The cruising once north of Wemyss Bay / Toward Point on the Cowal Peninsula feels quite different from the other areas; there are of course may boaters based in this area, at Kip, Holy Loch, James Watt Dock and Rhu Marinas in particular. We have only visited Holy Loch Marina by sea to date and cannot therefore comment on the others here.
1. Holy Loch
Whilst we usually prefer to avoid marinas / walk ashore facilities whilst out cruising, we have headed up to Holy Loch Marina on several occasions on a Thursday evening, after work, to go alongside and plug into shore power, enabling us to ‘work from boat’ during Friday and move onwards somewhere after work for an early start to the weekend.
Holy Loch Marina has good capacity for visitors, with alongside berths inside the long breakwater pontoon, as well as a number of finger berths; the staff at the marina are very friendly, welcoming and efficient, and whilst the loos and showers are somewhat tired, they are perfectly serviceable.
The marina is immediately adjacent to a commercial pier where a stream of lorries arrive to unload their recently cut trees; these are cleverly stacked at the end of the pier, and placed, about half a dozen at a time, into the hold of the ship alongside. Fascinating to watch; but a little noisy if berthed at this end of the pontoon!
2. Ardentinny
Ardentinny has a large East facing beach, in a bay sheltered from the West and North , which is enjoyed by many on sunny days. Anchoring off the beach, the holding is good, in sand.
A little to the South of the beach is the village, which includes the Ardentinny Hotel, where a good meal can be obtained; the hotel has some visitor moorings for their clients. If not available (or not using the hotel), anchoring a little further south is possible. It’s a wet feet landing by dinghy here! Having landed, you can walk to the beach, and onwards to Carrick Castle if you wish, through woodland around the headland between here and Loch Goil.
3. Carrick Castle, Loch Goil
Loch Goil is a rather lovely side loch off Loch Long; whilst the remains of Carrick Castle are not open to the public, its an attractive feature in the scenery. There is not a great deal ashore, other than nice walks, including the footpath through the woods towards Ardentinny.
There are a few visitor moorings here; we chose to anchor off instead.
4. Lochgoilhead
Lochgoilhead is the village at the north end of Loch Goil – as its name suggests! There are a number of visitor moorings available off the village, and the Goil Inn offers meals; we have not tested this yet ourselves.
Travels of Sailing Yacht Kitty B 