Waverley Slides — 1993
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This was the third year that I purchased a Scottish Commodore ticket allowing unlimited sails on Waverley and Balmoral in all Scottish waters and still only �315, the same as last year. Therefore, to get value for money I enjoyed as many sailings as I could manage (51) over the year, saving �571.10 in unpaid fares. We won't mention the approximately �1150 I spent onboard and getting to and from all those sailings.
Easter sailings to Otter Ferry & Girvan — Sunday, 11 April 1993 & Monday
Waverley on the Clyde — Sunday, 25 April 1993
Waverley in the Western Isles — from Sunday, 2 May 1993
Balmoral to Rathlin — Saturday, 12 June 1993
Waverley to Millport — Wednesday, 23 June 1993
Belfast to Campbeltown — Wednesday, 30 June 1993
Balmoral to the Farnes — Monday, 12 July 1993
Waverley at Tighnabruaich — Tuesday, 20 July 1993
Waverley & Goat Fell — Thursday, 12 August 1993
Waverley at Brodick — Thursday, 26 August 1993
Waverley at Dunoon — Saturday, 28 August 1993
Caledonian Isles at Brodick — Monday, 30 August 1993
Waverley sailings in 1994
Waverley to Otter Ferry — Easter Sunday, 11 April 1993
The first passenger steamer to Otter Ferry since 1914.
We left Glasgow at 07:45 and called at Helensburgh (09:45), Largs (11:00), Rothesay (11:40), Tighnabruaich (12:30) and Tarbert (13:40) before arriving on time at Otter Ferry at 14:40. Unfortunately, there was no pub within striking distance so we just had to hang around and take photos. The return sailing left at 15:40 to Tarbert (16:40), Tighnabruaich (17:45), Rothesay (18:35), Largs (19:20) and Helensburgh (20:25) before arriving 55 minutes late at Glasgow at 23:25. I don't remember what caused the delay but there must have been some reason since we seemed to hold the timetable on the way out.
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| Tarbert Pier and East Loch Tarbert |
A welcome at Otter Ferry | Otter Ferry Pier |
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| The pier-master's house |
Waverley at Otter Ferry | |
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| Waverley at Otter Ferry |
Looking down Otter Ferry Pier | |
Waverley on the Clyde — Saturday, 24 April 1993 & Sunday
Saturday, April 24 — A Clyde River Steamer Club cruise round Ailsa Craig, leaving from Helensburgh at 08:45, calling at Gourock (09:20), Largs (10:15), Brodick (11:35) and Girvan (14:00), returning from Girvan (15:30), Brodick (17:50), Largs (19:15) and Gourock (20:10) to arrive at Helensburgh 4 minutes early at 20:46.
Dave & I caught the 07:17 train from Shettleston, arriving in Helensburgh at 08:16. I nipped ashore at the first Girvan call to take the photos below. The few minutes early at Helensburgh allowed us to catch the 20:54 train arriving at Shettleston at 21:54.
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| PS Waverley at Girvan |
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Sunday, April 25 — T.S. Queen Mary Commemorative Diamond Jubilee Cruise.
To mark this auspicious occasion, Waverley left Anderson Quay at 10:40 and reversed up-river level with Bridge Wharf, leaving there at 11:00 and calling at Gourock (13:00), Dunoon (13:20) and Rothesay (14:10) for time ashore at Tighnabruaich (15:00 - 16:00), returning to Rothesay (16:45), Dunoon (17:25) and Gourock (17:45) to reach Glasgow 15 minutes late at 19:50.
