Portavadie Marina on the banks of Loch Fyne has all the ingredients for a perfect Scottish break: gorgeous scenery, stylish and cosy accommodation and the best of local seasonal food.
We recently visited Portavadie and were bowled over by its beauty, as well as the passion of managers Bridgeen and Stephen who showed us around. We left convinced Portavadie would make an excellent choice for your next trip in Scotland. Here’s five reasons why.
][1]The Journey
“Portavadie is a two hour drive from Glasgow and it is the most stunning two hours you can imagine,” Bridgeen, Head of Sales and Marketing at Portavadie, said. “We recommend our guests travel during the day to get the most out the journey and stop a lot on route to take pictures or soak up the scenery.”
“Depending on time there are two different routes you can take. The most scenic is along the coast. The other route when coming from Glasgow is from Gourock then taking the ferry to Dunoon. The drive to Portavadie from Dunoon is out of this world. I do it every single week and there is not a day that I don’t stop and say “wow.” It’s breathtaking at every time of the year.”
Discovering Scotland
][2]“There is so much on the west coast to discover,” Bridgeen said. “From Portavadie you can get the direct ferry over to Tarbert at the other side of Loch Fyne. We are also the gateway to the islands on the west coast. Lochgilphead, a stunning town, is nearby, and also Inverary. Another popular attraction is Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute which is only an hour away. We also have a gem of a beach which is just a short drive away. You can’t see it from the roads and you need to walk through the fields to get to it. At the end is the most stunning isolated beach. I took my kids there last June and they just had the best day ever. They had been through two changes of clothes and still went home in wet clothes – the sign of a great day!”
“With our cottages and luxury apartments we tend to have a minimum of a two night stay and when I speak to our guests the one thing they often say after two nights is “I wish I had booked more.” Have stayed at Portavadie a few times with my family, I get that! There’s just so much to explore and not enough time.”
Accommodation to suit everyone
Portavadie has four different styles of accommodation to suit different needs and budgets.
Luxury Apartments
Portavadie’s five star luxury apartments are available in three bedroom, two bedroom, deluxe two bedroom and townhouse. Floor to ceiling windows with stunning view of the marina and water, natural light, stone and wood decor, balcony coastal views and a personal sauna suite, result in a luxury Scandinavian feel. The luxury apartments are perfect for groups of friends, corporate groups, families and couples.
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Holiday Cottages
A home away from home with gorgeous view of the marina, Portavadie’s holidays cottages have two bedrooms (one double, one twin), an open plan living area, a kitchen, outdoor seating area and driveway. Four legged friends are welcome in the holiday cottages and the outdoor grassy area leading down to the beach is perfect for a dog to run around in.
The Lodge
With its own Kitchen and Bar serving hearty pub food, The Lodge is ideal for an event, party or celebration. There are three rooms available in the lodge: superior, classic and standard. WiFi and continental breakfast are included while staying in the lodge.
Studio Apartments
Ideal for couples, Portavadie’s studio apartments sleeps two, with a king size or twin bed. The studio apartments include gorgeous views of Loch Fyne, an open plan living area, a kitchen, and an outdoor deck to enjoy a morning coffee or glass of wine before dinner. Scottish continental self-service breakfast served in the Lodge Kitchen and Bar is included in the rate and well behaved dogs are welcome.
The Upcoming Spa
Spa lovers need to mark late summer in their diaries, the state of the art spa at Portavadie, which is currently being developed, will be worth travelling for alone. “Our spa will have an 81 square metre infinity pool overlooking Loch Fyne, two outdoor jacuzzis, a 128 sq metre indoor pool and a kids splash pool and jacuzzi,” Stephen, Portavadie’s Spa Manager said. “One floor up there will be a relaxing room and a spa experience area with a hydro pool, sauna and steam room. The facilities will be world class.”
“The spa will be very child friendly with a children’s area downstairs (if you want a bit more tranquility you can use the spa area upstairs). There will also be a dining area with homemade pizzas created by an Italian chef and home made ice cream made with local produce so you can finish off the day with an ice cream.”
The Food
With two restaurants, the Marina restaurant and the Lodge, both serving locally sourced seasonal produce, foodies are spoiled for choice at Portavadie. “As much as possible we get our food from local suppliers,” said Bridgeen. “For example at the weekend we had lobster from the Argyll Smokery as a special at the Marina restaurant. Our seafood is from Prentice across Loch Fyne at Tarbert. We focus on quality. At the lodge it’s hearty pub food in big portions. The gammon and chips in particular is phenomenal.”
“Not all our guests in the restaurant are staying in our accommodation. People come from near and far to enjoy our food. “
We currently have a Big Deal for Portavadie on 5pm:
£195 for a 2 Night Stay in the 5* Luxury Apartment – Sleeps up to 4; saving of up to 56%.
£245 for a 2 Night Stay in the Townhouse-Style Apartment.
£299 for a 2 Night Stay in the Bedroom Apartment.
Purchase the Big Deal here.