Latter days of Clanranald II on Loch Shiel

By on Mar 7, 2018 in Clanranald II, Loch Shiel | 6 comments

I recall a visit to a little museum in Moidart where the docent, an elderly gentleman, became rather heated when the subject of the steamer service on Loch Shiel was mentioned. The loss of the mail service and the vessel on the loch incited a rant, partly in English and partly in Gaelic indicating that even more than forty years on had left strong feelings.

The service on Loch Shiel began in 1893 with Messrs MacBrayne’s Maud, an iron steam launch built in 1889 by Messrs Seath at Rutherglen. She proved to be too large for the traffic and when the estate changed hands, the new owner secured the mail contract and introduced a steamer of his own and Maud was withdrawn. After a rocky start, first with a small yacht, Lady of the Lake, and then in 1899 with the addition of another Seath built product, Clanranald, the service was introduced by Lord Howard. The first Clanranald drew too much water and was replaced the following year by Clanranald II, also from the Rutherglen yard with 90 h.p. engines by Messrs Fisher & Co. of Paisley.

Steamship Clanranald II at Glenfinnan around 1910

Clanranald II was 70 feet long by 14 feet in the beam and a gross tonnage of 50 tons. After sailing from the Clyde to Loch Moidart, she was drawn up the River Shiel and began her daily run from Acharacle to Glenfinnan with calls at Polloch and Daililea. The connection at Glenfinnan was partly up the River Collop where the mail was collected from the West Highland Railway.

In 1921, ownership was changed to the Loch Shiel Steamboat Service Co. Ltd.

After running successfully for many years, Clanranald II was brought down the River Shiel to Oban in 1926 and converted to a twin screw motor vessel. She received a new elongated funnel at this time. It is in this state that the accompanying photographs have been taken.

Clanranald II at Acharacle in February 1933

Clanranald II at Glenfinnan in 1933

Clanranald II at Glenfinnan in 1933

Clanranald II at Glenfinnan

In the 1930s, improvements in roads in the area and increased reliability of motor transport threatened the mail service on the Loch.

“Fears for Loch Shiel steamer service.—A scheme for the improvement of the mail service in the Moidart district of Inverness-shire and the Ardnamurchan district of Argyll is being opposed by many of the people affected, as it would result in the withdrawal of the steamer which plies daily up and down Loch Shiel. Loch Shiel is the long, narrow loch, which runs, roughly, from north-east to south-west and separates Moidart on the north from the Ardgour and Ardnamurchan districts of Argyll on the south-east and south. The steamer, the Clanranald II, plies daily from Acharacle, at the southwest end of the loch, to Glenfinnan, at the north-east, and back, and carries the mails for adjoining districts. The new Post Office scheme provides for the mails being taken by road from Fort William down Loch Linnhe and across the Corran-Ardgour ferry. The mail service would be accelerated, generally, by about three hours, and by about half a day to Achosnich Post Office, which serves Ardnamurchan Lighthouse and six townships.

“Feared Hardship.—At present the mails for Achosnich lie at Kilchoan overnight, and are delivered next day. Under the Post Office proposals they would be sent to Achosnich the same evening. While the improvements would welcomed in themselves, the loss of the contract would result in the withdrawal of the daily steamer, and the districts affected regard this as serious. They would without the means of getting their produce to market, quickly and in good condition. Accordingly, a petition in favour of the status quo is being largely signed. Supporters of the Post Office proposals argue that, if the Clanranald II were withdrawn, Messrs MacBrayne could relied upon to revive the tri-weekly calls at Loch Sunart, to the south, with a boat of twice the tonnage of the Clanranald II. At present a cargo boat calls at Loch Sunart once a week. Dundee Evening Times, October 28, 1937

“Loch Shiel Steamers.—The passenger service on lovely Loch Shiel which may be withdrawn owing to the Post Office decision to send the Acharacle mails by road in future, was inaugurated forty-six years ago by the MacBrayne steamer Maud, a vessel which proved rather big for the loch. She was succeeded in 1899 by the locally owned Clanranald I, and the following year the Clanranald II, which is still in service, made her appearance.”—Dundee Register, July 5, 1939

The sailings continued during the Second World War and in February 1949, Captain Angus MacDonald who had sailed on the service for 52 years announced his retirement. He was held in great esteem in the neighbourhood. The Loch Shiel Company was wound up in 1951 and ownership was transferred to Messrs MacBrayne. Captain MacDonald’s successor lasted only until 1953 when the Clanranald II was laid up at Acharacle. She was broken up the following year. Messrs MacBrayne continued the sailings with two motor launches, Lochshiel and Lochailort, but these ceased to operate around 1970. Since that time, a number of private operators have provided sailings on the Loch. The most recent is the Sileas and an account of a recent sailing may be found here.

 

6 Comments

  1. Iain MacLeod

    March 7, 2018

    Post a Reply

    Fascinating and informative, as always: thank you. Further thanks for introducing me to the term ‘docent’, which despite a reasonable pedigree of studies in English I had never encountered before.

  2. Dear Valeman – I have tried to contact before to no avail. I am secretary of the Tighnabruaich District Development Trust – We are starting a heritage project for our district. There will be a shopfront in the Village and an on-line presence https://www.tddt.org.uk/virtual-heritage-centre
    So far we have some offerings from Geoff newton a local historian and a range of materials we plan to show. Initially the main display will be a rolling display in the Heritage centre matched by the online offer.
    I would very much like to include your work related to the district as it will be of great interest. Can I contact you directly to chat?
    Michael

    • Nick Booker

      March 28, 2021

      Post a Reply

      See http://jamescholmeleyrussell.blogspot.com/ ‘ Jams Cholmeley was the owner of MADGE formerly CLANRANALD and originally intended for service on Loch Shiel. However, her draught was too deep and she was sold in 1902 and used as a yacht. MADGE was renamed HINBA in 1914 and lost off the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1924.
      Lloyd’s Yacht Register indicates that Russell also owned another steam yacht, the GRYFFIN.’

  3. Willie Cameron

    October 27, 2020

    Post a Reply

    “The first Clanranald drew too much water and was replaced the following year by Clanranald II, also from the Rutherglen yard with 90 h.p. engines by Messrs Fisher & Co. of Paisley.”

    Hi, Are you saying that the Clanranald ll was built brand new for Loch Shiel?

    Do you have and info on The Clanranald l? Where is came from and what happened to it.

    Many thanks

    Willie

  4. Norman Stewart

    December 5, 2020

    Post a Reply

    Original Owner: Lord Howard of Glossop, 19 Rutland Gate, London, S.W. & also Dorlin House, Acharacle, R.S.O., Argyllshire.

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.