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| Reversing up-stream above the Kingston Bridge | Site of the Broomielaw Passenger Wharf
beside the King George V Bridge |
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| Heading down-stream past the Renfrew Ferry at Clyde Place Quay | Neptune's Lady (Inverness) lying at Windmillcroft Quay (since August '91) |
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| The Tuxedo Princess disco at the Broomielaw
(The last ship built by Denny at Dumbarton in 1964, as the Caledonian Princess for the Stranraer - Larne run.) |
Heading down-stream for the Kingston Bridge | Looking up-stream through the Kingston Bridge |
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Two chemical tankers at Kvaerner
(Govan). One still on the stocks, the other, Havis (Oslo), in the fitting-out basin, (previously seen on the stocks on June 29, 1991 and three weeks later in the fitting out basin) with the Sociality (Goole) delivering materials. |
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| Long shot of Ben Nevis (barely
visible) as Waverley cruises up Loch Linnhe |
Approaching the Corran Narrows | The Corran Lighthouse and Morven |
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| Ben Nevis above Fort William
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Glen Tarbert between Ardgour and Morven | A faint Ballachulish Bridge and Loch Leven |
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| "Spirit of Scotland" at anchor in
Oban Bay |
mv Isle of Mull passing Kerrera | Lord of the Isles and the Isle of Mull |
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| Waverley reversing off the North Pier, Kerrera beyond | Oban Esplanade from the Columba Hotel | |
In the evening, I dined with four others (probably Dave, Ronnie, St Ivel and Clive) in the Caledonian Hotel. Starters were home-made soup (�1.35), mushrooms (�2.15 x2), pate (�2.15) and haggis (�2.15) followed by a mixed grill (�7.45), rump steak (�6.75) and sirloin steak (�9.95 x3). The pepper sauce was 95p extra! We finished with a cheesecake (�1.65) and cheese board (�1.95 x3) - obviously someone had had enough for the day. I won't mention the Beaujolais (�10.95 x4).
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| PS Waverley approaching the North
Pier, CalMac ferry Isle of Mull passing Kerrera beyond |
Day 5 -
Monday, May 3 — Waverley started from Fort William at
09:30 and called at Oban at 11:40 before proceeding round he south
end of Mull to anchor off Iona at 14:30. Then the fun started. The
new CalMac ferry Loch Buie (built 1992 by J.W.Miller & Sons Ltd of
St Monans in the East Neuk of Fife) did not lie well against
Waverley and the transfer of passengers was a bit fraught. After the
first load were away, the captain decide that it was too risky and
the remaining passengers were stuck on the ship. Which left the
problem of how to get back those who had got ashore. This was
achieved after moving Waverley to a more sheltered spot further
away. We left Iona 35 minute late at 17:05 and reached Oban at
20:00, still half an hour late.
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| New CalMac ferry Loch
Buie off Iona |
Transferring passengers off Iona | |
Day 6 - Tuesday, May 4 — We left Oban at 09:30, calling at Port Ellen (14:15 - 15:00) and Campbeltown (18:45) before arriving at Ayr 20 minutes early at 20:55, in time for the 21:15 train arriving in Glasgow at 22:05. I took no photos.
And that was
it for another Western Isles, next it was a trip to Rathlin Island.
I
caught the 08:00 train from Glasgow (�5.60 for a cheap
day return) arriving in Ayr at 08:55 for an 09:30
sailing on the Balmoral, calling at Campbeltown (12:15)
and arriving at Rathlin Island 10 minutes late at 15:10.
After a quick dash to the pub for a swift pint, I took a
few photos and returned to Balmoral to sail 15 minutes
late at 16:15 for Campbeltown (18:30) and back to Ayr 48
minutes late at 21:48. Then it was the 22:15 train
arriving in Glasgow at 23:10.
Balmoral to Rathlin Island — Saturday, June 12
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| Rue Point, Rathlin
with a faint Fair Head, Co Antrim, beyond |
The White cliffs of Rathlin | North end of Church Bay |
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| mv Balmoral
berthed on the harbour wall |
Rathlin Harbour | |
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| Rathlin Harbour with mv
Balmoral outside |
Looking across Rathlin Harbour to the old jetty | Passengers returning to Balmoral |
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| Ballycastle
ferries Rathlin Venture and Iona Isle leaving
Rathlin |
Heading down the
south-west coast of Rathlin towards Rue Point |
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| Abysmal
composition at Greenock |
mv Jupiter en route from Dunoon to Gourock |
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| Dave in a
sunny Millport Bay, Arran beyond
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The Cloch Lighthouse |
Next stop, Belfast.
Some folk never learn! As last
year, the timetable offered the
chance of a sail on Balmoral
from Belfast connecting with
Waverley at Campbeltown and
someone thought it a good idea
to do it again.
