Wikipedia

Portavadie

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]

Portavadie
Portavadie
Scotland
Scotland
Portavadie
Location within Argyll and Bute
OS grid referenceNR930694
• Edinburgh82 mi (132 km)
• London368 mi (592 km)
Council area
  • Argyll and Bute
Lieutenancy area
  • Argyll and Bute
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townTIGHNABRUAICH
Postcode districtPA21
Dialling code01700
UK Parliament
  • Argyll and Bute
Scottish Parliament
  • Argyll and Bute
List of places
UK
Scotland
55°52′25″N 5°18′37″W / 55.8735°N 5.3103°W / 55.8735; -5.3103

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

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Portavadie Marina

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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

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Main article: 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

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Main article: 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

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Portavadie Ferry Terminal

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National grid reference NR9259869816

 
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

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

References

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  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.
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