Guidebook for Portavadie

Kirsty & Bryan
Kirsty & Bryan
Guidebook for Portavadie

Food Scene

Newly refurbished this is a lovely family hotel and bar area. Great pub grub, family friendly and open for lunch and dinner. June 2021 serving lunch daily 12-2.30 and dinner 5-9, table service only - no takeaway but this may change.
14 locals recommend
Kames Hotel
shore road
14 locals recommend
Newly refurbished this is a lovely family hotel and bar area. Great pub grub, family friendly and open for lunch and dinner. June 2021 serving lunch daily 12-2.30 and dinner 5-9, table service only - no takeaway but this may change.
Tid and Thyme has moved for summer 2021 due to a fire in the origial premises. It is now a tearoom in Kames and serving in the evenings Wednesday to Saturday, also doing fantastic takeaways on Friday and Saturday nights (book a slot early week) which get rave reviews. The takeaway theme changes every week and the portions are very generous.
Tide & Thyme
Tid and Thyme has moved for summer 2021 due to a fire in the origial premises. It is now a tearoom in Kames and serving in the evenings Wednesday to Saturday, also doing fantastic takeaways on Friday and Saturday nights (book a slot early week) which get rave reviews. The takeaway theme changes every week and the portions are very generous.
Kim does absolutely fabulous home baking! Lovely tearoom for brunch, lunch or coffee and cake. New for Summer 2021 is a pizza offering. It's small so always very busy but also does takeaway. Summer 2021 Open for limited sit-in and takeaway. Friday and Saturday night there is pizza takeaway (reserve a slot early week to avoid disappointment).
7 locals recommend
The Tea Room
Seaside
7 locals recommend
Kim does absolutely fabulous home baking! Lovely tearoom for brunch, lunch or coffee and cake. New for Summer 2021 is a pizza offering. It's small so always very busy but also does takeaway. Summer 2021 Open for limited sit-in and takeaway. Friday and Saturday night there is pizza takeaway (reserve a slot early week to avoid disappointment).
A lovely up-market dining experience. The Royal has a small bar which can be very lively when the locals are in! They do bar meals and also have a fine-dining restaurant in the conservatory. Every second Wednesday there is a pub quiz for teams up to 5. Summer 2021 - Open for dinner Tues - Sat 5 - 8.30pm. There's also the cozy Shinty Bar and beer garden for a drink.
The Royal an Lochan Hotel
Shore Road
A lovely up-market dining experience. The Royal has a small bar which can be very lively when the locals are in! They do bar meals and also have a fine-dining restaurant in the conservatory. Every second Wednesday there is a pub quiz for teams up to 5. Summer 2021 - Open for dinner Tues - Sat 5 - 8.30pm. There's also the cozy Shinty Bar and beer garden for a drink.
Botanica has recently changed to a deli and sandwich bar with great seafood platters and home baking. There are Pygmy goats and chickens in the garden and an outdoor children's play area too. Summer 2021 Open Thurs-Sun for eat in or takeaway 10 - 4pm.
9 locals recommend
Botanica at The Barn
9 locals recommend
Botanica has recently changed to a deli and sandwich bar with great seafood platters and home baking. There are Pygmy goats and chickens in the garden and an outdoor children's play area too. Summer 2021 Open Thurs-Sun for eat in or takeaway 10 - 4pm.