So, on Tuesday morning, I bought
a return ticket to Belfast and
caught the 08:30 train to Ayr
for Waverley's standard Tuesday
sail to Tarbert (14:30 - 16:25)
and a cruise on Loch Fyne. Back
at Ayr at 21:00 we did not go
home but waited (probably in a
pub) for the 23:10 train to
Stranraer, arriving there at
00:25 for the 03:00 sailing on
Stena Antrim to Larne where we
arrived at 05:30 but due to some
problem with the gangway, we did
not disembark until 06:00, I
think via the car deck. Still,
we caught the 06:25 train into
Belfast at 07:15 where we made
our way down to the docks to
find Balmoral.
Balmoral sailed at 09:00
arriving at Campbeltown at
15:15. I don't seem to have
taken any photos of Waverley,
perhaps deciding that I had
enough from last
year. We left
Campbeltown on Waverley at 17:10
and after some kerfuffle at
Brodick, reached Ayr five
minutes late at 21:05, again
catching the 21:45 train to
Glasgow arriving there at 22:34,
38 hours and 4 minutes after
setting out.
Belfast to Campbeltown —
Wednesday, 30 June 1993
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| SeaCat Great
Britain passing Kilroot
Power Station, Belfast
Lough heading for
Belfast |
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| mv Balmoral
leaving Campbeltown
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We would have been at Brodick about 19:30. I have forgotten what gave rise to these interesting photos. Why was the Isle of Arran blocking the pier (she should have sailed at 19:20) and what was Rhum doing in the vicinity in the first place? Did we then berth at the pier or did Rhum bring out our passengers?
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| CalMac ferry
Rhum approaches Waverley
in Brodick Bay, Isle of
Arran at the pier
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| Isle of
Arran leaves Brodick
Pier, above the crowded
deck of mv Rhum
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Balmoral to the Farnes — Monday, 12 July 1993
After sailing on Waverley on Saturday and Sunday, I took advantage of Waverley's day off to go through to Edinburgh on Monday to catch the last of Balmoral's sailings from there.
I caught the 09:30 from Queen Street (�6.80 cheap day return) and got off at Haymarket at 10:12 to walk down to Granton, arriving there at 11:23, just in time for Balmoral's sailing at 11:30 (she having started from Burntisland at 10:30). There was a call at Eyemouth (15:15) before cruising round the Farne Islands and arriving at Amble on time at 19:00. From there, Balmoral continued south while her passengers were returned to their embarcation ports by coach; we left Amble at 19:37 and arrived at Granton at 21:55 whence the kind coach driver took many of his passengers up to Princes Street at 22:05 (he was going that way anyway). I caught the 22:30 train back to Glasgow arriving at 23:26 (and was back on Waverley on Tuesday).
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St Abbs Head, just north
of Eyemouth |
Approaching Eyemouth | Eyemouth |
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| Entering
Eyemouth Harbour on the
Balmoral |
Eyemouth | |
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| Lindisfarne
Castle |
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| Bamborough
Castle |
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| The Inner Farne with fortified tower | Farne Islands |
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Dunstanburgh Castle
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Balmoral berthed at Amble, Northumberland |
And the camera next comes out at Tighnabruaich.
Waverley at Tighnabruaich — Tuesday, 20 July 1993
Just for a change, I decided to take advantage of CalMac's summer cruising program (!) and go for a sail with them. So, it was off to Gourock on the 07:25 train (�2.80 single) arriving there at 08:20 to sail on Jupiter at 08:36 (�5.00 return to Tighnabruaich) to Dunoon (08:55 - 09:05) and Wemyss Bay (09:30 - 09:40) arriving at Rothesay at 10:10. I went to the pub while Jupiter did a return ferry sailing to Wemyss Bay, returning to Rothesay to sail again at 11:43 and reach Tighnabruaich at 12:30.
At which point I abandoned CalMac and and sailed on Waverley at 13:40 (Jupiter had to vacate the pier to allow Waverley to call) to Tarbert (1440 - 1620) returning to Ayr at 21:00 to catch the 21:45 train to reach Glasgow at 22:40.
