Lochgoilhead has been the subject of a previous article where the ships of the Lochgoil and Lochlong Steamboat Co., were featured. This current article is mainly pictorial and will focus on the variety of steamers that visited the pier from the 1850s till the 1950s. During that time period, Loch Goil lost its place as the principal route to Inveraray and the west by the combination of steamboats and coaches through Hell’s Glen. The Royal Route, by sea all the way to Tarbet and Ardrishaig introduced by the Messrs Hutcheson was ascendant, popularized by the visit of Queen Victoria in 1847. The old landing at Lochgoilhead had fallen into disrepair and a new pier was promised for 1850.

“Arrochar and Lochgoilhead.—We are gratified to learnt that visitors to these favourite watering-places will, have ample steam accommodation afforded them next season. Arrangements have already been entered into, by which there will be a daily morning and evening conveyance from each of the above ports as well as from Glasgow. At Arrochar, Sir James Colquhoun is about to erect a commodious and substantial new pier, the want of which has been hitherto felt as the only drawback to that interesting locality. The pier at Lochgoilhead has unfortunately been allowed to get into such a ruinous state, that the steamers can now seldom make use of it; but the Superior there also, will no doubt see to its speedy re-erection, so that Lochgoilhead—the principal route to Inveraray—may keep pace with the other watering places on the Clyde.—Citizen.”—Glasgow Herald, December 14, 1849

North British Daily Mail, May 10, 1850

An early engraving of Lochgoilhead shows a pier that may be the earlier landing or the newly replaced pier. It does not have the pier face seen in later photographs.

Lochgoilhead (Banks)

The earliest photograph I have of Lochgoilhead pier is by Beckett of Glasgow and he was active around 1870. The steamer at the pier is an old one of the Lochgoil Company vessels, with the funnel aft of the paddle boxes and is almost certainly the Lochgoil, dating from 1853 and sold to work as a tender at Londonderry in 1875. She returned to the Clyde as a “Sunday-breaker,” Lough Foyle.

Loch Goil at Lochgoilhead pier around 1870 (Beckett)

Lochgoilhead from the pier around 1870 (Beckett)

The Lochgoil Company had some competition, even in the early days. The Ardencaple apparently blocked the use of the pier for use by the Lochgoil Company’s steamers.

“Inveraray.—Lochgoil and Lochlong Steamboat Co. v. Capt. Macintyre.— In this action, which was noticed in our paper a few days since, the respondent, Capt. Macintyre, of the steamer Ardencaple, on the 3d inst., lodged a minute, and craved the Court to recall the interim interdict, he having agreed, until the present case is decided, to abide by the rules and bye-laws of the petitioners—viz., to leave the inside berth at Lochgoilhead Pier 10 minutes after embarking passengers and cargo, so to make way for any other steamer or other vessel touching Lochgoilhead Pier. Sheriff Sir George Home sustained the minute, recalled the interim interdict granted by him, and ordered the company to lodge a condescendence, and Captain Macintyre defences; thus the case will be defended.”—Greenock Telegraph, July 7, 1868

The Lochgoil and Lochlong Steamboat Company promoted the Lochgoilhead route as the fastest to Inveraray and provided a series of well-loved ships over the years for the service; Carrick Castle of 1870, and Windsor Castle of 1875. A related enterprise, the Glasgow and Inveraray Steamboat Co., brought out the new saloon steamer Lord of the Isles in 1877 sailing to Inveraray by Rothesay and the Kyles of Bute and the round trip by Lochgoilhead to Inveraray and returning by way of The Kyles of Bute or vice versa was a popular tourist excursion. Passenger accommodation was improved on the Lochgoilhead station with a deck saloon on the Windsor Castle. The addition of Edinburgh Castle in 1879 allowed the Carrick Castle to be disposed of to owners on the Forth in 1881. In the 1890s, competition from the new railway steamers for the tourist trade in the summer led to a decline in the Lochgoil Company’s fortunes and Windsor Castle was sold in 1900 to Turkish Owners.

