Lochranza Pier

on Mar 1, 2026

Lochranza, on the mountainous north-west corner of the Island of Arran is a sheltered harbour for fishing boats and traders frequenting the sometimes boisterous waters of the Kilbrannan Sound. A castle, guarding the bay, dates from the 13th century, but from the 18th century has fallen into disuse. Nevertheless, it presents a focal point for the picturesque village. It was only in the 1843, that Lochranza was connected to the road network of the island through Glen Sannox, and at that time, there were a dozen or so fishing boats associated with families in the village. In the immediate hinterland there are numerous farms, and nowadays, a distillery. Tourism thrives, despite a reputation as the village with the least annual sunshine in Scotland. For many years, Lochranza was relatively isolated, connected to Corrie and Brodick by a rough track over the hill and into Glen Sannox. The...

Captain Williamson and the Turbine Syndicate

on Nov 25, 2016

When the experimental turbine-powered steamship Turbinia created a sensation when she sped between the lines of warships at the Spithead Naval Review in June 1897. As a means of propulsion, the turbine had arrived and the initial commercialization fell to a syndicate composed of the Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company of Wallasey-on-Tyne, who supplied the turbines, William Denny and Brothers, who built the hull and boilers and finished the ship, and Captain John Williamson who had a need for a speedy craft for the service he provided to the distant Campbeltown in connection with the Glasgow and Southwestern Railway. King Edward on trials (Adamson) King Edward Dining Room (Turbine Steamers) King Edward Social Hall Lounge (Turbine Steamers) The King Edward was launched at Dumbarton on May 16, 1901, by Mrs, Parsons, wife of Hon. Charles A. Parsons. She was 250 ft long and 30 ft in...

Culzean Castle

on May 28, 2016

“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...

Early Arran Steamers

on Dec 30, 2015

It was in 1834 that the Castle Company introduced a service from the Ayrshire coast to the Island of Arran. The veteran Inverary Castle sailed to Brodick from Troon where she connected with the horse-drawn railway from Kilmarnock. Ardrossan was included as a call in 1834 and the following year, Ardrossan was the Ayrshire terminus with a connecting coach from Kilmarnock. Although the Inverary Castle was described as extensively improved in both speed and comfort, she had been advertised for sale in the Spring, and was disposed of the following year when M‘Kellar’s Hero appeared on the route. The hull of the Hero was built by William Denny in Dumbarton in 1832 and her machinery was produced by Robert Napier. Duncan M‘Kellar added a larger and more successful vessel, the Victor, in 1836 so that Hero was available for the Arran service. Plan of the Glasgow, Paisley, Ardrossan and Ayr...