Portavadie

If you want a real treat while you’re staying at Loch Riddon Bothy, why not drive over to Portavadie. It’s a 30 minute trip along twisting, often single track roads, through gorgeous countryside with stunning views to some of the islands that lie south and west of here.

View across Loch Fyne to the Mull of Kintyre and Arran

As you approach Portavadie, you are faced with a little dead end road where there are several houses. The road swings right and leads to Portavadie Marina and Spa and also to the Calmac ferry slip where you can hop on a ferry across to Tarbert on the other side of Loch Fyne.

Portavadie has an interesting history. The complex was built in 1975 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. So, Portavadie was abandoned.

The new Portavadie Marina Complex was opened in 2010 complete with restaurant. In 2016, the luxury Spa and Leisure complex was added.

Some of the yachts at Portavadie Marina

There are distinct areas of the complex, linked by walkways along the side of the Marina. The Leisure building is at the far end and consists of a 16 meter indoor swimming pool, and a heated outside infinity pool with the most stunning views across Loch Fyne..

Swimming Pool and Infinity Pool

Upstairs, above the pools is an award winning Spa area with sauna, treatment rooms, hydro pool, steam room and many other facilities.

In a seperate building is the restaurant. It serves crowd pleasing meals like burgers and fish and chips but also food reflecting the local area such as Scottish Sea Trout, west coast monkfish and scallops from nearby Tarbert. The puddings are totally delicious!

The Restaurant

A Starter of Scallops with Black Pudding and a Parsnip Crisp

It’s especially enjoyable to visit the complex on a wet and windy winter’s day!