Windsor Castle at the pier around 1880

Windsor Castle at the pier in the 1880s

Windsor Castle at the pier around 1890

The new Edinburgh Castle at the pier in 1880 (Valentine)

The pier in 1880 (Valentine)

Edinburgh Castle at the pier around 1890 (Poulton-Ritchie)

Lochgoilhead in 1892 (Valentine)

Edinburgh Castle around 1900

The purchase of part of the Ardkinglas estate by Mr A. Cameron Corbett, M.P. and his presentation of the purchase to the Corporation of the City of Glasgow for the use of its citizens reinvigorated passenger traffic to the area in the summer. The old Lochgoil Company was a beneficiary but the inroads of the turbine steamers on the Lochfyne trade resulted in an amalgamation of the Lochgoil and Lochfyne interests to form the Loch Goil and Inveraray Steamboat Company in 1908. The eventual demise came when Turbine Steamers Ltd., took over the company with its distinctive red funnels with black to and black and white bands in 1912. The Edinburgh Castle was scrapped the following year.

“Presentation of an estate to Glasgow.—Unique gift by Mr Cameron Corbett, M.P.—A meeting of Glasgow Corporation was held yesterday in the Council Hall of the City Chambers—Lord Provost Sir John Ure Primrose presiding. The Lord Provost read the following letter, which, he stated, he had received that morning from Mr A. Cameron Corbett, M.P.: New Club, Glasgow, 38th July, 1905. “My Dear Lord Provost,—l have just agreed to purchase a part of Ardkinglass estate with the object of handing over the three sheep farms lying between Long and Loch Goil to the Corporation Glasgow. The extent of the land is about 9,000 acres. As it is not possible in many cases for the public to have access to mountains in this neighbourhood, it seems to me desirable that our fellow citizens should have a mountain territory which will be their own for all time.

“My usual clause against the sale of liquor would be a condition of the conveyance. I should also make it a condition that the revenue derived from that property should be diverted to the purpose of making it more accessible to our citizens, whether by ferry other means.

“My general object to preserve a grand and rugged region for the best use of those who love the freedom of the mountains and wild natural beauty. While I would not object to the erection of simple cottages, I should greatly repel anything being done which would disturb the naturalness of such scenery, and would suggest that our artists might be consulted before any step affecting its aspect be taken.

“While I make the two restrictions and one earnest suggestion, I trust that none of these will be felt by the Corporation interfere in an undesirable way with their freedom do their best for the citizens, or to imply any limitation of the heartiness with which I appreciate your own and their public services.—Yours sincerely, A. Cameron Corbett.”

“The purchase will be completed in November, and the shooting is let until May.”

“The Lord Provost, who stated that the revenue from the estate amounted to some hundreds, said he had seen Corbett, and it was in consonance with his view that the matter be remitted to the Finance Committee. No obligation would be involved in acceptance. The estate would be preserved in its natural condition, and would involve no outlay. The property was the promontory running out from the entrance to Loch Goil and op Loch Long. It was bounded by lochs on either side. Mr Corbett said he was shooting tenant on the estate a few years ago, and determined then that if an opportunity occurred be would acquire the estate for the purpose of handing it over to the citizens of Glasgow, as he now did. He was sure they all rejoiced that had such public-spirited citizen their midst, and thought they should express their appreciation of his munificent gift. (Applause.)

“The matter was remitted to Finance Committee.”—Greenock Telegraph, August 4, 1905

“New name for Glasgow’s highland estate.—At a meeting of the Finance Committee of Glasgow Town Council yesterday, it was agreed to recommend that Glasgow’s Highland estate, hitherto known as “Ardkinglas,” should be renamed ‘”Ardgoil,” which means “Hill of Goil.” The only other name considered by the Committee was “Ardengoil,” meaning “Hills of Goil,” but it received only two supporters, and they withdrew their submission to allow the unanimous recommendation of “Ardgoil.”— Scotsman, March 9, 1907

The Young Man’s Christian Association had been running camps in the summer at Colintraive from early in the new century and in 1907 they approached Glasgow Corporation with a view to a permanent site on the Ardgoil estate. The Corporation of Glasgow granted a lease of twelve acres of ground half-a-mile from Lochgoilhead pier at the junction of the two streams Goil and Donich to the Y.M.C.A, and permanent quarters were erected. These included a dining hall capable of sitting 400, 20 bedrooms and 32 cubicles, shops, offices, stores, a dark room, a reception room, reading and recreation rooms, and a ladies’ room. A piano was provided, as also indoor games. There is also a cycle store. The outdoor accommodation consisted of bell tents and marquees, fitted with wooden floors, mattresses, pillows, sheets, blankets, etc. With the marquee and tents the camp was able to accommodate about 450 persons. The cost of the scheme was over £2000, £1800 of which had been subscribed before the camp opened.

