Waverley Slides — 1991

As far as I remember, the shutter had jammed (for the third time) on my 12 year old Ricoh XR1 and I was advised that a further repair would be expensive and problematic owing to the difficulty in obtaining parts, if they could be obtained at all. As I had not yet obtained a replacement, for the early part of the year I was reduced to taking photos with my Minolta Weathermatic, on 110 film which is not easy to scan! They are not slides but I have included them here for completeness of the record.

This was the first year that I purchased a Scottish Commodore ticket allowing unlimited sails on Waverley and Balmoral in all Scottish waters for the small price of �299 (plus �10 credit card fee). Therefore, to get value for money I enjoyed as many sailings as I could manage (48) over the year, saving �405.75 in unpaid fares. We won't mention the almost �1400 I spent onboard and getting to and from all those sailings.

Waverley in the Western Isles 1991

Day 0 - Monday, April 29 — Because of the fragmented nature of Waverley's schedule, I purchased a Highlands and Islands Travelpass (7 days travel in 8) and caught the 12:10 from Queen Street to Oban, arriving at 15:23. After booking in to the Rowan Tree Hotel for 2 nights B&B (�52), there was just time to catch the 16:00 sailing on the Isle of Mull to Craignure and back. After a meal and a couple of pints, Dave and I caught the 20:30 Glasgow train 20 minutes up the line to Taynuilt where we had a few pints in the micro-brewery that had colonised the station buildings before catching the 23:15 back to Oban arriving at 23:37.

Day 1 - Tuesday, April 30 — Waverley's schedule started from Crinan at 09:30, calling at Oban (11:30), Fort William (13:45) then a cruise on Loch Eil returning to Fort William (15:45), Oban (18:00), Crinan (19:45) and finally Oban at 22:00. We boarded at Oban, departing slightly late at 12:00 and got off at 21:55. These photographs prove that I did emerge from the bar occasionally.

01. Waverley approaching the North Pier at Oban, Kerrara beyond and Mull faint in the distance.	02. mv Isle of Mull in Oban Bay with the 1100 sailing from Craignure.	03. mv Isle of Mull berthing at Oban after the 1100 sailing from Craignure.

04. Ben Nevis above Fort William.	05. Aonach Mor, Carn Dearg Meadhonach and Carn Dearg/Ben Nevis from the Loch Eil narrows.	06. Carn Dearg/Ben Nevis beyond the Loch Eil narrows.

07. Cathedral of the Isles, Oban.	08. McCaig's Folly above Oban.	09. mv Isle of Mull in Oban Bay on the 1800 sailing to Craignure.

Day 2 - Wednesday, May 1 — We sailed from Oban at 07:00 up the Sound of Mull and rounding Ardnamurchan Point to call at Mallaig (11:15) and Kyle (13:00) followed by a cruise on Loch Carron returning to Kyle (16:00) and Mallaig (17:45). The published timetable showed Waverley continuing to Portree at arrive at 21:00 but difficulties with fuel supply arrangements meant that we disembarked at Kyle at 19:15 where Waverley refuelled and sailed light to Stornoway. Meanwhile, we caught the 20:45 bus to Portree arriving at 21:38. There, we booked into the Bosville Hotel for 2 nights.

10. mv Lord of the Isles on the delayed 0600 sailing to Coll and Tiree (left at 0655).	11. Ardnamurchan lighthouse, Eigg beyond.	12. Lochcarron, Loch Carron.

13.&14. Waverley at the Railway Pier, Kyle of Lochalsh.

Day 3 - Thursday, May 2 — Waverley was sailing Stornoway - Tarbert and an evening Booze Cruise "Round the Lochs" so we had to find another way to spend the day. So, the 08:05 bus from Portree to Uig, and a "V-cruise" on CalMac's Hebridean Isles departing from Uig at 09:40 to Tarbert (11:25 - 11:55) and back to Uig (13:35 - 14:00) thence to Lochmaddy (15:45 - 16:10) and back again to Uig arriving at 17:55 in nice time for the 18:10 bus to Portree arriving at 18:45. There was time for a smoked sausage supper before going to the pub where Morag joined us for the evening.

