Craobh Marina For Long Term Berthing

[BlowingOldBoots]

Hello,

I am probably going to base the yacht at Craobh for a year or two, maybe more depending on how fed up I get with the commute from South Lanarkshire. Lady OldBoots isn't that keen on Ardfern as she thinks it is closed in and damp, she is a vista person.

Would forumites who have experience of Craobh Marina care to comment on it: facilities, services, curmudgeonliness? I have berthed at the place often for an overnighter and chartered from there as well. It got a bit busy during West Highland week one year when the start of the charter clashed with the event.

Thanks,

Alastair

[claymore]

I'm sure its fine.
Ample car parking, ok Pub. The Vista is grand - right down the Sound of Jura and up the way towards Loch Melfort and beyond to Mull. Its almost as good as Ardfern which has a better chandlery and workshop. There will be little difference in terms of price, I would think.
In terms of the sailing, you are slightly better placed for going North, mildly disadvantaged going South but nothing to get stressed over.
We took all the gear off our boat a few weeks ago and got a really brilliant deal at the Loch Melfort Hotel which is just up the bay.
I've always liked Craobh for some reason, we used in the very early 80's when it was little more than a concept. Its had a tricky few years but seems to have come through. I felt one or two pontoons were showing signs of needing some tlc or replacement when we called in during the summer.
DaveS has been there a while and seems entirely happy.
I like Ardfern for the feeling of community that is there, Craobh lacks that but of course that really isn't much of an issue if you are simply parking up and going sailing.
Now wittering so will end.

[wully]

Craobhee is slightly cheaper than Ardfern over the winter, dunno about the summer.

Pub is way better now - speshly for food.

Road into the place is now passable...

Always seemed a bit spartan and bare since the development was never even half finished and it's not as sheltered as Ardfen but that shouldn't be a problem in the summer.

Ardfen does seem to attract a better class of person though. Well, with some exceptions.

[BlowingOldBoots]

Wully, the sheltered bit is interesting. I know Craobh is exposed wind wise over the breakwater away to the south, but wave wise I though it would more sheltered than Ardfern, in the Marina from all directions. Or are you referring to the approach being more exposed at Craobh, which I would agree with.

I do like Ardfern and the chandlers.

[wully]

Wully, the sheltered bit is interesting. I know Craobh is exposed wind wise over the breakwater away to the south, but wave wise I though it would more sheltered than Ardfern, in the Marina from all directions. Or are you referring to the approach being more exposed at Craobh, which I would agree with.

I do like Ardfern and the chandlers.

Well, Ardfern didn't get a bunch if pontoons destroyed in the storms last winter...but it can be bumpy if it's easterly, coming down over the hill.

As for the approaches- from the south or north you've still got the same rough bits to get through no matter which you choose.

[DaveS]

I've been at Craobh for 18 or 19 years and, as Claymore said, I'm fairly happy. The 3 hour drive from Falkirk is a pain, and I occasionally think about a move to Dunstaffnage, which would cut the journey by about 3/4 hour each way and give arguably a more convenient base, but Craobh has better shelter. It does get bouncy in a strong N'ly, but I was at Ardfern for a few years before moving to Craobh and I think that Ardfern in a strong SE'ly is worse.

Craobh now has pretty reliable free wifi which is handy. The pub's OK, although most of the cheaper dishes have slowly left the menu, and decent beer tends only to appear at weekends. Some years since the general store shut, the pub has opened up an annex as a shop - which I have yet to use. The portacabins were replaced with a permanent building for the marina office, showers and chandlery a few years ago, and last year the road in was transformed. Ardfern chandlery is better, but it's only a 3 mile drive away or less than a 2 mile walk over the hill.

There are about 3 weekends a year when the race fleets crowd the place, but these are known in advance and there are plenty of quiet anchorages around for us anti-social types to escape to.