Slides — 1998 - ’99

Glasgow from the air — Monday, 6 April 1998

Waverley on the Clyde — Easter Monday, 13 April 1998

Waverley in the Western Isles — from Saturday, 2 May 1998

Maid of the Loch at Balloch — Saturday, 23 May 1998

Edinburgh-on-Forth — Wednesday, 17 June 1998

Waverley sailings on the Clyde — June - August 1998

A Weekend in Oban — from 23 October 1998

Waverley in the Western Isles — from Friday, 30 April 1999

Waverley and Balmoral round the Cumbraes — Sunday, 16 May 1999

A trip to Northern Ireland — from Tuesday, 18 May 1999

Balmoral on the Forth — Monday, 28 June 1999

Tall Ships on the Clyde — Thursday, from 29 July 1999

Glasgow — Saturday, 28 August 1999

Glasgow from the air — Monday, 6 April 1998

On the last leg of my return journey from New Zealand, I took these photos as we came in to land at Glasgow Airport.

M8 J10, site of The Fort, at bottom	Torrance	East Bearsden

Westerton, left of centre	Garscadden Locks	Renfrew Ferry

Waverley on the Clyde — Monday, 13 April 1998

Waverley in the Western Isles

Saturday, 2 May – Monday 4 May 1998

Maid of the Loch at Balloch — Saturday, 23 May 1998

A strange day. Yesterday, I left Glasgow at 07:25, drove to Rowardennan (08:33), had a quick run up Ben Lomond (08:40 - 11:15), left Rowardennan at 12:10 and was back home at 13:16.

Today, I left Shettleston at 09:18 on 320322 (Glasgow Festive Orchid) with a cheap day return to Balloch (�4.10), and after a 20 minute delay at Dumbarton Central, arrived at Balloch at 10:27. I walked up to the pier, took these photos, walked back into town for a couple of pints before catching a train at 13:08 (the Glasgow Festive Orchid again) and was back at Shettleston at 14:04.

Weird! These were both short days, so why didn't I combine them? and why, if I was going to Balloch, did I not get off at Dumbarton and walk up beside the Leven? Odd. I don't suppose I'll ever know what was going on.

Looking aft from the bow of Maid of the Loch	Looking forward from the stern	A dilapidated Countess Fiona on the slip

PS Maid of the Loch at the pier at Balloch

Ben Lomond beyond the Maid	A dilapidated Countess Fiona on the slip

Edinburgh-on-Forth — Wednesday, 17 June 1998

This was an outing on the Balmoral but since the slides are more scenic than maritime, I decided to include it here rather than on the Waverley page.

Balmoral's timetable was to leave from Burntisland at 09:30 and Granton at 10:30, arriving at Eyemouth at 14:00 for a cruise to Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands, returning to Eyemouth at 18:30 for coach returns to Granton (19:45) and Burntisland (20:15) while Balmoral sailed to Tweedmouth for the night. On Thursday, she sailed from Berwick-on-Tweed at 10:00, Eyemouth at 11:00 to arrive at Granton at 15:00. Then she cruised up-river under the bridges, returning to Granton at 18:00 with coach returns to Eyemouth (19:15) and Berwick-on-Tweed (19:30).

On Wednesday morning, I took the bus into town and caught the 07:30 train (158701+705) to Edinburgh (�7.10 single) arriving at Waverley at 08:17 where I loitered for half an hour (possibly to meet Dave) before walking down to Granton, arriving there at 09:30. Balmoral sailed at 10:30 and arrived at Eyemouth at 14:17, where I disembarked. After taking a few photos and a small refreshment, I left Eyemouth at 16:15 and walked to Coldingham where I booked in to the youth hostel (�6.10 for one night) and dined on a haggis supper (�1.75) and a couple of pints (&3.20) in the Hope and Anchor.

Arthur's Seat to the Castle Rock	Edinburgh Castle above Newhaven	The Pentland Hills beyond Edinburgh Castle

Calton Hill rises above the Port of Leith	Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags beyond Leith	Edinburgh Castle in front of the Pentland Hills

Fidra in the Firth of Forth near North Berwick	The Law looms over North Berwick	Bass Rock

Tantallon Castle

mv Clipper Adventurer (Nassau) off the Bass Rock

Bass Rock	Fortifications, lighthouse and landing place	Torness Nuclear Power Station

Balmoral in the entrance to Eyemouth Harbour	Balmoral reversing out of Eyemouth Harbour	The inner harbour at Eyemouth

The boat builders yard at Eyemouth	Eyemouth beyond the harbour	Eyemouth Harbour. A new fish market basin is being built on the right

Eyemouth sea front	Harbour entrance and sea front at Eyemouth	The harbour at St Abbs

Berwick Bridges

Thursday, June 18 — I left Coldingham on a bus at 08:05 (�2.00) and we were in Berwick at 08:26 in plenty time to see Balmoral leave Tweedmouth docks and cross the river to berth on the mole. She sailed on time at 10:00, called at Eyemouth, paused at Granton (15:05 - 15:15) and cruised under the bridges, returning to Granton at 18:05. Richard appeared with a car and gave me/us a lift up to Morningside where we went for a curry before I walked down to Waverley for the 22:00 train (158741) to Glasgow (�7.10), arriving at Queen Street at 22:46 whence I caught a bus home.