15. mv Hebridean Isles at Tarbert, Harris.

Day 4 - Friday, May 3 — Waverley sailed from Portree at 09:30, calling at Mallaig (11:15) and Kyle of Lochalsh (13:00) before cruising on Lochs Hourn & Nevis reurning to Kyle (16:00), Mallaig (17:45) and Portree at 21:00. We disembarked on the second call at Mallaig and caught the 18:20 train to Fort William arriving at 19:40 where I had arranged with Mr McInnes of Oban for a minibus to convey our group (originally for 6 but we picked up another three on the day, a bit of a squash with all out luggage) to Oban arriving there at 21:00 where some of us returned to the Rowan Tree for a further 4 nights.

Since there are no photos, I can only assume that the weather was less than clement.

Day 5 - Saturday, May 4 — We sailed from Oban at 10:00, calling at Tobermory (12:00) and Armadale (15:00) before a cruise on the Sound of Sleat returning to Armadale (16:30), Tobermory (19:30) and Oban at 21:30.

16. (Probably) Entrance to Loch Sunnart in the Sound of Mull.	17. Eigg.	18. Ben Sgritheall, Loch Hourn beyond mv Iona on the 1500 sailing from Armadale to Mallaig.

19. Eilean Sionnach lighthouse, Isleornsay, Sleat, Skye.	20. Entrance to Loch Hourn, Ben Sgritheall on the left.	21. mv Iona approaching Armadale on the 1630 sailing from Mallaig.

Day 6 - Sunday, May 5 — Waverley's start from Fort William was cancelled due to continuing problems with fuel deliveries so she lay at the North Pier for the morning while sundry bods took a quick CalMac cruise on the Isle of Mull's 10:00 sailing to Craignure and back. Then Waverley sailed from Oban at 12:15 for the scheduled cruise round the Four Lochs and Corryvreckan Whirlpool returning to Oban (17:00), Fort William (19:15) and Oban again at 21:30.

22. Painting the funnel on Waverley at Oban.	23. mv Isle of Mull at Oban.	24. Ben More? and Ben Buie? on Mull beyond the Garvellachs.

Day 7 - Monday, May 6 — Waverley sailed from Oban at 10:30 up the Sound of Mull and south for a close inspection of Staffa before anchoring in the Sound of Iona about 15:00. Passengers were taken ashore by the Morven - judging by the photos, I was one of them though I have no record of timings - but when it was time to return, a significant swell had built up and Waverley had to move in search of smoother waters. So, it was about two hours after the scheduled sailing time of 17:30 before we set off at speed round the Ross of Mull back to Oban, arriving there at 21:45 rather than 20:30.

01. Waverley and the Isle of Mull at Oban.	02. Staffa.	03. Close inspection of Staffa. Fingal's Cave is just round to the left.

04. The Abbey, Iona.	05. Transferring passengers to the Morven off Iona. mv Hebridean Princess (nee Columba) beyond.	06. Waverley lying off Iona.

07. Waverley, Morven and Iona Abbey.	08. Main door of Iona Abbey.	09. Waverley and Morven look for a smoother spot to transfer passengers in the Sound of Iona.

Day 8 - Tuesday, May 7 — Time to go home: Waverley sailed at 10:00 and took the narrow passage through Craighouse Harbour on the east coast of Jura before stopping briefly at Port Ellen, Islay (14:30) and reached Ayr at 19:15 (against a scheduled 20:30) whence we returned by coach to Glasgow arriving at 20:30.

10. Fladda Light and the Black Isles north of Scarba.	11. Ross of Mull in the distance beyond Fladda Light.	12. Strait of Corryvreckan, between Jura (left) and Scarba (right).

