So. West coast of Scotland

[Robert Wilson]

I thought we wus your special friends?

Ah, there's friends, and then special friends; you know, those who let you take a wet puppy onto their pristine boat :encouragement:

 

[ctva]

Ah, there's friends, and then special friends; you know, those who let you take a wet puppy onto their pristine boat :encouragement:

The puppy was fine, it was the grumpy old gin swiller that was a challenge!

Keeping on thread, you will find that the Gruniard welcome is pretty wide spread across the west coast, even the supposed commercial ports.

 

[Minchsailor]

My experience of trying to get maintenance done in Scotland is very patchy. Everything will be done next week when "Dougie" has finished this or that but it never happens. Get your maintenance done before heading North. The difference in price seems minimal.

Having had my boat in the NW for the best part of 20 years, I think you exaggerate a bit. True, the whole economy of the area rest on the principle that people have several jobs, as there is just not the volume of work to justify one occupation, and they have to set their own priorities.

On the few occasions when I have needed a bit of work done that I could not do myself (mainly the heavier engineering variety) I have found somebody to do it readily, and usually at a very agreeable price.

 

[Dukester52]

Likely that the first marina you’ll pass west of Glasgow will be James Watt Dock, just before Greenock. Well worth stopping to check it out.

..and the premier inn next door is a good place to stay the night if needed

 

[Skylark]

..and the premier inn next door is a good place to stay the night if needed

I already have my next stay there booked (boat now out of the water). There’s also a Holiday Inn within another stone’s throw. Worth checking both sites as they do vary. A couple of weeks ago, the Premier was £85 so I stayed at the HI. On 1st Nov the Premier Inn is £42.

 

[Saguday]

From Craobh to Ardfern is a pleasant 40 minute walk, assuming it's not raining and you want stretch your legs after all that driving.

I’ve told SWMBO to take her walking boots and oilies...

Spoke to Sue at Craobh Haven today and she says it’s all blue sky and sunshine

 

[Saguday]

Likely that the first marina you’ll pass west of Glasgow will be James Watt Dock, just before Greenock. Well worth stopping to check it out.

Yes I know of it, I may we’ll swing in and take a look. There was a fabulous pristine IP445 for sale there a couple of years back going for a song. Nearly got to see it on one of my biz trips to Motherwell, but it sold before I got there.

 

[Saguday]

Plot across the road sold two years ago. Now there is a "house" on it. Lovely people who own it (from Hampshire) but I told them when they first arrived that I didn't appreciate a "shed" which looks directly into my bedroom and bathroom grrr.
We have "smoked the pipe of peace" since.
I'm thinking of selling my mooring(s).
>£500,000 -
includes dinghies, boat and house.........

Bloody incomers.

I fear it’s a bit too far north for my missus, since family are in midlands and south

 

[Saguday]

..and the premier inn next door is a good place to stay the night if needed

Darn, too late I’ve booked something ludicrously posh already. Thought I’d treat the missus what with it being anniversary and all, plus I’m apparently a booking.com ‘genius’ so got a £25 room upgrade for free

 

[Saguday]

I already have my next stay there booked (boat now out of the water). There’s also a Holiday Inn within another stone’s throw. Worth checking both sites as they do vary. A couple of weeks ago, the Premier was £85 so I stayed at the HI. On 1st Nov the Premier Inn is £42.

I think it’s school holidays in Scotland this week? Surprisingly large number of places booked up. I got a deluxe room upgrade deal at Mar Hall so we’re going all lah-di-dah for the night. I hope they’re ok with deck shoes and fleeces in their restaurant.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Best not go in wearing wet oilies and carrying LJs!
Or leading a soaking wet spaniel.....

Midlands and south great for "see you next month" then bolt back up for own peace n quiet.
Families? Pah :ambivalence:

 

[adwuk]

Sounds like a grand tour! Don't rush through Tarbert and add Tayvallich to your list. There is a waiting list for the moorings there, but they do come up.

 

[pagoda]

Sounds like a grand tour! Don't rush through Tarbert and add Tayvallich to your list. There is a waiting list for the moorings there, but they do come up.

Tayvallich is bonny... but a bit of a drag up Loch Sween!

 

[Saguday]

Thanks everyone, lots of good info.

