Culzean Castle

“The New Service to Campbeltown—Opening Cruise of Culzean Castle

“On Saturday a new service to Campbeltown was inaugurated. In recent years this somewhat remote burgh has been comparatively neglected as a short holiday or week-end resort. No doubt this has been due largely to the want of adequate facilities, and if that be so, this drawback has been removed for the present at least, by the enterprise of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company and the Glasgow, Ayrshire, and Campbeltown Steamboat Company (Limited). The directors of these companies have just completed and put into force arrangements by which Campbeltown as well as Lochranza and the west side of Arran have been brought within the range of a day’s excursion from Glasgow. The steamboat company mentioned, which has been only recently formed, have been fortunate in securing Mr Clark as manager, and in acquiring a steamer which seems admirably fitted for the purposes they have in view. The Culzean Castle is a notable addition to the fleet of Clyde passenger steamers. She is a new and very nicely appointed vessel, and has been furnished with the latest improvements, including an installation of electric light. The various saloons have been handsomely fitted up, and due attention has been paid to details which add to the comfort of passengers. The steamer is 244 feet long and 28½ feet broad; or, in other words, she is 3½ feet broader and 5 feet shorter than the Lord of the Isles. Her breadth of beam conduces to steadiness—a most desirable quality on a passage where the water at times develops an amount of energy which does not contribute to the comfort of voyagers. Another reassuring fact is that the vessel is practically unsinkable, having nine transverse water-tight bulkheads. There is also on board an elaborate supply of life-saving appliances. The engines are of the triple-expansion class, and a speed has been attained of 19 knots. In short, whether as regards speed, comfort, and elegance in saloons, the Culzean Castle promises to become one of the recognized ‘cracks’ of the Clyde. Captain Gillies, formerly of the Eagle, is in command; Mr D. Newlands, jun., is steward; and Mr D. Stewart is purser. The route selected is highly interesting, and affords numerous glipses of the romantic scenery of the firth. Leaving Prince’s Pier, Greenock, at 9:00 a.m., the steamer calls at Dunoon 25 minutes later, and then proceeds to Fairlie pier, which is reached at 10 o’clock. The train connections from St Enoch Station are at 7:45 a.m. for Prince’s Pier and 9:00 a.m. to Fairlie. The sail is resumed shortly after 10 o’clock, and after touching at Millport (Keppel pier), the vessel steams between the Cumbraes, passes Garroch Head, and sails across Bute Sound and into Kilbrannan Sound, calling at Lochranza, Pirnmill, and Machrie Bay, Campbeltown being reached at 12:30 p.m. Passengers have 2½ hours ashore, the return journey being commenced at three o’clock, and a special train, which awaits the arrival of the steamer at Fairlie Pier, is timed to arrive at St Enoch Station at seven o’clock. In connection with the new service, enterprising coach proprietors in various districts are assisting the promoters of the new scheme, and as a result there is likely to be a further development of the coaching-tour system that has been of late years a prominent feature in the summer programme of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company. During the season tourists may leave the Culzean Castle at that picturesque spot, Lochranza and drive to Corrie, where they may join a steamer for Greenock; or the tour may be reversed. It is also announced that a coach will be run between Machrie Bay, Shiskine, and Blackwaterfoot. The most important of this series of coaching tours, however, is that to Machrihanish Bay, where an extensive and beautiful view is obtained. To golfers the chief attraction, of course, is the links.

“The arrangements just indicated came into force on Saturday, with the exception of the Lochranza and Corrie coaching tour, which begins on Saturday first. On the invitation of the directors of the steamboat company a party of journalists, as well as a number of other guests more directly interested in the success of the undertaking ‘assisted’ at the opening cruise of the Culzean Castle. Among those present were Mr John Faill, Major Ferry, Mr D. T. Clark, Mr David Cooper, general manager Glasgow and South-Western Railway; Mr T. A. Fyfe, Mr Alexander Raeside, Mr John Taylor, Mr Andrew Mitchell, Mr F. M. Sloan, Colonel Dickie and Captain Sneddon, Kilmarnock; Mr John Macfarlane, Mr Gillies, secretary, and Mr Melville, engineer, Glasgow and South-Western Railway; Mr Lang, Mr Angus Urqhart, Mr John Dove, Mr D. Heilbron, Mr Alfred King, and Mr David Cunningham. At the various points of call the steamer attracted much attention, and when Campbeltown was reached, the pier was crowded. On arrival coaches were in waiting for the party, who were at once driven to Machrihanish Bay. On rejoining the steamer at three o’clock, dinner was served, and subsequently a number of toasts were submitted. Colonel Dickie, in proposing ‘Success to the Undertaking,’ observed that the Culzean Castle would be a comfortable vessel for passengers. He hoped the enterprise of the company in putting on such a splendid new steamer would meet with encouragement. Mr Faill, in responding, said that the company had put on a steamer which was fast and also well manned, and that the undertaking was likely to prove successful. Major Ferry gave ‘The Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company.’ It was extremely difficult, he remarked, to open a new route in Scotland. Almost every route had new been developed where there was beautiful scenery; but it had been left to their esteemed manager, Mr Clark, to open this route, which, he believed, would be one of the most successful in Scotland. There was no more lovely bay in Scotland, perhaps, than that of Machrihanish, and under the new scheme it could be reached at an unprecedentedly low rate. All this, however, could not be done without the railway company, which, he hoped, would give all the necessary facilities for developing this route. He coupled the toast with the name of Mr Cooper, whom, he said, they congratulated on his recent appointment. Mr Cooper, in reply, said that all the new ventures of the company had hitherto proved a great success, and he did not think that the scheme inaugurated that day would be an exception to the rule. Mr Raeside, in submitting another toast, pointed out that very great facilities were being afforded to golfers to visit the links at Machrihanish. The sail, which was accomplished under favourable conditions, was thoroughly enjoyed, and the ever-varying views which the trip embraces were seen to advantage.”—Glasgow Herald, Monday June 3, 1895.