13. Craighouse, Jura. Mostly distillery.	14. The Antrim coast from just outside Port Ellen, Islay. The bit on the right might be Malin Head.	15. Mull of Kintyre, just east of the light. The cloud in the centre is smoke.

16. Arriving back at Ayr.

And so ends an exciting and economical week in the Western Isles. My �40 Travelpass saved �13.20 in fares and we won't mention the approximately �500 I spent on accomodation, drink and meals.

The photographic odyssey continued four days later -

Waverley from Garlieston to the Isle of Man — Saturday, 11 May 1991

Garlieston is not an easy place to reach by public transport for a ten o'clock sailing so I hired a car for the weekend (�60) to convey myself, Ronnie, Mr Large and Ian the Umpire. I picked them up in Glasgow at 06:30 and we arrived at Garlieston at 08:55 having stopped briefly for breakfast (pies all round) at a bakery in Newton Stewart. Waverley sailed at 10:00 and crossed the Irish Sea at arrive at Douglas, Isle of Man at 13:30. I stayed aboard for the cruise round the island returning to Douglas about 18:30 and Garlieston half an hour late at 22:15. We hit the road at 22:30 and, after dropping the lads at various points, I was home at 01:35 on Sunday morning.

17. Waverley at Garlieston, south of Wigton.	18. Douglas Head, Isle of Man.

19. Lighthouses on the Calf of Man.	20. The Stacks and Chicken Rock Light off the Calf of Man.	21. Peel, Isle of Man.

22. Lights at The Ayres, Isle of Man.	23. Lights at The Ayres, Isle of Man.	24. Maughold Head. The hill is not Snafell.

Waverley on the Irish Sea — from Friday, 17 May 1991

Day 1 - Friday, May 17 — I travelled with Dave on the 08:25 train to Stranraer for the 11:30 sailing on Stena Galloway to Larne, arriving there for the 14:20 train into Belfast (�54.50 return). After booking into the Botanic Lodge B&B for 4 nights (�56), and taking some refreshment, we joined Waverley at 20:00 for an evening Jazz Cruise (otherwise known as a Booze Cruise) (fare �7) up Belfast Lough and round the Copeland Islands, arriving back at Belfast at 23:15. Obviously, it was too dark to take photograph of that exciting excursion.

Island Magee from the ferry approaching Larne	Ferris Point Lighthouse, Island Magee	Chaine Memorial Tower, Larne

P&O Ionic Ferry at Larne, Stena Antrim beyond	Stena Antrim berthed at Larne

Day 2 - Saturday, May 18 — Waverley sailed at 09:00 from her berth in the Herdman Channel, calling at Donaghadee (10:30) before arriving at Peel on the Isle of Man (�19.95 return) at 13:30 whence, for a further �5, a coach connection conveyed many of us to Port Erin for the steam train to Douglas and coach return to Peel. We sailed again at 17:30, called at Donaghadee at 20:30 and arrived back at Belfast at 22:00.

Waverley at the Isle of Man steamer berth on the Herdman Channel, Belfast Docks

Donaghadee, County Down, from the sea

	IoM Steam Railway Loco No 4, "Loch" at Port Erin, waiting to take a Waverley Passenger Special to Douglas (Built 1874 by Beyer, Peacock & Co., Gorton Foundry, Manchester)

IoM Steam Railway Loco No 13, "Kissack" waits at Douglas to take the 1610 to Port Erin (Built 1910 by Beyer, Peacock & Co., Gorton Foundry, Manchester)

And now the sad part. Having finished that film, I loaded another into the camera on the bus back to Peel. But I failed to properly engage the wind-on mechanism and spent the next few days taking photographs without moving the film. And I didn't notice until I thought it was time to rewind the film. O me miserum.

A brief summary of what I didn't photograph -

Day 3 - Sunday, May 19 — The same trip to Peel, this time with a cruise to the Calf of Man.

