At Portway we like to think that the journeys to our bases at Kip Marina on the Clyde and Craobh Marina and Ballachulish on the West Coast are part of the charter experience. Most of our clients come by car from the south, some by mini bus (which we can arrange for you) from the airports at Glasgow City and Glasgow Prestwick. Admittedly the journey time from Prestwick to the West Coast bases can be up to 4 hours and from Glasgow city about 3 hours but the roads pass through magnificent highland scenery. Prestwick is in Ayrshire, a county of farms and golf courses with the Firth of Clyde never far away. The Scottish poet Robert Burns was born close by in Alloway.
Traveling north from Prestwick the road joins the M8 and the route from Glasgow city airport. At this point the roads to Kip on the Clyde and Craobh and Ballachulish on the West Coast diverge and the West Coast road crosses the Clyde over Erskine bridge, a graceful high level structure. On your left as you cross the bridge, look out for Dumbarton rock, an ancient extinct volcano.
After crossing the Erskine Bridge over the Clyde, the road soon reaches the "Bonnie Banks" of Loch Lomond and for the next 17 miles runs up its west side. Where not obscured by loch side trees the views are beautiful. Across the loch is Ben Lomond (a Munro - a mountain over 3000 feet) with a fine rounded summit offering for the climber wonderful views all round.
About 8 miles from the head of Loch Lomond at Tarbet the road divides with those heading for Craobh leaving the loch and taking the western route on the A83 towards Arrochar, while those headed for Ballachulish remaining on the loch side road A82 to the head of the loch and on via Crianlarrich.
If shopping is required for the yacht, supermarkets will be found in Dumbarton (Asda and Morrisons) and a small one in Lochgilphead. (Co-operative).
The map offers an overview of the routes to our bases at Kip, Craobh and Ballachulish from Glasgow City and Glasgow Prestwick airports. For those traveling by air, we have prepared detailed route maps for you. Select the Directions tab above.
On the East side of the Firth of Clyde between Greenock and Largs, Kip is Scotland's longest established Marina and is a convenient departure point for all the favourite anchorages on the Clyde, the Kyles of Bute, Arran and Loch Fyne.
The road to Kip from Glasgow follows the M8 passing by Glasgow City airport and then along the south bank of the Clyde overlooking the ancient extinct volcano of Dumbarton Rock and offering some of the most beautiful views over Helensburgh, Gare Loch and Loch Long and the mountains of Beinn Mohr behind, and passing though Port Glasgow and Greenock of historic shipbuilding fame.
The road from the south and Prestwick airport passes through the Ayrshire farming countryside before joining the east bank of the Clyde near Fairlie. The road then follows the Clyde all the way to Kip offering beautiful scenery overlooking The Cumbrae Islands and across the Firth to the island of Bute, Rothsay and Dunoon, and passing through Largs and Skelmorlie
Although the journey time to Craobh and Ballachulish from Prestwick can be up to 4 hours and from Glasgow City about 3 hours, the roads pass through magnificent highland scenery.
The road leaves Loch Lomond at Tarbet and takes the A83 west to Arrochar at the top end of Loch Long, onwards towards Inverary by the old, now much improved military road over the pass where the summit is known as “Rest and be Thankful”. The road descends to sea level again at Cairndow at the top of Loch Fyne, one the longest sea lochs, before traveling south to Inverary. Look out for the Duke of Argyll's chateau style castle and the pretty little town with its fine buildings. Continuing on the A83 the road is never far from the loch of which there are many good views till Lochgilphead is reached.
This little town is the administrative centre of Argyll. The Crinan canal through to the Atlantic coast starts in the neighbouring town of Ardrishaig and the road to Craobh (A816) at first runs parallel to the canal then passes through the good farm land of Kilmartin glen with 5,000 year old burial mounds and Dunadd hill, the ancient capital of the Scots. From here it is a short journey to first Loch Craignish where Ardfern marina will be seen and a little further on over one last hill, the short side road to Craobh is found.
At Tarbet on Loch Lomond, travelers to Ballachulish turn right and continue a further 8 miles on the A82 along Loch Lomond and on to Crianlarrich, Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy.
From time to time walkers on the west highland way will be seen following a popular route from Glasgow to Fort William. The road soon rises to Rannoch moor, a place of water, bog and rock where herds of red deer are frequently seen, and approaches the high mountains around the pass of Glencoe, the scene of a treacherous massacre of members of the Glencoe Macdonald clan on an exceptionally cold winter’s day in 1692. The Glen is best seen under snow in winter but is still impressive in summer.
Ballachulish lies where the road leaves the glen on the side of Loch Leven and the small marina is at the Isles of Glencoe Hotel which is well signposted.
If you are not traveling by air and require a detailed route from your departure point to any of our bases:
