Clyde Cruise on Waverley

Clyde Cruise on Waverley

Waverley at Tarbert

Introduction

Tonight, I am reporting on yesterday’s eleven hour cruise along the Firth of Clyde on the Paddle Steamer, Waverley.

The trip was outstanding, aided by unusually bright and consistent sunshine. As a result the trip resulted in a photo-fest for me, entailing over one hundred images.

View north from Gourock

Information on the vessel and sightseeing

The Waverley is seventy four years old and ranks as the world’s last ocean-going paddle steamer. It is now owned by a charity (not-for-profit) and crewed by both professionals and volunteers.

Waverley approaching Tarbert

As will be evident from the images herein, the Firth of Clyde is a very extensive and expansive waterway. It borders beautiful coastlines and incorporates major islands such as Bute and Arran which have significant populations.

View across the firth with Isle of Arran mountains in distance.

There Is limited wildlife on view. I saw a Heron, Seal, seabirds and pod of Dolphins. Scenery was the key attraction.

Seal
Colony of Cormorants

The trip commenced in central Glasgow then west passing Port Glasgow, Greenock, Gourock, Wemyss Bay with first stop at Largs. Next to Rothesay (Isle of Bute) then to Tigh-na-Brauich via the Kyles of Bute. (A kyle is a narrow waterway.) Final stop was Tarbert, Kintyre. where I alighted and explored this fascinating village with it’s harbour and castle. To conclude the cruise the Waverley reversed the outgoing itinerary.

Rear view. The vessel travels at about sixteen knots.
Waverley approaching the Erskine Bridge
Dumbarton Rock. Occupied in prehistoric times but famous as the power centre of the Kingdom of Strathclyde in the first millennium.
Interesting architecture at Rothesay, Isle of Bute
Tigh-na-Bruaich (which translates from Gaelic as ‘House on the Hill’.)
Purple patches of heather in bloom.
Marina at Tarbert
Remains of Tarbert Castle. Ideally situated for ‘command and control’ over the local waterways.
Unusual one-horned sheep at Tarbert, possibly of the Hebridean breed.
MSC Virtuosa,a cruise ship moored at Greenock.

More information for the visitor

The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland extends to 800 pages and includes information on the Clyde Coast. ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. Also available via Kindle.

Back to news