Day 4 - Monday, May 20 — Belfast to Warrenpoint with a coach return to Belfast while Waverley headed for the Bristol Channel.

Day 5 - Tuesday, May 21 — We caught the 09:55 train from Belfast to Larne for the 11:25 sailing on Stena Caledonia to Stranraer for the 14:30 train to Glasgow arriving at 16:45.

Waverley on the Clyde — Summer 1991

Friday, 28 June — A standard Friday sail leaving Glasgow at 10:00 and calling at Kilcreggan (11:55) and Dunoon (12:20) for time ashore at Rothesay (13:05 - 14:15) returning to Dunoon (15:15) and Kilcreggan (15:35) to arrive back at Glasgow at 17:30.

View upstream through the Kingston Bridge as the Waverley leaves Anderson Quay		National Power's transport ship New Generation sitting across the mouth of the King George V dock after loading a Babcock boiler for ? Hinkley B
	Bell's Bridge

US naval vessel 18 (Relentless?) heading upstream past Newshot Island	Waverley in the evening sun at Anderson Quay setting off for a Jazz Festival charter

Saturday, 29 June — A standard Saturday sail for this year leaving Glasgow at 10:00, calling at Helensburgh (12:00), Kilcreggan (12:25), Dunoon (12:50) and Rothesay (13:40) for time ashore at Tighnabruach (14:30 - 15:40) returning to Rothesay (16:30), Dunoon (17:20), Kilcreggan (17:45) and Helensburgh (18:10) to arrive back at Glasgow at 20:15. This year, Greenock Custom House Quay was under repair so there was a connection from Gourock at 11:20 to Kilcreggan operated by Clyde Marine, returning to Gourock at 18:10.

Waverley canting, viewed from the Clydeside Walkway just downstream of the King George V Bridge (Oswald St)		Bell's Bridge

A bulk gas carrier nearing completion at Kvaerner Govan
	Roddy McIsaacs, Bosun

Monday, 15 July — Glasgow Fair Monday - depart from Glasgow at 09:30 (I checked the timetable this time) calling at Helensburgh (11:30, Dunoon (12:10), Rothesay (13:00), Largs (13:40) and Brodick (15:00) for a cruise round Holy Isle returning to Brodick (16:45), Largs (18:15), Rothesay (18:55), Dunoon (19:40) and Helensburgh (20:20) to arrive back at Glasgoe at 22:20. I stayed aboard for the full cruise, hence the photos of Lamlash and Holy Isle.

Lamlash, Arran	The lighthouse at the south end of Holy Isle off Lamlash

Sunday, 21 July — A standard Sunday sail from Glasgow at 11:00, calling at Dunoon (13:10), Largs (14:00), and Rothesay (14:40) for a cruise round Bute returning to Rothesay at 17:20, Largs (18:00) and Dunoon (18:50) to arrive back at Glasgow at 21:00. I stayed aboard for the full cruise.

Bulk gas carrier in the fitting out basin at Kvaerner Govan	National Power's other transport ship National Generation at the wharf just above the King George V Dock	Coastal tanker "Agility" at the MOD oil terminal with the Erskine Bridge and Kilpatrick Hills beyond

Dumbarton Rock and the mouth of the Leven with the top of Ben Lomond in the distance	Helensburgh from the Tail of the Bank	Western Ferries' "Sound of Shuna" in front of Loch Long

Kirn Pier between Dunoon and Hunter's Quay	Wee yats aff Kirn	Approaching Dunoon Pier

Sunday, 28 July — The next three slides were originally dated as the 21st but there is a significant sequence error (Dunoon - Langbank - Greenock) which means they must have been taken on a subsequent sailing from Glasgow, which was the 28th.