Another lovely pub about 30 minutes drive away. Great for a lunch trip or stop off for a pint on the way back from a day trip to Bute. Summer 2021 Open for lunch 12-2.30 and dinner 5.30 - 8.00, booking essential
14 locals recommend
The Colintraive Hotel
14 locals recommend
Another lovely pub about 30 minutes drive away. Great for a lunch trip or stop off for a pint on the way back from a day trip to Bute. Summer 2021 Open for lunch 12-2.30 and dinner 5.30 - 8.00, booking essential
Inver is in the Times top 100 restaurants in the UK for 2018 and has won menu of the year for 2019. This award wining restaurant is about a 40 minute drive. In the evening they do a fixed 4 course menu, with more choices on their lunch time menu. Definitely book well in advance for this award-winning culinary experience. Summer 2021 Lunch Fri-Sun 12-2.30pm Dinner Thurs - Sun 6.30-8.30pm
34 locals recommend
Inver Restaurant & Rooms
34 locals recommend
Inver is in the Times top 100 restaurants in the UK for 2018 and has won menu of the year for 2019. This award wining restaurant is about a 40 minute drive. In the evening they do a fixed 4 course menu, with more choices on their lunch time menu. Definitely book well in advance for this award-winning culinary experience. Summer 2021 Lunch Fri-Sun 12-2.30pm Dinner Thurs - Sun 6.30-8.30pm
If you fancy a day trip The George at Inverary is an excellent traditional pub to try. You can do a round trip by getting the ferry across to Tarbert and coming back via the main road. It's about an hours drive away and a fabulous stop off for lunch. Summer 2021 Serving food 12-9pm daily inside, also an excellent beer garden with a more limited menu serving all day
39 locals recommend
The George Hotel
1 Main St E
39 locals recommend
If you fancy a day trip The George at Inverary is an excellent traditional pub to try. You can do a round trip by getting the ferry across to Tarbert and coming back via the main road. It's about an hours drive away and a fabulous stop off for lunch. Summer 2021 Serving food 12-9pm daily inside, also an excellent beer garden with a more limited menu serving all day
About a 30 minute drive up Loch Fyne the Oyster Catcher has new owners as of May 2021. Serving fabulous meals and takeaways this is a stunning spot to visit with a lovely walk through the adjoining estate too. Booking is essential for 2021.
27 locals recommend
The Oystercatcher
3 Otter Ferry Salmon
27 locals recommend
About a 30 minute drive up Loch Fyne the Oyster Catcher has new owners as of May 2021. Serving fabulous meals and takeaways this is a stunning spot to visit with a lovely walk through the adjoining estate too. Booking is essential for 2021.
A stunning spot just 5 minutes walk from the front door. There is a leisure centre and spa with two outdoor hot tubs and the largest outdoor heated infinity pool in Scotland. Upstairs in the spa there are numerous beauty therapies available and day packages including lunch and treatments (please note due to Covid there have been access restrictions to non-residents, contact them directly for latest information). Summer 2021 The main restaurant is open for lunch and dinner - take away as well as sit it, advanced booking required. Lunch 12-2.30pm Dinner 5-8.30pm
14 locals recommend
Portavadie Marina
14 locals recommend
A stunning spot just 5 minutes walk from the front door. There is a leisure centre and spa with two outdoor hot tubs and the largest outdoor heated infinity pool in Scotland. Upstairs in the spa there are numerous beauty therapies available and day packages including lunch and treatments (please note due to Covid there have been access restrictions to non-residents, contact them directly for latest information). Summer 2021 The main restaurant is open for lunch and dinner - take away as well as sit it, advanced booking required. Lunch 12-2.30pm Dinner 5-8.30pm
There's a new coffe shop at Carry Farm! Head round the Ardlamont Loop and stop off for a lovely coffee and cake while you browse the local crafts produced at the farm. Argyll Botany is also there with beautiful face and hand creams and gorgeous locally produced toiletries. Gallery open 7 days with the coffee shop Sat/Sun.
Hayshed Gallery
There's a new coffe shop at Carry Farm! Head round the Ardlamont Loop and stop off for a lovely coffee and cake while you browse the local crafts produced at the farm. Argyll Botany is also there with beautiful face and hand creams and gorgeous locally produced toiletries. Gallery open 7 days with the coffee shop Sat/Sun.
Another new tearoom in Tighnabruaich main street. There's a small lunch menu with lots of lovely home baking too. Eat inside or out and there's room for kids to play too. Open daily 10 - 4 pm
Five West
Another new tearoom in Tighnabruaich main street. There's a small lunch menu with lots of lovely home baking too. Eat inside or out and there's room for kids to play too. Open daily 10 - 4 pm
New owners as of Spring 2021.Bar/lounge/ beer garden open 1pm - 10.30pm 7 days a week. Kitchen currently open 6 - 9 pm but will soon be open for lunch too. Closed Tuesdays
Kilfinan Hotel
New owners as of Spring 2021.Bar/lounge/ beer garden open 1pm - 10.30pm 7 days a week. Kitchen currently open 6 - 9 pm but will soon be open for lunch too. Closed Tuesdays

Sightseeing

A one hour drive away to the stunning Botanic Gardens, renowned for its fine collections of rhododendrons and conifers grown to immense stature in a mountain landscape. Open daily 10-5
66 locals recommend
Benmore Botanic Garden
4 Uig
66 locals recommend
A one hour drive away to the stunning Botanic Gardens, renowned for its fine collections of rhododendrons and conifers grown to immense stature in a mountain landscape. Open daily 10-5
A stunning loop walk of around 1 hour close to Benmore Botanic Gardens and cafe. Walk up through the woods and back down through the glen past stunning waterfalls, flaura and fauna.
