if I use my dinghy.
That's quite enough. Now where's that sand bucket ......
Clyde to the west via the Crinan is a joy in itself but does need an acceptance of "canal time" - if you are stressed and/or in a hurry you will hate it; relax, enjoy the experience and all, except the culicoides impunctatus, will be fine. Otherwise the trip round the M of K is an opportunity to visit C'town, Sanda, Gigha, Islay, Jura (3 of those have distilleries) and doesn't take much (if any) longer to get to Oban if you are in a hurry.
Cost is always a factor and for most of us is uncomfortable to calculate. I do my best to keep it down but it always ends up more than I could possibly justify, so I keep a bucket of sand handy for inserting my head. My 6 months of a swinging mooring (you're welcome to use it while I'm away!) including capital cost, maintenance, club subscription (launch service - dinghy/outboard/etc. storage) and CE charge has averaged out over the last 5 years at a tad under £100 p.m. (and I still have the mooring). The JWD adds ~£900 for the winter including lifts, wash and cradle. Private moorings at Oban (D'staff' or Cardingmill Bay) come with a considerably greater capital cost (if you can get one) and without the launch service. The paranoia associated with leaving my boat on a mooring is assuaged by the eagle eyes of the boatman and the local club members - I even get reassuring phone calls after gales. Access is all weather (if you really must!) by launch, and all hours if I use my dinghy.
That's quite enough. Now where's that sand bucket ......
AntarcticPilot
Well-Known Member
And my own experience of Highland roads is that there are a lot of coaches around, which drive slowly to allow their occupants to see the beautiful scenery. Fine if you are an occupant of the coach; not so fine if you're one of the people trailing along behind the coach!
Also, there are plenty of places where two coaches meeting can have trouble passing; the road along the side of Loch Lomond seems to be particularly bad that way. I've been held up for at least half an hour on that route when here was an unfortunate (but not unlikely) combination of goods vehicles and coaches at a nasty bend.
Struggling through Glasgow is a thing of the past now that the M74 extension is open
AMEN! Though it was never that bad, as long as you avoided the obvious rush hours.
All those people advocating marinas like Ardfern and Croabh need to remember that the guy lives at least 5 hours drive away from Glasgow. I live 7-8 hours drive (with two drivers, never stopping for more than long enough for toilets and changing drivers) from Greenock, so I know the practical problems first hand. I, for one, wouldn't like to face 1-2 hours of driving on Highland roads after I'd already covered several hundred miles up the motorway. I'd love to be located further north from the point of view of the cruising area, but simply can't face the extra length of driving time. Furthermore, at Greenock there are several alternative ways of getting there, either cheap airline to Glasgow or Prestwick and train to the nearby station or rail all the way. If you're coming up for a weekend, flying is very attractive - but not feasible for the remoter marinas. And in an emergency it is feasible (by air) to come up for a single day - though I'd only consider it in an emergency. I actually did that a few months ago - not for sailing, but because I had an interview nearby.
I berth at James Watt Dock; from the point of view of a long distance traveller it is ideally situated. OK, you have a bit of a trek to get down to Arran or the Kyles of Bute, but then again, you have Gare Loch, Holy Loch, Loch Long and Loch Goil on your doorstep - all beautiful!
Quandary
Well-Known Member
I am with Awol on this and like him have to struggle with my natural hospitality when common sense dictates that we should not be encouraging more southern invaders putting pressure on our lonely places. But if we can restrict it to the Clyde and encourage its use as a honey pot it should be OK, I for one would be happy to sacrifice the Clyde to protect the Hebrides.
The narrow twisty roads are only one of many reasons for not coming West, particularly in summer when the camper vans are out, always travelling in close pairs and only exceeding 40mph when there is a straight bit that the locals use for passing, the midges are much denser and more voracious west of Kintyre and are always on the lookout for that lovely thick rich southern blood, the locals are dour, given to irony and even sarcasm and only the Australians and Poles who come to work out here are pretty. And then there is the deep deep water, the big dark rocks everywhere surrounded by raging tides. Did I mention the continuous rain? The cold wind blowing in straight from Newfoundland? Or the summer nights when it never gets dark enough to sleep? Or the absence of marinas to park up safely and in company?
The narrow twisty roads are only one of many reasons for not coming West, particularly in summer when the camper vans are out, always travelling in close pairs and only exceeding 40mph when there is a straight bit that the locals use for passing, the midges are much denser and more voracious west of Kintyre and are always on the lookout for that lovely thick rich southern blood, the locals are dour, given to irony and even sarcasm and only the Australians and Poles who come to work out here are pretty. And then there is the deep deep water, the big dark rocks everywhere surrounded by raging tides. Did I mention the continuous rain? The cold wind blowing in straight from Newfoundland? Or the summer nights when it never gets dark enough to sleep? Or the absence of marinas to park up safely and in company?
ianj99
Well-Known Member
Don't overlook TARBERT
Just opposite Portavadie is scenic village & harbour of Tarbert. (there's a vehicle ferry to Portavadie)
A recent expansion in the pontoon numbers means there are probably some still available and there are some swinging moorings. (They also welcome liveaboards) (the aerial photos on the website do not show the 3rd new main pontoon)
I believe Tarbert is by far the cheapest in this area, and Loch Fyne has the added bonus of always winds always blowing up or down the loch regardless of the forecast wind direction !! ( as well as being a knot or 3 stronger - its due to the lie of the land I'm told)
Its in many ways an ideal cruising base: there's the loch which is navigable for about 20miles north, or Kilbrannan Sound takes you south west towards the Mull of Kintyre and North Channel, the Kyles of Bute and Arran are a stones throw to the south, so a more varied sailing venue you cannot get anywhere and with plenty of sheltered anchorages.
