Clyde Pubs with Pontoons

[Pinto]

Hi there

Can anyone give me any advice on where might be good to head to for good food and drink within reasonable distance of Largs.

I am looking for places that have pontoons that you can use, or other easy means of getting ashore. I am not confident about beaching it, and due to its size do not carry a small tender, and don't fancy swimming ashore!

We have just recently moved our RIB to the Largs Yacht Haven, and have had great fun buzzing around the Cumbrae/Bute area and would like to take it a further step by being able to head off somewhere for a nice pub lunch & refreshments. Any advice on where to fuel up if places are at a fair distance would also be appreciated.

Ta much

Vivienne

[JIY]

Depends on how far afield you wish to go, but some suggestions are:

1. Rothesay (The Black Bull inn does simple, cheap but good food, right opposite the pontoons).
2. Holy Loch (Try the Holy Loch Inn, just turn right and head up the hill 50 metres from the Marina).
3. Tarbert, Loch Fyne (The Victoria is the traditional pub for sailors, but the Anchor, now under new management, does great food).
4. Otter Ferry (Loch Fyne) has a new pontoon next to the Otter Ferry Inn (Haven't eaten there, so no idea about the food).
5. Lamlash on Arran - no pontoon, but as long as you avoid 2 hours either side of low tide (Springs) you can tie up alongside the pier. Try the Glensile Hotel (Turn left at the end of the pier, it's about 300 metres down on the right hand side of the road), the food is excellent, all freshly cooked. The Drift Inn is also a popular venue for yachites, but it is a bit "spit and sawdust", with cheap pub fare.

At Tighnabruich the An Lochan (used to be called the Royal Hotel) is worth a look, but it is expensive. However, do not leave your boat alongside their "pontoon", it is lethal and will quickly cut even the strongest of tubes to ribbons! Better to tie up alongside Tighnabruich Pier and live with the 15 minute walk to the hotel. You can also get pub food in the An Lochan's bar, the Shinty Bar, but it doesn't have the great views down the loch that the restaurant offers and it is still quite pricey.

Hope this is useful for starters. If you launch from Largs, you will see our boats (the big orange Humbers), so please do say hi if you are passing (I'm Jim, the good looking one!!!).

p.s. Getting petrol is a real problem on the Clyde - the only places offering dockside petrol are Largs Yacht Haven and Holy Loch Marina. Having carried 480 litres in 20 litre jerry cans at Tarbert on Friday, I can tell you it's a real pain in the neck (and back)!!! However, I'm sure you burn a little less than our 85 lph, so you can probably make use of local garages.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by JIY

4. Otter Ferry (Loch Fyne) has a new pontoon next to the Otter Ferry Inn (Haven't eaten there, so no idea about the food).

we are there the day they put the new pontoon in and the food was pretty good.

[Andy Gee]

Also Kilchattan, Tie onto the end of the stone pier. Colintriave-tie onto the ferry pier (make sure with the crew first). Loch Goil-Wee landing pontoon thing.
Loch Ranza (Arran) - Peir

We were at a meeting last year in Glasgow where they were talking about getting more pontoon access onto out lying areas. Nothing seems to have happened as yet but here's hoping.
Andy

[Pinto]

"1. Rothesay (The Black Bull inn does simple, cheap but good food, right opposite the pontoons)."

You were certainly correct! We had a trip over to Rothesay today and had a great pub lunch in the Black Bull.......didn't quite get the pontoons right tho'.....we did tie up at a pontoon but it wasn't the ones opposite the Black Bull?!?!? We ended up round the other side of the ferry terminal.

Just have to work my way thro' all the other recommendations on the list!

Thanks

Vivienne

[cameronke]

If you tie up at the stone steps between the outer and inner basins in Rothesay you dont need to pay.

Remember to adjust your lines regularly though and mind how slippy the steps get

Cameron

[Pinto]

Originally Posted by Andy Gee

We were at a meeting last year in Glasgow where they were talking about getting more pontoon access onto out lying areas. Nothing seems to have happened as yet but here's hoping.
Andy

Hi Andy

If there are any follow up meetings to the one you mentioned please let us know on here - I am sure a lot of people would be interested, and they might listen if there were a number turning up for any meetings to discuss it.

Ta

Vivienne

[Andy Gee]

Originally Posted by Pinto

Hi Andy

If there are any follow up meetings to the one you mentioned please let us know on here - I am sure a lot of people would be interested, and they might listen if there were a number turning up for any meetings to discuss it.

Ta

Vivienne

Theres a wee bit in this months Yachting Life about it. Hopefully something will start happening soon.
Andy