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| mv Jupiter
at Tighnabruaich
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| Waverley approaches Tighnabruaich |
Preserved puffer Vic 32
passes Waverley in the West Kyles |
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A solitary shot of the
Isle of Arran at Brodick
on Thursday, August
5 when, for some
reason which I cannot
now recall, I caught the
11:15 train from Glasgow
to Ardrossan at 12:05
then the Isle of Arran
at 12:39 arriving at
Brodick at 13:34 (fare
�6.25 single from
Glasgow). I then caught
the Waverley at 14:35
for the cruise to Pladda
and back up-river to
Helensburgh, arriving
there at 21:00 and
catching the 21:24 train
(�2.70 single) to arrive
at Shettleston at 22:20.
The crane was working on pier modifications to accomodate the new ferry Caledonian Isles which was soon to enter service on this route. |
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mv Isle of Arran at
Brodick Pier |
And yet another trip to Brodick.
Waverley & Goat Fell — Thursday, 12 August 1993
Another ridiculous idea. I caught a train at 08:34 from Glasgow to Ardrossan at 09:23 for the 09:50 sailing on the Isle of Arran to Brodick (�6.25 single from Glasgow) arriving there at 10:45. From there I went for a walk up Goat Fell, spending ten minutes on the summit (13:30 - 13:40) and was back in the pub in Brodick at 15:50. Time for a quick pint before leaving on Waverley at 16:50 to reach Helensburgh at 20:41 and catch the 20:54 train (�2.70 single) to reach Shettleston at 21:57.
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PS Waverley emerges from The Tan (between Great and Little Cumbrae), Sludge Ship Garroch Head in front of Little Cumbrae, from the top of Goat Fell. Garroch Head, Bute, on the left |
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North west from Goat
Fell, the ridge to Cir Mhor and Caisteal Abhail |
South from Goat Fell
over Brodick and Lamlash Bays |
North from Goat Fell,
Ardlamont Point divides
the entrances to Loch Fyne (left) and the West Kyles of Bute |
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| A diminutive
Waverley approaches
Brodick Pier |
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I don't seem to have much imagination - Brodick again.
Waverley at Brodick — Thursday, 26 August 1993
Not quite so ridiculous this time, I caught the train at 09:16 from Shettleston to Helensburgh (�4.00 cheap day return) arriving at 10:10. Waverley sailed at 10:30 and arrived at Brodick at 14:32. Just for a change, rather than heading for the pub, I rushed off up the Lamlash road for a glimpse of Waverley sailing through Lamlash Bay then returned through the forest down to the River Cloy and so into Brodick in time to photograph the Isle of Arran at the pier. Waverley's return sailing departed half an hour late at 17:20 and arrived at Helensburgh ten minutes late at 20:50, that ten miinutes being just enough to miss the 20:54 train, so I had to wait for the 21:24 and arrived at Shettleston at 22:28.
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| A small PS
Waverley in Lamlash Bay
from the top of the
Brodick-Lamlash road.
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| The new
ferry "Caledonian Isles"
at Brodick while
Waverley awaits her
turn. |
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Waverley at Dunoon — Saturday, 28 August 1993
This being the day of the Cowal Games, Waverley performed a standard Saturday sailing from Glasgow at 10:00 to Tighnabruaich (14:30 - 15:40) but on the return stopped at Dunoon for a couple of hours (17:20 - 19:30) to allow passengers time ashore to view the March of the Pipers through Dunoon town centre. I appeared to have spent the time at the feet of Heilan' Mary photographing the activity at the pier. We were back in Glasgow at 22:10.
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| Waverley
reverses off Dunoon Pier
to anchor in the West
Bay |
Dunoon Pier with Juno lying behind Jupiter | |
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Juno departs while
Jupiter moves back
to the car ferry berth |
Jupiter at the pier with Juno en route for Gourock | mv Clyde Rose, formerly CalMac's Keppel |
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Pioneer arriving,
Jupiter en route for
Gourock. |
Caledonian Isles at Brodick — Monday, 30 August 1993
Last sail of the summer season, from Glasgow at 09:30 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) before reaching Glasgow on time at 22:20.
On this occasion there was a minor contretemps on the second (I think) call at Brodick when the official celebration of the new ferry "Caledonian Isles" was running a bit late and the pier staff wanted Waverley to stay off until it had called. The captain was having none of this and threatened to berth unaided so we got in before the Cally Isles which then did a pirouette while waiting for us to go. Hence this collection of photos of this fine ship.
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Caledonian Isles at last
gets in to the Pier
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And back to Glasgow.
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John Reynolds - May 2015