TARBERT HARBOUR
The staff are very helpful & friendly although, being a working port, possibly not a quiet as some marinas.
Just opposite Portavadie is scenic village & harbour of Tarbert. (there's a vehicle ferry to Portavadie)
A recent expansion in the pontoon numbers means there are probably some still available and there are some swinging moorings. (They also welcome liveaboards) (the aerial photos on the website do not show the 3rd new main pontoon)
I believe Tarbert is by far the cheapest in this area, and Loch Fyne has the added bonus of always winds always blowing up or down the loch regardless of the forecast wind direction !! ( as well as being a knot or 3 stronger - its due to the lie of the land I'm told)
Its in many ways an ideal cruising base: there's the loch which is navigable for about 20miles north, or Kilbrannan Sound takes you south west towards the Mull of Kintyre and North Channel, the Kyles of Bute and Arran are a stones throw to the south, so a more varied sailing venue you cannot get anywhere and with plenty of sheltered anchorages.
TARBERT HARBOUR
The staff are very helpful & friendly although, being a working port, possibly not a quiet as some marinas.
CFarr
Well-Known Member
I know Tarbert quite well and it is all you say, however it is a 7 hour drive for me by which time I could be on the West coast proper.
RIBW
Well-Known Member
UXB,
You started me thinking seriously about why I haven't had the same experience as some of you obviously have. I can think of two reasons:-
1. It may be because I prefer my trips to Scotland to be between March and mid-June and in September/October (the new 'summers'). I therefore avoid school/French/Dutch holiday periods (but not the late season coach trips).
2. Heading north, I also generally leave home after breakfast on Saturdays which means I tend not to get tangled in the rush that "starts early to beat the traffic". (Similarly, I keep my boat in Cornwall but nothing would drag me there on the 7 weekends in July and August when the M5 is a car park.)
Thanks Agurney, for the tip about the M74 extension. It looks useful.
Maybe I have also been unusually lucky with the weather in Scotland - in 20 years over the 80s and 90s we took a regular week at the end of May. We only had seriously bad weather on one occasion. My last mid-October trip - a year or two ago - was gloriously sunny and warm!
Sorry if I am too positive about my trips to Scotland!?!?
Chris,
I hope you thoroughly enjoy your final decision
Regards
Bob
PS to all (for amusement only!!!),
Please remember that down here, the 'North' begins at Tewkesbury, but we don't mind any of you from up there blocking our lanes provided you bring money with you!
ianj99
Well-Known Member
Its true that it takes only a little longer to go from Lochgilphead to Ardfern than to Tarbert. I can also endorse Ardfern having been berthed there for 3 years but you may have a problem getting a mooring - its very popular.
awol
Well-Known Member
May I suggest a 3rd reason that may be divined from your description of "scenic, fast, traffic free roads with plenty of easy refreshment stops - a beautiful drive! " Could it be while you are enjoying the empty road in front and all the glorious scenery, UXB, I et al are queued behind you, just praying you are going to stop at the Green Welly?
ianj99
Well-Known Member
So its you who won't overtake the sightseers unless there's 2miles of clear road ahead.
Incompetent overtaking is rife up here in Argyll - tailgating so no one can get past the lead vehicle; taking a mile to make a decision by which time the opportunity has passed; overtaking too slowly or slowing down immediately they've completed the maneouvre so anyone who is (wrongly) following you past the slow coach is put at risk etc...
Twice on the way home on Boxing day, between Loch Lomond and Rest & Be Thankful I was almost the innocent victim of misjudged overtaking caused by the sightseer at the front of the queue making those behind dangerously impatient.
When the roads are not empty, please pull over and admire view!
awol
Well-Known Member
Not guilty me lud. I come from an age before ubiquitous motorways and have taken pride in my overtaking since the days of side valve Fords and their vacuum wipers. You're lucky the R&BT was open.
agurney
Well-Known Member
So its you who won't overtake the sightseers unless there's 2miles of clear road ahead.
Incompetent overtaking is rife up here in Argyll - tailgating so no one can get past the lead vehicle; taking a mile to make a decision by which time the opportunity has passed; overtaking too slowly or slowing down immediately they've completed the maneouvre so anyone who is (wrongly) following you past the slow coach is put at risk etc...
Twice on the way home on Boxing day, between Loch Lomond and Rest & Be Thankful I was almost the innocent victim of misjudged overtaking caused by the sightseer at the front of the queue making those behind dangerously impatient.
When the roads are not empty, please pull over and admire view!
+1
It gets even worse when you turn off to Lochgoilhead at the R&BT and you catch up with folk who neither know the road nor know how to use passing places .. I met several on new year's eve, so it's not just limited to the summer months.