The coaster Sigrid inward bound above Langbank	Garvel Dry Dock and the James Watt Dock	New CalMac ferry Loch Fyne in the James Watt Dock, Greenock

Wednesday, 31 July — Wednesday sails alternated between Campbeltown for the Mull of Kintyre and a cruise round Bute from Brodick. I confined myself to Campbeltown sailings as the circumnavigation of Bute was also available on Sundays from Glasgow. So, we left Ayr at 10:00 calling at Brodick (11:30) and Campbeltown (13:50) for a cruise south to the Mull of Kintyre and Sanda Islands, returning to Campbeltown (16:40) and Brodick (18:50) to reach Ayr at 20:15. (On this occasion we were 15 minutes late.) I stayed aboard for the full cruise.

I travelled down to Ayr on the 08:00 train from Central and returned on the 21:15 from Ayr.

Clearly the only thing of interest on this trip was a sighting of the new CalMac ferry Loch Fyne (built by Fergusons, Port Glasgow and glimpsed in the James Watt Dock above) off Kintyre on her delivery voyage to Kyle of Lochalsh.

Wednesday, 14 August — Another sail to Campbeltown and the Mull of Kintyre, this time arriving 20 minutes late back at Ayr. My travel arrangements to and from Ayr were as above.

Campbeltown Loch looking out between Island Davaar and the mainland	The Campbeltown shipyard in front of Davaar

Leaving Campbeltown

The new Orkney Isles ferry Thorsvoe at the Campbeltown shipyard

Beinn Tarsuinn etc above Glen Rosa from Brodick Bay, Arran	CalMac ferry Isle of Arran approaching Brodick

Sunday, 18 August — The standard Sunday sail left Glasgow at 11:00 calling at Dunoon (13:10), Largs (14:00) and Rothesay (14:40) for a cruise round Bute returning to Rothesay (17:20), Largs (18:00) and Dunoon (18:50) before returning to Glasgow at 21:00. The timetable says "except August 18" - I don't know what that implies because I certainly got as far as Rothesay (and paid 80p to visit the Castle) and Waverley didn't lie there all afternoon. Perhaps it was for a cancelled charter.

Remains of the chapel of St Michael (c1540)	Remains of the north-east drum tower (c1300) and the east side of the Royal Apartments and Gatehouse Tower (c1540)	Interior view of the North Wall with doocot

Interior view of the north-east corner	Rothesay across the bay	mv Jupiter at the ferry berth at Rothesay o'er-topped by cranes working on the rebuilding of the western berth

mv Jupiter leaving Rothesay on the 1630 sailing to Wemyss Bay	mv Jupiter passing the entrance to Loch Striven	Waverley approaching Rothesay, the chimney of Inverkip Power Station behind

Waverley sailing into Rothesay Bay	Waverley in Rothesay Bay	Waverley approaching the pier at Rothesay

View down Fairlie Roads towards Hunterston with the CalMac ferry Loch Linnhe en route from Largs to Cumbrae Slip	CalMac ferry Loch Striven at Largs	CalMac ferry Loch Striven en route from Largs to Cumbrae Slip

Tuesday, 20 August — A normal Tuesday sailing from Ayr at 10:00 calling at Largs (12:00), Rothesay (12:45), Tighnabruaich (13:40) and Tarbert (14:45) for a cruise on Loch Fyne returning to Tarbert (16:30), Tighnabruaich (17:35), Rothesay (18:25) and Largs (19:05) arriving back at Ayr at 20:45.

On this occasion, I caught the 09:45 train from Central to catch Waverley at Largs and with a few others, got off at Tighnabruaich for a change, having lunch there and a wander about to see the sights. We returned on Waverley to Largs where I dined on a fish supper and caught the 19:52 train back up to Glasgow.

Waverley leaves Tighnabruaich on its way to Tarbert and heads into the West Kyle

Looking down on Buttock Point, Burnt Islands and The Narrows from the road above Tighnabruaich	A Scots Pine above Tighnabruaich, the West Kyle beyond