Balmoral leaving the harbour at Tweedmouth		Balmoral off Spittal

Balmoral heading for a berth on the breakwater, pursued by the pilot boat.	Inchcolm Abbey in the Firth of Forth

A distant view of the Forth Bridges, Hound Point on the left	North cantilever of the Forth Bridge	The Forth Bridge below the Road Bridge

Waverley sailings on the Clyde — June - August 1998

And now we progress to 1999

Waverley in the Western Isles — from Saturday, 2 May 1999

Waverley and Balmoral round the Cumbraes — Sunday, 16 May 1999

A trip to Northern Ireland — from Tuesday, 18 May 1999

Day 1 - Tuesday, May 18 — Following a day and a half on Waverley and a day and a half on Balmoral, I found myself in Ayr on Tuesday morning so I caught a bus at 07:52 via Maybole, Girvan and Ballantrae to Cairnryan (�5.85 single), arriving there at 09:27. At 11:00, I sailed on the P&O Jetliner (�20.00) to arrive in Larne at 12:10.

SeaCat Scotland en route from Troon to Belfast

The Belfast train left Larne at 13:07 (�3.30) and arrived at Central at 14:00 whence I made my way to the Crown Liquor Saloon for a small refreshment before catching a bus at 16:25 (�4.40) to Newcastle at 17:40. And there the problem arose. At the hostel, I found that though I was the only guest that night, the hostel was fully booked by a school party on the morrow, jeopardising my plan to stay two nights and go for a wander in the Mournes tomorrow. A quick change of mind, stay one night and walk a bit of the coast path towards Belfast tomorrow.

Day 2 - Wednesday, May 19 — In the morning, I bought some sticking plaster (�1.99) for my heels and sun screen (�2.99) for my legs and set off at 09:40 along the coast path north. I paused for half an hout to take photos before arriving at Dundrum at 12:00 where I dined on creamed potato and leek soup (�1.90), a green salad (�1.90) and a pint of Hilden Ale (�1.50) in the Buck's Head. I went on my way at 13:15 and reached Clough at 14:42, hung around for the 15:05 bus to Downpatrick (�1.55) where I hung around for the 16:03 bus to Strangford (�1.85), arriving there at 16:42. More hanging around watching the ferry before boarding at 17:33 for the 6 minute crossing to Portaferry (�0.85). No problem with the hostel for the night (�10.85), a wander round the town and so to bed.

Dundrum, Co. Down across the bay		"Portaferry Ferry" (moored, nearer) and "Strangford Ferry"

The vessel "Strangford Ferry" approaching the slip at Strangford

Day 3 - Thursday, May 20 — I left Portaferry at 09:23 on the bus to Newtonards (�3.10) where I broke my fast with tea and a fruit tart (�1.75) before setting off on foot at 10:50 up and over the hill Crawfordsburn (13:23 - 13:45) where I dined on a egg and onion sandwich (�1.25) and a pint of milk (�0.35) before continuing down the hill to the North Down Coast Path and turned left to wasrd Holywood, where I arrived at 15:50. After a pint of Ironside Best (�2.00) in the Dirty Duck, I took the train into Belfast (�1.40), alighting at Botanic and proceeding to the new youth hostel, booking in for one night (�9.00). I dined there on spaghetti bolognese (�2.95), orange juice (�0.50) and a pot of tea (�0.50) before going out for a post-prandial stroll.

Day 4 - Friday, May 21 — Now, I was a day ahead of schedule and had planned to sail on Balmoral on Saturday to the Isle of Man, but the weather forecast suggested that that sailing might not happen so rather than find something to do for a day and risk disappointment on Saturday, I decided just to go home. (A good decision - the sailing was replaced by a cruise up and down the Down and Antrim coasts.) So after yoghurt (�0.50) and tea (�0.50) in the hostel and a chicken and Philadelphia cheese sandwich (�2.40) and a pot of tea (�0.95) in Bewley's, I caught the high speed Stena Voyager at 12:25 across to Stranraer (�12.00), arriving there at 14:28 to catch a train (156501) at 14:43 (�16.25 to Shettleston) arriving at Central at 16:52, continuing from Queen Street at 17:08 and arriving at Shettleston at 17:18.

P&O Jetliner crossing the wake of the Stena HSS in Loch Ryan

P&O Jetliner approaching Cairnryan

Balmoral on the Forth — Monday, 28 June 1999

Tall ships on the Clyde — from Thursday, 29 July 1999

Glasgow — Saturday, 28 August 1999

I took these photos on my way down to Anderson Quay for the Cowal Games Saturday sailing on Waverley. Waverley sailed at 10:00 and followed the usual schedule arriving 10 minutes late at Tighnabruaich at 14:40 and leaving twelve minutes late at 15:52. On the way back, I got off at Rothesay at 16:40 and accepted an invitation for afternoon tea at Alex's flat before catching Saturn at 18:28 (�3.05 single) to Wemyss Bay (19:03 - 19:45) and the train (318268) to Glasgow (�4.00 single) arriving at Central at 20:40.

Glasgow City Chambers	Glasgow Chamber of Commerce	Central Station Bridge over Argyle Street

The former Springfield and General Terminus Quays below the the Kingston Bridge	J.R.Snodgrass flour mills on the Broomielaw

Redeveloped General Terminus Quay	Rothesay Pier and marina from Alex's flat

And that's the last of the slides for 1999. To progress to AD 2000, click here.

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