33 locals recommend
Pucks Glen
33 locals recommend
A stunning loop walk of around 1 hour close to Benmore Botanic Gardens and cafe. Walk up through the woods and back down through the glen past stunning waterfalls, flaura and fauna.
This is a lovely day trip from Portavadie for a walk through the castle gardens and up a steep path to Dun na Cuaiche watchtower for spectacular views down Loch Fyne and across to Ben Lomond. Either drive round and take the ferry back from Tarbert or vice vera. Visit Tarbert and Lochgilphead for a spot of shopping then head to Inverary to visit the Jail and have lunch at the George Hotel - a traditional Drovers Inn. Head on to Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, garden centre/cafe and the nearby Loch Fyne Ales as you head homeward past the Creggans Inn in case you’re thirsty.
61 locals recommend
Inveraray
61 locals recommend
This is a lovely day trip from Portavadie for a walk through the castle gardens and up a steep path to Dun na Cuaiche watchtower for spectacular views down Loch Fyne and across to Ben Lomond. Either drive round and take the ferry back from Tarbert or vice vera. Visit Tarbert and Lochgilphead for a spot of shopping then head to Inverary to visit the Jail and have lunch at the George Hotel - a traditional Drovers Inn. Head on to Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, garden centre/cafe and the nearby Loch Fyne Ales as you head homeward past the Creggans Inn in case you’re thirsty.
Travel: A 35-minute drive to Colintraive and a 5-minute ferry ride. Bute is around 15 miles long and 5 miles wide. Take the A8003 out of Tighnabruaich and turn right onto the A886 to Colintraive. Catch the Calmac ferry from the terminal at Colintraive to Rhubodach at the north of the island. Bute is a gem of an island and just a short ferry crossing from Colintraive on Argyll’s Secret Coast to Rhubodach. The Victorians left their mark with splendid architecture and glorious gardens. Add to this fabulous walking, and you have The ferry drive may be short, but do get out of your car and have a look around. The islands to the north of the ferry are the Burnt Islands – also known as ‘The Narrows’. This is Scottish scenery at its best. When you disembark, turn right and drive to the 8-miles to Rothesay, the island’s main town. It’s a seaside resort brimming with character, Italian cafés and good-old-fashioned shops. Don’t miss the Victorian toilets, a masterpiece of marble, ceramics and brass, or the beautifully renovated Art Deco pavilion. After you’ve had your fill of browsing, jump in the car and follow the coastal road south and you’ll find Mount Stuart, a spectacular neo-gothic palace set amid acres of lush woodland. Built by what at the time was one of the world’s richest families, it’s believed to be the first home in the world to have had a heated indoor swimming pool and the first in Scotland to have electricity. It’s flamboyant and fascinating. It also has a fantastic restaurant which is a great place to stop for lunch. Most of Bute’s inhabitants live around the two wide bays on the island’s eastern side, so if you’re looking for peace, solitude and the best beaches, head west. Ettrick Bay, Bute’s finest and most accessible beach, sits at the north of the island. It’s a lovely long stretch of golden sand with stunning views overlooking the neighbouring island of Arran. At the start of the beach there’s a fabulous tea room (open April to October) which serves up delicious coffee and cake – well-deserved after a stomp along the sand. On your way home, stop off at the Colintraive Hotel for dinner. It’s a beautiful spot and serves up fantastic home-cooking, including lots of local seafood.
