Portavadie

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Portavadie
Portavadie village.jpg
Portavadie
Argyll and Bute UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Portavadie
Location within Argyll and Bute
OS grid reference NR930694
  Edinburgh 82 mi (132 km)
  London 368 mi (592 km)
Council area
  • Argyll and Bute
Lieutenancy area
  • Argyll and Bute
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town TIGHNABRUAICH
Postcode district PA21
Dialling code 01700
UK Parliament
  • Argyll and Bute
Scottish Parliament
  • Argyll and Bute
List of places
UK
Scotland
55°52′25″N5°18′37″W / 55.8735°N 5.3103°W / 55.8735; -5.3103

Portavadie (Scottish Gaelic : Port a' Mhadaidh) is a village on the shores of Loch Fyne on the coast of the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, West of Scotland. [1]

Contents

The Portavadie complex was built in 1975 [2] by the then Scottish Office for the purpose of constructing concrete platforms for extraction of oil from the North Sea. However, the intention was soon overtaken by acceptance that steel platforms were the future for the oil industry in Scotland. Despite suggestions to turn the complex into a holiday village, it lay redundant until in the mid-1980s the enclosed port was used by a local fish farm company.

In 2013 a further report in the Dunoon Observer and Argyllshire Standard says that the derelict "village", known as Polphail, was sold to a forestry company who planned to demolish the buildings and build new houses. By 2016 the buildings had been demolished, but the plans had changed to the construction a whisky distillery on the site, with construction to commence in early 2023. [3] [4] [5]

Sport and recreation

Portavadie Marina

In late 2009 the marina was used for the first time to tie up yachts for the Scottish series by the Clyde Cruising Club, won by Nigel Biggs; England; J109-IRC. [6]

The new Portavadie Marina [7] complex opened to the public in 2010. The first phase of the complex consisted of five-star luxury apartments, with private sauna facilities and four-star cottages, alongside a restaurant, conference suites and a retail space.

The second phase, The Lodge, arrived shortly after, consisting of hotel style accommodation, fully accessible studio apartments, staff accommodation and a second "family style" restaurant.

The third phase was officially launched in August 2016, with a luxury spa and leisure complex being added to the amenities.

Loch Lomond and Cowal Way

The Loch Lomond and Cowal Way starts and finishes at Portavadie; this long-distance waymarked footpath takes one to Inveruglas on the shore of Loch Lomond, in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, 57 miles (92 kilometres) of walking later.

National Cycle Route 75

Portavadie is on the NCR75 a route from Edinburgh to Tarbert on the Kintyre peninsula. [8] The National Cycle Network is maintained by sustrans. [9] If you cross Loch Fyne, continuing on the NCR75 onto the Kintyre peninsula at Tarbert, you can join the National Cycle Route 78 (The Caledonia Way). [10]

Transport

Portavadie Ferry Terminal

National grid reference NR9259869816

Portavadie to Tarbert ferry Portavadie to Tarbert ferry - geograph.org.uk - 22830.jpg
Portavadie to Tarbert ferry

There is a 25-minute-long Caledonian MacBrayne ferry service across Loch Fyne to Tarbert on the Kintyre Peninsula. It runs eleven times on weekdays (ten on Sundays), between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm. There is no 8:30 am ferry on Sundays. [11]

Preceding station  Ferry  Following station
Terminus  Caledonian MacBrayne
Ferry
  Tarbert

Bus

Portavadie is the destination of the 478 bus from Dunoon, 28 miles (45 km) away. It runs six days a week.

Related Research Articles

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Argyll and Bute is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod. The administrative centre for the council area is in Lochgilphead at Kilmory Castle, a 19th-century Gothic Revival building and estate. The current council leader is Councillor Jim Lynch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunoon</span> Town in Scotland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caledonian MacBrayne</span> Ferry operator in Scotland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowal</span> Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland

Cowal is a rugged peninsula in Argyll and Bute, on the west coast of Scotland. It is connected to the mainland to the north, and is bounded by Loch Fyne to the west, by Loch Long and the Firth of Clyde to the east, and by the Kyles of Bute to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Fyne</span> Sea inlet on west coast of Scotland

Loch Fyne, is a sea loch off the Firth of Clyde and forms part of the coast of the Cowal Peninsula. Located on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. It extends 65 kilometres (40 mi) inland from the Sound of Bute, making it the longest of the sea lochs in Scotland. It is connected to the Sound of Jura by the Crinan Canal. Although there is no evidence that grapes have grown there, the title is probably honorific, indicating that the river, Abhainn Fìne, was a well-respected river.

