A Colorful Interlude (II)

on Sep 3, 2025

Messrs MacBrayne provided a lifeline to the communities of the western highlands and islands. In addition to the Royal Route by swift steamers the larger vessels sailing from the Clyde round the Mull of Kintyre brought passengers and goods to villages and lodges around the coast. Cavalier at Custom House Quay, Greenock. Cavalier dated from 1883 and was built to the maximum length fitting the locks on the Caledonian Canal for the service to Inverness. Astern of her is the Islay of 1872. She was built as Princess Louise for the Stranraer to Larne service, and in 1890, was acquired by Messrs MacBrayne, and renamed Islay. She sailed from Glasgow round the Mull of Kintyre to her namesake island. In 1902, she ran aground at Port Ellen. Approaching the pier is Messrs Campbell’s Meg Merrilies. Cavalier on the Caledonian Canal. Sailing round the Mull of Kintyre was not without its dangers....

All the way to Stornoway

on Jan 22, 2019

The prospects of serving the most remote parts of the western isles by steamboat featured early the annals. In the Herald of December 22, 1820, the following appeared:— “Steam-Packets to the Hebrides and North-west of Scotland.—The great facilities now afforded for visiting many parts of this country, by means of the cheap and safe conveyance of these vessels, continue to be everywhere on the increase. At present, it must afford much satisfaction to all interested in the northern parts of our Island, to learn, that a communication is now to be opened, by this admirable invention, to many parts of the Highlands which were lately, and are yet, comparatively inaccessible by roads. It is now intended that a Steam-boat shall begin to ply from the Clyde—to the Lewes, through the Crinan Canal and Sound of Mull—to call at Tobermory—from thence to the Sound of Skye—call at Isle Ornsay,...