Postcard showing the attractions of the YMCA Camp at Lochgoilhead

The YMCA camp at Lochgoilhead

“Opening of the Y.M.C.A. camp at Ardgoil.—The Y.M.C.A. camp at Ardgoil opened on Saturday for the summer. In the absence of Mr Cameron Corbett and the Lord Provost, the opening ceremony was performed by ex-Bailie J. P. Maclay.

The camp is delightfully situated, about a mile from Lochgoilhead. No better idea could perhaps have been hit upon by the Corporation for popularising Glasgow’s Highland estate, and giving city people an opportunity of viewing the rugged beauty of Ardgoil, than that of leasing a portion of the estate at Inveronich to the Y.M.C.A. for their camp.

The tents for campers number over forty. Saturday’s party from Glasgow left Central 10.10 a.m., and had an enjoyable sail from Gourock to Lochgoilhead.”—Greenock Telegraph, May 18, 1908

The Caledonian, South Western and North British Companies all ran scheduled services to Lochgoilhead in the summer. The popular circular tours promoted by the North British with the steamers Marmion and Waverley took in Lochs Goil, Long and a sail on Loch Lomond.

Caledonian Marchioness of Breadalbane at Lochgoilhead.

The Lochgoil mail service was taken over by Messrs Macbrayne who placed the motor vessel Comet on the route. In the busy summer months, one of Macbrayne’s larger paddle steamers was substituted.

Daily Record, June 1, 1914

Daily Record, June 27, 1914

Macbrayne’s  Chevalier at Lochgoilhead around 1914

In the post-world-war 1 era, the steamers of Williamson-Buchanan that transported thousands of young Glaswegians to their Highland Estate from Glasgow. The railway companies, principally the Craigendoran based L.N.E.R., also visited on regular service calls in the summer and on excursions.

The pier had a large waiting room added.

Eagle III at Lochgoilhead

Kylemore at Lochgoilhead

Kylemore

Queen Empress

The summer mail steamer Iona at Lochgoilhead in 1923

The diminutive winter mail boat Comet at Lochgoilhead pier in the 1920s

These boys on the Waverley were from the mining village of Douglas Water in Lanarkshire. The headmaster at the local school took the boys from the village school on the steamer from Craigendoran on a day’s trip to Lochgoilhead YMCA Holiday Camp in 1923. The small smiling young man to the left of the lifebuoy wearing a large cloth cap is William Gladstone whose granddaughter provided the story of the event.

Douglas Water boys on the Waverley at Lochgoilhead

At the YMCA pavilion 

The boys posing for a group picture at the YMCA pavilion

Waverley at Craigendoran in the early 1920s

The veteran Lord of the Isles brought the old Lochgoil colors back to Lochgoilhead in 1928, her last season.

The turbine, King Edward, was transferred to Williamson Buchanan Steamers and was a frequent visitor to Lochgoilhead. Waverley was also a frequent visitor and excursions by the L.M.S. lochs tour were also noted.

King Edward at Lochgoilhead in the 1930s

King Edward in 1938 (Valentine)

Waverley hugs the south shore of the Gareloch at Carrow Bay in the late 1930s

Duchess of Hamilton at Lochgoilhead

After the second world war, the mail service was provided by road and Comet was withdrawn and briefly replaced by Robina for the 1947 season. The new Waverley was a frequent summer visitor after 1947 but traffic diminished over the next two decades in common with excursion work over the whole Clyde area. The pier closed in 1965, with the last call from Maid of Skelmorlie.

Waverley at Lochgoilhead in 1959 (Valentine)

Maid leaving Lochgoilhead (Valentine, photo by Carol Gibbs)

Clyde Piers, Ian McCrorie and Joy Monteith, Inverclyde District Libraries, Greenock, 1982.