We’re on the way now, today is the long drag to the Clyde, turn left tomorrow.

 

[rgarside]

The sailing is some of the best in the know universe, but you can't pop over to France for a decent "La Baguette Tradition" none of the white flour rubbish they sell here. However, bridies are the same as pasties (I think far superior, but that depends on the baker).
.

The baker in Mallaig is outstanding!

 

[claymore]

It's terrible.

The days are too long in summer - get woken up far too early and the sunsets last far too late into the night.

There are comparably few walk ashore facilities - you need to get your anchor muddy in lonely anchorages far too often.

Wildlife if carp - who needs whales, eagles & dolphins (note get the hebridean whale and dolphin trust app for recent sightings).

Anchorages are too quiet - rarely get party boats adding to the ambience

You never get to raft up to other boats to get ashore

You never have to queue to get to the showers

The water is often too clear and you get vertigo looking down at the starfish.

The seafood is terrible.

And don't get me started on the clear skies at night!

You are thinking to do this as a relief from Brexit? Perhaps you might read up the SNP's plans before committing yourselves

 

[JumbleDuck]

Anyone berthed at, or have experience with, Port Bannatyne marina on Bute?

I use them for winter storage - my mooring is next to their breakwater - and spent the winter of 2017/18 afloat there. Very friendly people, assiduous in checking and looking after boats, cheaper than the mainland marinas. Downsides are that on-site facilities are limited (though everything you could want is available in the village or in Rothesay, three miles away) and you can't get onto or off Bute from about 7pm till 7am, so late night arrivals and trips home are out.

The marina and yard fill up completely for winter, but berths are generally available on request in the summer.

 

[JumbleDuck]

He was heading back to his boat ,probably he and his family readers of this forum , hopefully have missed your grossly insensitive remarks .

I don't think it is either insensitive or inaccurate to say that standards of motorbike riding are generally atrocious. I used to work regularly off Snake Pass and every trip on the road there saw unbelievably stupid biking - grossly excessive speed on the wrong side of the road round blind corners was an everyday phenomenon. The "Think Bike" signs every half-mile could be usefully amended to read "Think Idiot".

I suspect it's because so many bikers are elderly and have neither the experience nor the perception to ride safely. I expect they annoy the responsible ones too.

 

[ocdale]

Kip and Craobh still have reciprocal berthing

So does Largs and Troon.

A few thoughts..

1) Troon good for first stop when you enter the Clyde. The marina now operates the chandlery so a good place to stock up if you need to.

2) Carradale Bay on east side of Kintyre is my favourite anchorage (perfect in W or N winds, a bit tricky in S/SE). Also a good spot to wait while you wait for the tidal window to get around the bottom of the Mull of Kintyre (be careful here and passage plan thoroughly!)

3) Largs best placed if you want day sailing trips. lots of places to sail to/from in a day.

4) Crinan canal beautiful but quite expensive.

5) Make sure you stop at Gigha for food at the restaurant!

 

[Saguday]

Well. We did it.

I can’t really describe how superb it was, not least because we had glorious sunny weather for about 90% of the time. One presumes it’s always like that up there??

I feel I owe everyone a quick synopsys - will post some pics later.

1. Mar Hall/Anniversary: quite superb. They upgraded us (again! a second time) to a junior suite, because it was our wedding anniversary. Hotel, room, location, staff, food all top notch. Not boaty but a really lovely place for a special occasion. Went a bit OTT on the meal, cost more than the room! Huge bonus brownie point credit with SWMBO though....

2. Bit of a dash next day to ferry at Wemyss so went past James Watt dock and Kip marina with only a brief glance, sorry. Greenock area a bit busy but love that they still build ships there. Kip looked fine but very big, maybe a bit too big for us but certainly convenient for invading southerners. Sun came out and all the clouds cleared at Kip and thus it stayed for the next 4-5 days - surely a Sign?

3. Glorious ferry crossing to Rothesay on Bute. Saw one lonely yachty out but not close enough to see properly. We liked Rothesay and it’s little harbour, had lunch, shopped, talked to the locals, took pics and watched the ferries come and go. Even charged the car up! Suspect it’s crowded in summer. Saw our yachty friend sailing past as we left.