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Tarbert is a village in the west of Scotland, in the Argyll and Bute council area. It is built at the head of an inlet of Loch Fyne called East Loch Tarbert, on a narrow isthmus which connects Kintyre to the south with Knapdale to the north and separates East Loch Tarbert from the much longer West Loch Tarbert. Tarbert had a recorded population of 1,338 in the 2001 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otter Ferry</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Otter Ferry is a settlement on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland, formerly the site of a ferry across Loch Fyne. Otter Ferry is situated 9 miles from Portavadie from where there is a ferry to Tarbert, in Kintyre, operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tighnabruaich</span> Village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kames, Argyll</span> Human settlement in Scotland

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MV <i>Isle of Cumbrae</i>

MV Isle of Cumbrae is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1976 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. For ten years she was at Largs and operated the Loch Fyne crossing from 1999 to 2014. She was replaced by the MV Lochinvar in 2014, a new diesel-electric hybrid ferry capable of holding 23 cars and 150 passengers. She returned to Tarbert in 2016 after MV Lochinvar was moved to the Mallaig - Armadale station. As of 2024, she is the oldest vessel in the CalMac fleet.

MV <i>Juno</i> (1974) Clyde-built passenger/vehicle ferry (1974 - 2007)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caledonian Maritime Assets</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loch Lomond and Cowal Way</span>

The Loch Lomond and Cowal Way is a waymarked footpath through the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, between Portavadie on Cowal and Inveruglas on Loch Lomond side. It was formerly known as the Cowal Way, but was renamed in December 2018 to reflect the fact that half of the route lies with the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The way is 92 kilometres (57 mi) long, and is suitable for both walkers and mountain bikers. Much of the route is also suitable for experienced horseriders, although in some places steps, narrow footbridges and gates may restrict access for horses. A review to identify these obstacles and suggest alternative routes and/or remedial measures was undertaken in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardtaraig</span> Human settlement in Scotland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kintyre Way</span> Long-distance path in Argyll and Bute, Scotland

The Kintyre Way is a waymarked footpath through the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. It runs between Machrihanish near the southern end of the peninsula's west coast, and Tarbert at the northern end of Kintyre where the peninsula is linked to Knapdale, via Campbeltown. The way is 161 kilometres (100 mi) long, and is fully waymarked. Additionally there are distance markers at 1 mile (1.6 km) intervals along the route. The route is primarily intended for walkers, but most sections can also be cycled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millhouse, Argyll</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Millhouse is a village in the parish of Kilfinan. Located on the B8000 inland from Kames in the east and Portavadie in the west, on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">478 Dunoon–Portavadie</span> Bus route in Argyll and Bute, Scotland

The 478 is a bus route in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, which runs between Dunoon and Portavadie via Tighnabruiach and Kames. It is operated by West Coast Motors, which was established in 1921. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport inaugurated the route, along with that of the 477 and 479, in October 1993. The route is noted for its long stretches of single-track roads with scattered passing places, especially along the B836 between Sandbank and Auchenbreck, at the junction with the A886 Colintraive–to–Strachur road. The drivers of the 477, 478 and 479 have dubbed their routes the "Bermuda Triangle" due to their complexity and remoteness.

References

  1. "Visitor Information". Portavadie. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  2. "Portavadie (Public Inquiry)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 998. House of Commons. 3 February 1981. col. 147–154. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  3. "Cowal Ghost Village Sold". Dunoon Observer. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  4. "Plans for distillery in 'ghost village' approved by council". STV News. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  5. Collins, Georgie (28 October 2022). "New plans submitted for Portavadie Distillery". The Spirits Business. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  6. "Scottish Series Yacht Racing Event - Scottish Series". Clyde Cruising Club. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  7. "Portavadie, Loch Fyne, Scotland". Portavadie Marina. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  8. "National Cycle Network routes in Glasgow and the West". Sustrans.
  9. "About us". Sustrans.
  10. "National Cycle Network routes in Argyll & Bute and Highland". Sustrans.
  11. "Cowal & Kintyre: Tarbert Loch Fyne - Portavadie". CalMac Ferries. Retrieved 8 October 2023.