Scotland certainly has more than just 5 ‘wonders’, believe me! However, back in June, I spent 5 days sailing out of Largs and around the surrounding area. From this, I wanted to share some of the highlights and recommendations for places to visit; the wonders as I have titled them. We saw these sites whilst sailing, however they are also accessible by road/ferry.
1. The Colintraive Hotel
Nestled in, ironically, Colintraive on the Western coast of Argyll. This beautiful hotel offers 4-star facilities for travellers and visitors to the region. We stayed onboard the boat for the night, so can’t comment on the accommodation.
We moored up just off the coast, where mooring buoys are present specifically for hotel visitors, and rang through to the hotel to book a table for our party of 5. They were very accommodating at short notice and a short paddle to shore took us directly to the hotel. As you approach the hotel, it is clear why they have won a number of awards, including TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence in 2017!
You are greeted by what can only be described as a Scottish ‘warmth’ as you enter the building. The staff are very friendly and helpful, providing recommendations of the freshest food on the menu and local ales. I went for hand-dived scallops from the Loch Fyne on a bed of Stornaway black pudding for stater, followed by their seafood linguine and washed down with pints of I’m not sure what!
We sat, ate, drank and one of the crew brought along his acoustic guitar for the pleasure of all! The evening was so great, we even returned a second time later in the week!
Check out the hotel’s website; https://www.colintraivehotel.com. Be sure to give them a call if you’re in the area and at least try out the seafood linguine!
2. Millport, Great Cumbrae
The island of Great Cumbrae is sat a stone’s throw from Largs (not literally). The only town on this island, Millport, is definitely worth a visit if in the area. You can moor up on a buoy just off the shore and there are several landing sites, including a small beach. A word of caution; the tides can be very differentiating, so check them before your RIB or small boat ends up grounded!
Once we made it ashore, we headed straight for the On Your Bike! cycle hire shop, rented some very cheap and disputably roadworthy bikes and made our way around the perimeter of the island. The ride took just over 50 minutes and covered 10 miles; taking in the coast in various places, the site of Largs across the water (connected by a ferry service) and the HMS Shearwater memorial, which sank just off the coast. No wonder the island is called ‘The Island of a Thousand Bicycles’. More information on cycling on the island can be found here.
After our ride in the glorious heat, it was time to return the bikes and head to the Ritz Café for an ice cream and some shade! Very reasonably priced and styled in the theme of an American diner, the Ritz has been on the island for years and the history can be seen in the walls.
All in all, the island is definitely worth a visit, by boat, bike or car (via ferry). Whether you fancy a cycle, a stroll or a knickerbocker glory, Millport has quite a bit to offer.
3. The Arran Distillery, Lochranza
Now I’m not a massive whiskey drinker, and by ‘not massive’ I mean I once had a swig of Glenfiddich. It made me gag, burn up inside and I vowed to not drink it again. So when the idea of sailing over to Arran for a tour of a Scotch whiskey distillery came up, I wasn’t too excited.
Mooring up in Lochranza was another paddle to shore exercise and the town itself seemed pretty quiet. There was little in terms of tourism, aside from the occasional B&B and the ruins of a castle. However, the surrounding natural beauty was worth the visit alone! Golden Eagles live up on the hills and can be seen circling the peak (if your eyesight is up to it and the weather is favourable). We took a walk to the distillery, which was a good 20-30 minutes on foot from the port.
The distillery is set in an idyllic location in the valley and has fantastic road access. Several coaches were scattered in the car park, with the numerous group tours that had been booked for the day – I would advise booking in advance. We booked on the day and were squeezed into the only available tour left in the afternoon. The distillery’s website is https://www.arranwhisky.com where more details, include a contact number, can be found.
And what about the tour?
The tour itself was fantastic. The guide expressed his energy and enthusiasm for the distilling process and the procedure of brewing pure Scotch whiskey. I reluctantly took the tasters they were handing out and it honestly changed my outlook on whiskey. The taste was considerably different to what I remembered from that Glenfiddich. I’ll put that down to ‘maturing’ taste buds. We were shown the full process of how the whiskey is produced and distributed, which was actually very interesting. I say this as many of these tours can be cheesy, dull and quite uninformative. However, this one was well worth the £8 tour charge!
As you leave the tour, unsurprisingly, you exit through the gift shop. The whiskey I tasted had changed my opinion so much so that I spent over £70 on a few bottles. Definitely recommend the distillery tour, maybe not Lochranza itself, unless Golden Eagles and medieval ruins are your thing!
4. Tarbert, Loch Fyne
Tucked away in the Kyles of Bute, Tarbert is a small fishing town which feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere! Despite how the town seemed when we arrived, pretty run down and deserted, that is far from the truth!
There are an array of shops, a few hotels and several establishments for the thirsty (if you get my drift) and although quiet while we were there, the Tarbert Music Festival was due in a few weekends, where over 100 flotillas descend upon the marina. We were only there for a night and cooked for ourselves onboard, but we still ventured out for a couple of drinks to the Frigate Hotel. The drinks were well priced and there were quite a few locals in playing pool.
It was a quiet night in Tarbert, with little to report on, however it’s clear that when the harbour town is busy, it can be a lovely change to the bustling, overcrowded areas nearer mainland Scotland.
5. Largs
A Scottish sailing wonder? Maybe. The yacht haven in Largs is a beautiful site. You see numerous yachts lined up together waiting to set sail out to the great Cumbrae and beyond. In my opinion, what makes Largs a sailing wonder is the fact that it is a gateway. It opens up the other 4 on the list and the rest of the sailing scene of West Scotland. The town is orientated around sailing and, like Cowes, has a welcoming atmosphere to ‘outsiders’ like us!
The yacht haven itself has great facilities; coded toilets/showers, a good bar/restaurant and helpful staff in the reception all provide everything you need as a base from which to sail around the islands. For many, Largs is a perfect location to return to every night. You can stock up from Morrisons, head out to the pubs or just to have a nice hot shower. With Glasgow just 33 miles away, it is accessible for people all over the country to come and try sailing. Or to just escape into the picturesque world that lies off the West coast of Scotland.