Windsor Castle sailing out of Bournemouth

The Culzean Castle had been launched in the middle of June, 1891 by the Southampton Naval Works as Windsor Castle for the Bournemouth, Swanage & Poole Steam Packet Co., and after some difficulties in fitting out when her builders went out of business, eventually entered service, sailing out of Bournemouth at the end of July, 1892. She was not a great success on the South Coast and was sold to work on the Clyde in 1895.

Culzean Castle in her first season (Adamson)

Culzean Castle was heavily built with a large fore-castle and in her first season on the Clyde was little changed in appearance from her previous employment with a black-topped buff funnel.

Glasgow Herald May 31, 1895

Glasgow Herald June 5, 1895

Glasgow Herald July 10, 1895

Despite the auspicious start on the Campbeltown service, during the latter part of June she experienced some mechanical difficulties, on one occasion arriving back at Fairlie after midnight. On the Glasgow Fair Saturday, July 13, she broke down at Keppel on the outward voyage and after some delay, Buchanan’s Isle of Arran was chartered to take up the service.

Glasgow Herald July 30, 1895

Glasgow Herald August 29, 1895

Glasgow Herald September 24, 1895

During the summer there were sporadic breakdowns and at the end of the season, Williamson’s Glenmore was chartered for the station while Culzean Castle was given a thorough overhaul.

Glasgow Herald October 1, 1895

She appeared in 1896 with a black-topped red funnel and had her promenade deck extended over the well-deck, leaving the sides of the well-deck open in the fashion of the Glenmore.

Culzean Castle at Fairlie Pier

Culzean Castle (Robertson)

At the beginning of the 1896 season, the Glasgow Herald had a good account of the various coach tours that connected with the Culzean Castle. It is clear that this part of the Firth attracted the interest of many tourists and the Culzean Castle should be accorded great credit for opening up the service. The alternative sailing to Campbeltown and the West Coast of Arran was by the Campbeltown and Glasgow Joint Stock Steam Packet Co. Ltd., which generally ran its steamers, taking the whole day for the single voyage and carrying significant amounts of cargo to the ports of call.

“Commencing 18th May the steamer Culzean Castle leaves Prince’s Pier daily at 8:20 a.m. for Dunoon, Rothesay, Fairlie, Keppel Pier (Millport), Lochranza, Pirnmill, Machrie Bay, and Campbeltown, arriving at 12:55 p.m., and returning from Campbeltown at 3:00 p.m. Trains in connection leave Glasgow (St Enoch) at 9:00 a.m. and Paisley (Canal) at 9:10 a.m. for Fairlie, and from Fairlie for Glasgow and Paisley at 5:45 p.m. Train connections from and to all the Ayrshire towns have been arranged via Fairlie. A direct connection from Clydebank, Bowling, Dumbarton, Vale of Leven, Helensburgh, and Craigendoran, via Prince’s Pier and Dunoon, has also been arranged, and will come into operation on 1st June. Coaches leave Campbeltown on arrival of steamer at 12:55 p.m. for Machrihanish, and return in time to connect with the steamer on her return trip. Passengers have about half an hour at the Bay. The Southend new coach tour will be opened on 18th May, and coaches in connection with the Culzean Castle leave Campbeltown daily at 2:15 p.m. for Southend, and from Southend for Campbeltown at 11:45 a.m. The Glen Sannox coach tour commences on 1st June, to Lochranza by Culzean Castle to Corrie, returning from Corrie by the G. and S.W. Railway steamer Neptune. This tour can also be performed by passengers travelling per Neptune, via Prince’s Pier, in the morning to Corrie, coach Corrie to Lochranza, and returning by Culzean Castle. Passengers have time for lunch or dinner at wither Lochranza or Corrie hotels. The Brodick and Machrie Bay coach tour (across Island of Arran) commences on 1st June. Culzean Castle to Machrie Bay, thence per coach across the island to Brodick, from Brodick to Ardrossan per Glen Sannox, and thence per train for Glasgow, Paisley, &c. This tour can also be performed by passengers travelling via Ardrossan and Brodick per Glen Sannox, coach Brodick to Machrie Bay, returning per Culzean Castle via Fairlie or Prince’s Pier. Connections from London, Liverpool, Manchester, &c., and the Midland Counties have also been arranged.”—Glasgow Herald May 4, 1896.

Glasgow Herald June 10, 1896

Glasgow Herald July 12, 1897

The problems of ongoing mechanical difficulties led to the replacement of Culzean Castle from the Glasgow & South Western Railway connections by Williamson’s Strathmore for the 1898 season. The Culzean Castle was sold to the Clyde Excursion Steamers Ltd., and was renamed Carrick Castle. She carried out excursions from the Broomielaw to various resorts in the upper Firth with occasional forays to Arran and Campbeltown. Many of the excursions included musical entertainment.

Carrick Castle at the Broomielaw

Glasgow Herald July 10, 1899

Glasgow Herald July 31, 1899

Glasgow Herald August 5, 1899

Glasgow Herald August 15, 1899

Glasgow Herald August 17, 1899

The following series of photographs come from a trip from Gourock to Campbeltown in the Carrick Castle on Wednesday, August 2, 1899. That was the day of the Campbeltown Cattle Show. Sailing from Gourock cost 2/6d in the saloon.