In praise of Peterhead

[Fingal]

Possibly the only yacht-friendly harbour in Scotland with a view decorated with a high-security jile and an oilrig service depot. Notwithstanding that, a fine place to stop.

It offers:

A regular bus service to Aberdeen.

On our way North in July we were able to find a man who could weld stainless steel and thus cure our leaky exhaust.

A friendly welcome from Puddock and Rowana, even to the extent of an attempt to meet us off the bus.

Friendly and helpful staff.

As good shower & related facilities as you will find anywhere other than some of those very fancy and expensive places around the Clyde. I understand that laundry facilities are about to open and wifi will be available next year.

Safety and secure mooring in, probably, almost any weather.

Astonishingly modest charges. Leaving Cherry Ripe there for the best part of a fortnight cost only a little more than 3 days at the new marina in Inverness.

The only downsides are the limited shopping facilities and the lack of any moderately attractive eating and drinking places within walking distance of the marina.

All in all, highly recommended as a transit stop or a place to leave a boat for a week or two.

[wully]

Aye but the Blue Toon? They still eat their ain weans there..

[Ocklepoint]

I seem to remember a Wotherspoons in the down town area, 99p for a pint of Deuchars and an awesome selection of "bling" on display. And, a not bad chippy just round the corner.

I suspect thats as good as it gets

[Nick]

I seem to remember a Wotherspoons in the down town area, 99p for a pint of Deuchars . . .

. . . and the worst steak I've ever been served.

[Rowana]

The town is quite a walk right enough.

Zanres is a good chippie, but if you want a bar supper, go to the Waverley hotel.

[Ocklepoint]

I seem to remember a Wotherspoons in the down town area, 99p for a pint of Deuchars . . .

. . . and the worst steak I've ever been served.

I'll remember that. Thanks

[Bodach na mara]

I seem to remember a Wotherspoons in the down town area, 99p for a pint of Deuchars . . .

. . . and the worst steak I've ever been served.

I've had the worst steak ever in a Wotherspoons (Crystal Palace in Union Street Glasgow) but I have also had one of the best in another Wotherspoons (the James Watt (?) in Greenock. I do like the Deuchars pale ale though.

[DaveS]

I seem to remember a Wotherspoons in the down town area, 99p for a pint of Deuchars . . .

. . . and the worst steak I've ever been served.

I've had the worst steak ever in a Wotherspoons (Crystal Palace in Union Street Glasgow) but I have also had one of the best in another Wotherspoons (the James Watt (?) in Greenock. I do like the Deuchars pale ale though.

Oh yes. I always feel that Deuchers is a good reference beer to sample others against. Another that makes a good session beer is Harviestoun's Bitter and Twisted.

[Mavanier]

What's the slipway like at Peterhead?

[Rowana]

Ther isn't a slipway at Peterhead unfortunately. We organise a crane from Macduff shipyard and lift out 5 or 6 boats at one go then split the cost. It's very weather dependant, and we also have to work around supply boats etc. It's the one downside to the place.

This year I'm staying in the water, then heading up to either Lossiemouth or Inverness in the spring, where they have proper ship lifts. Inverness do a weekend deal where they lift you out on a Friday & pressure wash the bottom. Then they just set you down on the ground, and you can antifoul Saturday/Sunday and they put you back in on Monday.

[Mavanier]

Shame that. Where do you think the nearest slipway would be? Just hatching a pipe dream about how to cheat on the road to Norway some day...

[cpedw]

...how to cheat on the road to Norway some day...

Ferry from Newcastle?

[Rowana]

Shame that. Where do you think the nearest slipway would be? Just hatching a pipe dream about how to cheat on the road to Norway some day...

There's a slip at Boddam, which is right next to Peterhead. You could launch there then come over to the Peterhead Marina. There is pictures of Boddam on Google Maps.

[Mavanier]

Shame that. Where do you think the nearest slipway would be? Just hatching a pipe dream about how to cheat on the road to Norway some day...

There's a slip at Boddam, which is right next to Peterhead. You could launch there then come over to the Peterhead Marina. There is pictures of Boddam on Google Maps.

Thanks, seems quite a sizeable slip but it's hard to get an idea of what the access is like.
As I say, this is all a bit of a pipe dream at the moment. However having a road legal trailer does open up the mind to interesting possibilities.

[Ocklepoint]

I'm fairly sure I remember the dinghy sailing centre by the marina having a concrete slipway, There are signs of it on GoogleEarth

But I may have imagined it

An alternative would be Stonehaven