19 locals recommend
Bute
19 locals recommend
Travel: A 35-minute drive to Colintraive and a 5-minute ferry ride. Bute is around 15 miles long and 5 miles wide. Take the A8003 out of Tighnabruaich and turn right onto the A886 to Colintraive. Catch the Calmac ferry from the terminal at Colintraive to Rhubodach at the north of the island. Bute is a gem of an island and just a short ferry crossing from Colintraive on Argyll’s Secret Coast to Rhubodach. The Victorians left their mark with splendid architecture and glorious gardens. Add to this fabulous walking, and you have The ferry drive may be short, but do get out of your car and have a look around. The islands to the north of the ferry are the Burnt Islands – also known as ‘The Narrows’. This is Scottish scenery at its best. When you disembark, turn right and drive to the 8-miles to Rothesay, the island’s main town. It’s a seaside resort brimming with character, Italian cafés and good-old-fashioned shops. Don’t miss the Victorian toilets, a masterpiece of marble, ceramics and brass, or the beautifully renovated Art Deco pavilion. After you’ve had your fill of browsing, jump in the car and follow the coastal road south and you’ll find Mount Stuart, a spectacular neo-gothic palace set amid acres of lush woodland. Built by what at the time was one of the world’s richest families, it’s believed to be the first home in the world to have had a heated indoor swimming pool and the first in Scotland to have electricity. It’s flamboyant and fascinating. It also has a fantastic restaurant which is a great place to stop for lunch. Most of Bute’s inhabitants live around the two wide bays on the island’s eastern side, so if you’re looking for peace, solitude and the best beaches, head west. Ettrick Bay, Bute’s finest and most accessible beach, sits at the north of the island. It’s a lovely long stretch of golden sand with stunning views overlooking the neighbouring island of Arran. At the start of the beach there’s a fabulous tea room (open April to October) which serves up delicious coffee and cake – well-deserved after a stomp along the sand. On your way home, stop off at the Colintraive Hotel for dinner. It’s a beautiful spot and serves up fantastic home-cooking, including lots of local seafood.
Take a day trip to the Heart of Argyll and enjoy the historic and natural wonders of Kilmartin Glen and Crinan Canal. Hop on the ferry from Portavadie to Tarbert. From here drive north along the A83 to Lochgilphead then pick up the A816 to Kilmartin Village. On your way back you can make a loop via Crinan. Take the B8025 towards Crinan then the B841 to Cairnbaan, where you can pick up the the A816 near Lochgilphead. Kilmartin This beautiful glen is one of Scotland’s richest prehistoric landscapes. Within six miles of Kilmartin village there are over 350 ancient monuments, including cairns, standing stones and stones circles. Kilmartin Museum is a good place to start your journey. It does a brilliant job of bringing the stones of Kilmartin Glen to life. There’s also an excellent café! Kilmartin Hotel is also a good spot for lunch. The great thing about Kilmartin Glen is it’s easily explored on foot. Discover two stone circles at Temple Wood. They date back to around 3,000 BC and were in use for over 2,000 years, during the later Neolithic and early Bronze Age. Gaze at the five Nether Largie standing stones, which stand at up to 2.80m in height. You’ll also find some some of the most impressive cup and ring decorated rock surfaces in Scotland. At Temple Wood you’ll find three of the stones marked with circles, spirals and cup-marks. The famous linear cemetery of burial cairns runs down the floor of the glen and is linked to the standing stones, stone circles and rock art. There are five remaining cairns in the alignment, although there may originally have been more. Don’t miss the rocky outcrop of Dunadd, the capital of the Ancient Kingdom of Dalriada. Legend has it that the first Kings of Scotland were crowned here. It’s well worth making the short walk to the summit. The views are incredible! At the top you’ll find a carved flat stone slab with a cup indentation in it, the purpose of which is unknown. There is also a footprint carved into the stone. Crinan Every year nearly 2,000 boats make the journey along the nine miles of the Crinan Canal, which links Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne with Crinan on the west coast. “Britain's most beautiful shortcut” makes for a fabulous walk, cycle or kayak. There are some great sights to see along the way. You’ll pass Moine Mhor (‘the great moss’) National Nature Reserve is a surviving remnant of a once much more extensive raised bog. This ancient habitat (older than many of the standing stones in Kilmartin Glen!) is home to dragonflies, hen harriers, curlews and other moorland and wetland species. Crinan Wood is just a few minutes’ walk from the Crinan Canal basin. This ancient Atlantic oakwood is a magical place. You can enjoy sweeping views of Jura and Mull. The Crinan Canal’s grassy banks are perfect for picnicking on a summer’s day, but you’ll also find some great places to eat and drink as you journey along. The Cairnbaan Hotel at Lock 8 serves up locally sourced, seasonal produce as does the Crinan Hotel.
12 locals recommend
Crinan
12 locals recommend
Take a day trip to the Heart of Argyll and enjoy the historic and natural wonders of Kilmartin Glen and Crinan Canal. Hop on the ferry from Portavadie to Tarbert. From here drive north along the A83 to Lochgilphead then pick up the A816 to Kilmartin Village. On your way back you can make a loop via Crinan. Take the B8025 towards Crinan then the B841 to Cairnbaan, where you can pick up the the A816 near Lochgilphead. Kilmartin This beautiful glen is one of Scotland’s richest prehistoric landscapes. Within six miles of Kilmartin village there are over 350 ancient monuments, including cairns, standing stones and stones circles. Kilmartin Museum is a good place to start your journey. It does a brilliant job of bringing the stones of Kilmartin Glen to life. There’s also an excellent café! Kilmartin Hotel is also a good spot for lunch. The great thing about Kilmartin Glen is it’s easily explored on foot. Discover two stone circles at Temple Wood. They date back to around 3,000 BC and were in use for over 2,000 years, during the later Neolithic and early Bronze Age. Gaze at the five Nether Largie standing stones, which stand at up to 2.80m in height. You’ll also find some some of the most impressive cup and ring decorated rock surfaces in Scotland. At Temple Wood you’ll find three of the stones marked with circles, spirals and cup-marks. The famous linear cemetery of burial cairns runs down the floor of the glen and is linked to the standing stones, stone circles and rock art. There are five remaining cairns in the alignment, although there may originally have been more. Don’t miss the rocky outcrop of Dunadd, the capital of the Ancient Kingdom of Dalriada. Legend has it that the first Kings of Scotland were crowned here. It’s well worth making the short walk to the summit. The views are incredible! At the top you’ll find a carved flat stone slab with a cup indentation in it, the purpose of which is unknown. There is also a footprint carved into the stone. Crinan Every year nearly 2,000 boats make the journey along the nine miles of the Crinan Canal, which links Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne with Crinan on the west coast. “Britain's most beautiful shortcut” makes for a fabulous walk, cycle or kayak. There are some great sights to see along the way. You’ll pass Moine Mhor (‘the great moss’) National Nature Reserve is a surviving remnant of a once much more extensive raised bog. This ancient habitat (older than many of the standing stones in Kilmartin Glen!) is home to dragonflies, hen harriers, curlews and other moorland and wetland species. Crinan Wood is just a few minutes’ walk from the Crinan Canal basin. This ancient Atlantic oakwood is a magical place. You can enjoy sweeping views of Jura and Mull. The Crinan Canal’s grassy banks are perfect for picnicking on a summer’s day, but you’ll also find some great places to eat and drink as you journey along. The Cairnbaan Hotel at Lock 8 serves up locally sourced, seasonal produce as does the Crinan Hotel.
