Waverley Slides — 1989

Waverley in the Western Isles

Day 1 - Friday, April 28 - Ayr to Oban with an intermediate call at Port Ellen on Islay.

Rounding the Mull of Kintyre, looking back to Sheep Island, Sanda and the Ailsa Craig	A distant view of Fair Head, Giant's Causeway (sort of) and Rathlin

First sight of the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse	The Mull of Kintyre lighthouse and environs	Cloud capped Paps of Jura

Day 2 - Saturday, April 29 - From Oban to Staffa with a call at Tobermory.

Oban bound mv Isle of Mull in the Firth of Lorne	mv Isle of Mull in front of Kerrera	South end of Staffa with Fingal's Cave (centre)

Staffa from the south, Fingal's Cave right of centre	Staffa from the south-west	Lunga or Fladda

Day 3 - Sunday, April 30 - We made an early start on the light sailing to Fort William, for a cruise to Oban, Loch Sween and Loch Crinan, disembarking at Oban on the way back.

Just west of Crinan	Crinan Hotel	Crinan Canal lock gates

The entrance to the Crinan Canal	Waverley reversing off the North Pier at Oban for the return to Fort William

Day 4 - Monday, May 1 - The scheduled sailing to Iona was thwarted by weather conditions which would have made a landing impossible. Instead we were treated to a cuise up the Sound of Mull and into Loch Sunart followed by time ashore in Tobermory.

Isle of Mull and Claymore at the Railway Pier	Waverley at Tobermory Pier, from the esplanade	PS Waverley at the pier at Tobermory

Tobermory waterfront from up the hill	Waverley from the terrace of the Western Isles Hotel

Day 5 - Tuesday, May 2 - Waverley had a rest day so some of us took a non-landing cruise to Coll and Tiree (�9.85 for a Day Return). The first two photos were taken from the Claymore as we left Oban early in the morning.

Waverley at the North Pier		Traigh Mhor across Gott Bay, Tiree, with the Claymore at the pier

Day 6 - Wednesday, May 3 - From Oban to Mallaig, Kyle of Lochalsh and a cruise into Loch Carron and Loch Kishorn, returning to Kyle and Mallaig before proceeding to Portree.

Isle of Mull and PS Waverley at Oban	PS Waverley at Oban (from the shore)

Approaching Ardnamurchan Point	First sight of the lighthouse	Approaching Ardnamurchan Point from the south

The lighthouse at Ardnamurchan Point, the western-most point of the British mainland

Mallaig from the sea	Lochmor and a fishing boat in Mallaig harbour	Leaving Mallaig Harbour

Leaving Mallaig	Loading passengers at Kyle of Lochalsh	Leaving Kyle with the ferry Lochalsh at the slip

Heading into Loch Kishorn, Sgurr a'Chaorachain behind Meall Gorm	Heading up Loch Kishorn	Sgurr a'Chaorachain above the deserted oil rig construction yard

Sgurr a'Chaorachain above the deserted oil rig construction yard	Hills beyond the head of Loch Kishorn	Applecross behind the Crowlin Isles, I think

A ridge above Loch Ainort, I think	Beinn Dearg Mhor and Glamaig with Sgurr nan Gillean visible through the Bealach na Sgairde	Looking south to the hills above Dunan, Skye

Looking south down the Sound of Raasay, Glamaig on the right	Cliffs just south of the entrance to Portree Bay	The north end of the Cuillins from Portree Bay

Day 7 - Thursday, May 4 - Waverley did not have a passenger certificate to cross The Minch so sailed light from Portree to provide a cruise from Tarbert, Harris to Lochmaddy, North Uist. Meanwhile, dedicated trippers caught the bus from Portree to Uig and the CalMac ferry to Tarbert. Unfortunately, the timetables for both vessels meant that Waverley sailed before the ferry arrived so it was a bus up to Stornoway where some intrepid excursionists (myself included) managed a non-landing cruise aboard Suilven to Ullapool and back (�8.70).

Approaching Tarbert, Harris on the Hebridean Isles	Stornoway from the Suilven, BP oil tanker Jouster (London) at the pier	Leaving Stornoway aboard the Suilven

Ullapool (from the deck of the Suilven)

Day 8 - Friday, May 5 - Waverley arrived overnight from Kyle where she had gone for fuel, and provided a cruise from Stornoway south round the Shiant Islands and into Loch Erisort. There was also a Ceilidh (euphemism for "Booze") Cruise in the evening.

Waverley at Stornoway	Coastguard rescue helicopter from Stornoway checks us out

Day 9 - Saturday, May 6 - We sailed south from Stornoway along the east coast of Lewis and Harris, had a rendezvous en route with the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter which practised putting a man on the aft deck (and took off the purser temporarily) before calling at Tarbert. Then it was across the Minch and round the north of Skye to Portree. Then a cruise south past Raasay and on as far as Kylerhea before returning to Portree. Waverley then sailed light to Kyle for the night to refuel.

Bits of Waverley, Suilven and A366 "Robust"	Suilven turning in Stornoway Bay	Leaving Stornoway aboard Waverley, fleet auxiliary A366 "Robust" at the pier

Chasing Suilven out of Stornoway Bay	Heading south from Stornoway (past the mouth of Loch Erisort?)	Coastguard rescue helicopter from Stornoway

		The helicopter veers off, south of the Shiants

Reversing out of Tarbert, Harris	Leaving East Loch Tarbert	The Quiraing and Meall nan Suireamach at the north end of Skye

Portree with Glamaig in the distance	Portree with the Cuillins in the distance	and back to Glamaig

	Mr Large, Ronnie & Dave boarding for the afternoon cuise

Waverley departs for Kyle to refuel

Day 10 - Sunday, May 7 - South from Portree to Kyle and Mallaig for a cruise in Loch Nevis. On returning to Mallaig, I and many others left the ship to return to Glasgow by train (�18.10 single) while Waverley returned to Portree and on to Lochmaddy for a schools cruise on the Monday.

Waverley returns in the early morning

	The north end of the Cuillins from off Portree	Portree

Portree	Passing through the narrows at Kyleakin, Skye and Raasay beyond	Mouth of Loch Nevis, Knoydart left and centre, mv Pioneer on the right

mv Pioneer loiters in the mouth of Loch Nevis	Sgurr na Ciche beyond Kylesknoydart	Sgurr na Ciche beyond the head of Loch Nevis

Lower Loch Nevis with Skye in the distance	Waverley in Mallaig harbour

	Ropes away

Waverley leaves Mallaig and heads back to Kyle and Portree

mv Balmoral on the Clyde — Sunday, 28 May 1989

Balmoral coming up-river to Anderson Quay		The head of Loch Goil beyond Carrick Castle

Approaching Carrick Castle	Carrick Castle

Balmoral at the Carrick Castle jetty

Looking up Loch Goil from Carrick Castle	Looking down Loch Goil to Loch Long	The exit from Loch Goil

Looking up Loch Long to Finnart Oil Terminal	Earthworks for the Trident base at Coulport	Looking down Loch Long to Inverkip Power Station

Trident submarine base at Coulport