4. Drove the short way up to Port Bannatyne. Gorgeous. SWMBO thought it was lovely. Stopped, took photos, looked around, spoke to the friendly marina staff, wandered the pontoons. Saw our yachty friend coming in and berth at the marina (a larger Sadler). Had a useful chat with him in the car park later, some useful info on the moorings too. Reluctant to leave, but had to press on.

5. Drove up the east side of Bute to take the Colintraive ferry. Really impressive, and the ferry even waited for us because they could see us coming up the road. More pics on the other side.

6. Stunning drive up round the loch and down the west side to Portavadie. Stopped numerous times to take pics and stare enviously at the few yachts out. Scenery is incredible. Had a coffee at Portavadie, very impressive and new and contemporary but a bit out on it’s own we thought. Good place to visit though.

7. Ferry to Tarbert. Ahh, Tarbert! The ‘wild west frontier’ as it was described to me by a local Scot Very real, very Scottish, a working fishing town and all the better for it. SWMBO loved it, lots of pics. Didn’t get to visit the marina properly though, too late.

8. Drove on up to Craobh Haven, past Ardrishaig and glimpses of the Crinan canal. Stayed here two nights in one of the marina cottages. Immediate scenery and location beyond compare. Marina excellent, staff excellent, wandered around the village and south to Lunga along the shoreline. Two excellent meals in the LOTI pub. Met a couple self-building on a plot behind the marina and spent a couple of hours in their caravan discussing boats, sailing, marinas, plots of land, selfbuilding and life in general. Mountains, sea, islands, sunsets, walks, peace, quiet - adored it. Reluctant to leave.

9. Back south down Kintyre peninsula. Went to Ardfern, which is also lovely. Marina and moorings really good and a helpful chat with Andy there. Pub and shop were highly recommended by the people we met at Craobh Haven. Continued south down an amazing road to Tayinloan to get the ferry to...

10. ...Gigha. Hadn’t told SWMBO about this and it wasn’t really a boaty/marina visit, just wanted to see it. Stayed at hotel for two nights, great room and food. The Boathouse had closed for winter though. Beaches are gorgeous, water crystal clear and loads of places to walk even on such a small island. Climbed to highest hill for the views. New pontoon in the harbour is superb, and they have over 20 moorings now - just need some protection from easterlies! Watched a yacht come from the north and moor at Ardminish for a few hours on Sat afternoon. We walked to the end of the pontoon and they waved as they let go, heading south to who knows where (Mull of Kintyre? Waiting for the tidal gate?) Wondered if it was anyone on here. Locals are super friendly, on first name terms with several within a day or so. Driving a white Tesla on a small island did attract some attention and several came up to ask about it. Loved Gigha, I’d move there in a shot if I could, although not sure about keeping a yacht there and maybe too remote for SWMBO.

11. Very reluctantly left Gigha on Sunday morning, first ferry of the day. Incredible weather, no clouds, warm, bright sunshine. Had watched the sunrise while chatting to half a dozen locals who went for a swim at 7:30am, hardy souls that they are. Drove to Craignish to gaze at Arran while waiting for the ferry. No clouds, still waters, looked like the Greek Isles in the morning. Arrived Lochranza, first time on Arran, which is likewise gorgeous. Drove through spectacular scenery to Brodick to catch the Ardrossan ferry. Alas, this was last day of school holidays and ferries were fully booked so after lunch and charging the car we...

12. ... drove back to Lochranza, taking yet more photo’s and then the ferry back to Kintyre. Then...

13. ... drove the long way to Glasgow, vIa Tarbert, Lochgilphead, up Loch Fyne past Inverary (beautiful!), Lochgoilhead and all that good stuff. In the evening sunshine it was all sublime.

Got home at 2:30am, SWMBO off to work at 8:30 next day, I had a luxury day off.

What next? Dunno, but on Tuesday SWMBO asked if we could go back for a week at Christmas.

Missed Tayvallich but have been googling it since we got back, will try to visit next time we go. So many cool places to put a boat, any of Port Bannatyne, Tarbert, Ardfern or Craobh Haven would be superb and probably suit SWMBO. Travel time is an issue but a lady onGigha who has two sons in Bristol said fly Bristol-Glasgow and take the bus! We’ll see.

Thanks to everyone who replied and helped shape the itinerary. It was a wonderful trip.