Tarbert & Skipness For a great day trip, hop on the Calmac ferry from Portavadie and cross the water to Kintyre to explore the bustling fishing village of Tarbert and discover stunning Skipness. It’s just a 30-minute ferry crossing. Tarbert There’s loads to see and do in Tarbert. Art galleries, shops and cafés surround the natural harbor, and you can spend a happy hour or two browsing art, crafts and gifts in this bustling village. Tarbert’s fishing fleet lands some of the best seafood in the world, and the pubs and restaurants are great places to sample this super-fresh fish and shellfish. You can also pick up a seafood box from Prentice Seafoods, located at the ferry terminal, to take back for tea. The scallops are divine. If you fancy a stroll, head up the Tarbert Castle, a scheduled monument of national importance because of the major role which Robert the Bruce King of Scotland played in its reinforcement and enlargement in 1325. The castle location is a great spot for a family picnic and there are way- marked walks further up the hillside, including the first section of the Kintyre Way. The views from the castle over Tarbert harbour and Loch Fyne are magnificent. Tarbert hosts a number of festivals and music events thoughout the summer, including a seafood festival in July. Skipness Skipness is around 12 miles south of Tarbert at the end of the B8001. If you fancy a hike, you can walk to Skipness Castle all the way from Tarbert via the first section of the Kintyre Way. If you time it right, you can catch a bus back to the ferry at Tarbert. It’s a beautiful spot on Kintyre’s east coast over looking Arran, with a castle, chapel and wonderful Seafood Cabin. Skipness Castle is a fantastic ruin in a glorious location. You can explore inside the building and climb up a staircase to the roof where you'll be treated to wonderful views across the Kilbrannan Sound to Arran. Kilbrannan Chapel, dedicated to Irish Missionary St Brendan, is just a short walk from the castle. Dating from the 13th century, it’s in remarkably good repair with some carved medieval tombstones. There are some lovely walks around Skipness and through the estate. There's a great circular walk starting out at the castle. Walk to the chapel and then follow the beach along to Skipness Point. Then follow the woodland walk along Campbell's Glen and back to the castle car park. One of the highlights of a trip to Skipness is a visit to the Skipness Seafood Cabin, which sits within the Skipness Castle Estate. This is the place to try local seafood. Enjoy freshly prepared crab, langoustines, scallops and mussels in a lovely garden overlooking the castle, seashore and Arran beyond. The Skipness Seafood Cabin opens at the end of May until the last weekend of September. Open Sunday to Friday 11-7. Closed Saturdays.
22 locals recommend
Tarbert
22 locals recommend
Tarbert & Skipness For a great day trip, hop on the Calmac ferry from Portavadie and cross the water to Kintyre to explore the bustling fishing village of Tarbert and discover stunning Skipness. It’s just a 30-minute ferry crossing. Tarbert There’s loads to see and do in Tarbert. Art galleries, shops and cafés surround the natural harbor, and you can spend a happy hour or two browsing art, crafts and gifts in this bustling village. Tarbert’s fishing fleet lands some of the best seafood in the world, and the pubs and restaurants are great places to sample this super-fresh fish and shellfish. You can also pick up a seafood box from Prentice Seafoods, located at the ferry terminal, to take back for tea. The scallops are divine. If you fancy a stroll, head up the Tarbert Castle, a scheduled monument of national importance because of the major role which Robert the Bruce King of Scotland played in its reinforcement and enlargement in 1325. The castle location is a great spot for a family picnic and there are way- marked walks further up the hillside, including the first section of the Kintyre Way. The views from the castle over Tarbert harbour and Loch Fyne are magnificent. Tarbert hosts a number of festivals and music events thoughout the summer, including a seafood festival in July. Skipness Skipness is around 12 miles south of Tarbert at the end of the B8001. If you fancy a hike, you can walk to Skipness Castle all the way from Tarbert via the first section of the Kintyre Way. If you time it right, you can catch a bus back to the ferry at Tarbert. It’s a beautiful spot on Kintyre’s east coast over looking Arran, with a castle, chapel and wonderful Seafood Cabin. Skipness Castle is a fantastic ruin in a glorious location. You can explore inside the building and climb up a staircase to the roof where you'll be treated to wonderful views across the Kilbrannan Sound to Arran. Kilbrannan Chapel, dedicated to Irish Missionary St Brendan, is just a short walk from the castle. Dating from the 13th century, it’s in remarkably good repair with some carved medieval tombstones. There are some lovely walks around Skipness and through the estate. There's a great circular walk starting out at the castle. Walk to the chapel and then follow the beach along to Skipness Point. Then follow the woodland walk along Campbell's Glen and back to the castle car park. One of the highlights of a trip to Skipness is a visit to the Skipness Seafood Cabin, which sits within the Skipness Castle Estate. This is the place to try local seafood. Enjoy freshly prepared crab, langoustines, scallops and mussels in a lovely garden overlooking the castle, seashore and Arran beyond. The Skipness Seafood Cabin opens at the end of May until the last weekend of September. Open Sunday to Friday 11-7. Closed Saturdays.