Ardfern has been our boat's winter home for so many years that I cannot escape a personal bias for such a nice place. The marina is sheltered (ph 01852 500247), the chandlery is the best in the area, the staff are exceptionally friendly and will fix all the broken bits of boat, it is a good place to leave a boat for a while, and the countryside around is Argyll at its knobbly best. Of course if you are on passage it is quite a way up Loch Craignish, and not a place to escape from people in the height of summer. But there are compensations as well as the marina facilities — the pub, the shop, and the walks.
Out of the marina to the left you get to the extremely well-stocked village shop in a couple of minutes (it is about to move to the building opposite the Galley of Lorne). You can pre-order your provisions if you give them a bit of warning (ph 01852 500298). A bit further on you will find a surprisingly elaborate contemporary bus stop shelter. Seems a bit over the top to me. In another few minutes you get to the Galley of Lorne, a hotel and pub which has a cosy bar with open fires, and meals (by no means cheap) (ph 01852 500284). You can choose from the same menu in the rather large and wide-open restaurant (the view is good if you get a table by the window). A big plus is that they pride themselves in always having several real ales, and they really do, as well as the stuff that froths and bubbles out of taps. Sadly the Crafty Kitchen across the road closed a few years ago but was then replaced by Lucy's café which itself closed in 2025. A serious loss. Hopefully the relocated village shop will do as well with their café.
Just past the Galley you will find the early 19th century parish church, a bit dilapidated on the outside with a couple of curious painted walls to give the impression of windows, the inside is plain and serene. The painted woodwork gives a charming sense of airiness. But sadly it is now locked, and like so many Church of Scotland churches it's for sale at offers over £50 000 (in 2024). One would hope that the rather eclectic residents of Ardfern might find a good use for it.
If you turn right out of the marina you get to the village hall in about 10 minutes, opened in 2005 after years of fund-raising. It hosts many activities so check their website to see what is on when you are around. More and more houses seem to be sprouting in and around the village, many with solar panels which is a good thing.
A nice easy walk is to turn right just after the primary school and keep going up the hill and on until eventually you go down a hill and arrive at Craobh Haven. Then walk back again. There are rather longer but very pleasant walks around the Craignish peninsular taking in the anchorage at Bàgh Bàn, the cup and ring marked rocks above the bay, Craignish Castle (undistinguished conversion) and Bàgh Dun Mhuilig.
