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...

Brodick Pier

on Feb 2, 2026

The village of Brodick owes its origins to Brodick bay, a natural harbour sheltered from the prevailing winds, and the presence of the castle that dates to ancient times. In the 15th century, the castle was granted to the James, the first Lord Hamilton, and his son was created the first Earl of Arran. The family title was raised to a Dukedom early in the 17th century but the male line of direct succession died out in 1651, and the title passed to the Duchess Anne. Although the castle changed hands on many occasions in that turbulent period, it was after the Cromwellian occupation in the 17th century that Duchess Anne Hamilton married William Douglas who assumed the dukedom, taking the name of Hamilton. The Castle remained in poor condition, used mainly as a hunting resort, until the 10th Duke, Alexander, added a modern wing in 1844 as a residence for his son William, who a year earlier...

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....

A Colourful Interlude (I)

on Sep 1, 2025

This summer I began rescanning my collection of glass slides and negatives. They are heavy and it would seem that a good digital record might be the best means of preservation. Many show the signs of the fungus that is their bane and required restoration. Although my focus has always been on black and white photographs that I convert to sepia as I find it provides a more pleasing way of capturing detail, I also began to play with colouring software. The high resolution of the slides and negatives (roughly x5 what I can post on this site) makes them good candidates for colourisation. I use an older version of photoshop that I frequently use to set the colours of the background and use the painting palette for the detail, keeping the opacity low to preserve shading in the original photograph. It is an exercise in colouring between the lines for the most part and quite straightforward. I...

Colour in the Highlands and Islands

on Aug 1, 2025

One of the most viewed articles on this site is “Colour on the Clyde” where a collection of coloured postcards of the steamers in Edwardian times are presented in more or less chronological order. A similar treatment might be possible for the steamers of the West Highlands and Islands. However, the material is much more scarce, and the general quality of the postcards is not as good as that for the Clyde, with less focus on steamers, and rather more on their surroundings. Some of the best material is published in Ian M‘Crorie’s book, “Steamers of the Highlands and Islands”, published by Orr, Pollock, & Co., Ltd., Greenock in 1987. This article will duplicate some of the material from that book but sourced exclusively from my own collection. No attempt will be made to produce a chronological order, and the best way to present the material focuses on the different routes on which the...

Kilchattan Bay

on Oct 11, 2024

The village of Kilchattan Bay on the south-east corner of Bute has long enjoyed a sheltered spot, in the lee of the Suidhe hill, protecting it from the prevailing westerly winds. The Bay itself was a place of respite for fishing boats and sailing craft in storms. With Cumbrae across the water to the east, ferry crossings to the mainland to Bute were established north of the bay but the surrounding farmlands of Kingarth for many years provided cargoes of produce, including the early potato crop shipped from the old stone quay that was constructed in 1822. Smacks at the old quay at Kilchattan Bay (Stengel) Kilchattan Bay in the shelter of the Suidhe (Valentine) It seems likely that in the early days of steamboats on the Firth, that the Castle steamers on their sailings from Glasgow or Rothesay to the east Arran ports would make occasional, unadvertised calls at Kilchattan Bay to drop off...