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UK NEWS
the coach descended into the car park at the marina. Following a very pleasant meal at The Boathouse restaurant Paul Hopkinson the marina manager provided a fascinating tour of the marina which had recently been refitted with new pontoons manufactured and fitted by Inland and Coastal Marina Systems. Post refit the marina now has 198 berths and can accommodate boats from 16 to 50 feet. Libby had to crack the whip
when it was time to leave as the group were ensconced in detailed discussions with Paul regarding the marina infrastructure and his clients boating habits. After a couple of polite but firm reminders the coach was on its way again heading for Inveraray Castle. Although the coach drew up
close to closing time the staff at the castle provided a warm reception and showed us around the magnificent building which is an iconic visitor attraction on the West Coast of Scotland and the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell. The castle has been standing on the shores of Loch Fyne since the 1400s and is the centre piece of the estate which covers an area in excess of 50,000 acres. Following the castle tour it was time to check into the Inveraray Hotel, relax with a drink and have a delicious meal in the restaurant. Following a good night’s sleep
and a haggis accompanied breakfast the coach headed for Oban, the next destination on the tour. Although the primary focus of the trip was of course marine, we couldn’t possibly visit Scotland without a whisky distillery tour and fortunately Oban famously has one right in the middle of the town. Built in 1793 along with the town that surrounds it the distillery has only two stills making it a small
operation compared with others however, today whisky sales are supplemented by 35,000 tourist visits per year to the fascinating distillery. On completion of the tour came the serious business of sampling the product which acted as an aperitif for lunch at the EE-USK restaurant adjacent to Oban’s harbour. Joined by Neil and Ranulph McLauchlan from Dunstaffnage Marina we enjoyed a very pleasant seafood meal with the backdrop of ferries and pleasure boats coming into the harbour. Following lunch we joined Neil and Ranulph at Dunstaffnage Marina where they treated the delegates to an interesting tour of the marina which is located 3 miles from Oban on the entrance to Loch Etive on Scotland’s beautiful west coast. Of great interest to all was the newly installed heavy duty concrete pontoons designed to increase the marina capacity, provide a breakwater and for superyacht berthing. As you would expect all present were fascinated to talk to the Dunstaffnage team until Libby rounded everyone up, and corralled them back onto the coach. Next destination Ardfern Yacht Centre. The weather and scenery were stunning as the coach approached Ardfern Yacht Centre which is located at the head of Loch Craignish, one of Scotland’s most beautiful and sheltered sea lochs. Mark Cameron and Joanna Ashton provided a warm reception and an informative tour of the marina explaining the history of the area and that the yacht centre started around an old pier where steamers and puffers once called. The area is blessed with interesting islands and natural anchorages which attracts boaters from all corners of the UK
and Europe. All too soon it was time to re-join the coach and head back to Loch Lomond, the destination for our second night. After a busy day the Lodge on the Loch hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond was a real treat for the delegates. During a memorable meal in the restaurant overlooking the loch Oliver and Calum from Inland and Coastal Marina Systems presented the entire group with a whisky glass (and whisky) in a presentation box which was very well received. The final morning commenced with a hearty breakfast and then it was back on the coach and off to Troon Yacht Haven. Stephen Bennie the manager and his colleague Carolyn Elder from Largs Yacht Haven met the coach and welcomed all the delegates. Stephen explained that Troon Harbour dates back to the 18th Century and was originally used as a place of shelter for vessels waiting for tidal access to Irvine which at that time was the main port for Glasgow. The harbour developed into a hub for coal and timber, and was the site of the first railway line in Scotland. In the mid 1970’s Sir Robin Knox Johnston approached the harbour owners with the idea of building a marina in the inner basin. Construction started in 1976 with the first berths in place by 1978. The group then had a fascinating tour of the marina by Stephen and Carolyn culminating in lunch at the infamous on-site restaurant Scotts. Before we knew it we were waving goodbye as the coach departed for Glasgow airport which marked the end of a fascinating TYHA Summer Visit to Scotland.
Thank you to Inland and Coastal Marina Systems for their kind sponsorship of the year’s splendid summer visit.
SEPTEMBER 2016 FORE & AFT 49
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