{"id":2418,"date":"2016-02-13T13:55:23","date_gmt":"2016-02-13T18:55:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/?p=2418"},"modified":"2026-05-01T06:26:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T10:26:01","slug":"sailing-to-islay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/?p=2418","title":{"rendered":"Sailing to Islay"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pioneer<\/a><\/p>\n

Sailings by steamboat from West Loch Tarbert to the Highlands and Islands began with the Maid of Islay<\/em> in the 1820s. The route became an established connection with the Castle Company and subsequently Messrs Hutcheson and their successor Messrs Macbrayne. The West Loch towards its head was shallow and consequently the steamers serving the Islay and Jura routes were paddle steamers. \u00a0By the middle of the 1880s, Messrs Macbrayne were using the Fingal<\/em> of 1877, sailing to Islay.<\/p>\n

\"Fingal<\/a><\/p>\n

Fingal at West Loch Tarbert<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There were complaints about Fingal<\/em> on the service and in 1890, the veteran Glencoe<\/em> was placed on the route until replaced by Pioneer in 1905.<\/p>\n

\"Glencoe<\/a><\/p>\n

Glencoe at West Loch Tarbert<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"ST<\/a><\/p>\n

Glencoe at Port Ellen, Islay, with the puffer Elizabeth<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Messrs Macbraynes also provided an alternative sea route to Islay using the two-funneled Islay<\/em>, purchased second-hand as Princess Louise<\/em> from the Stranraer and Larne route in 1891.<\/p>\n

\"Clansman<\/a><\/p>\n

Clansman and Islay at Custom House Quay<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Islay<\/a><\/p>\n

Islay at Jura (Washington Wilson)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Islay<\/em> ran onto a rock off Port Ellen, Islay in July 1902 and was declared a total loss.<\/p>\n

\"Islay<\/a><\/p>\n

Wreck of Islay<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

After the loss of the Islay<\/em>, Messrs Macbrayne purchased a steamer that had been built in 1875 as Paris<\/em> for the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway service from Newhaven to Dieppe. She had had a subsequent, varied career but was well suited to the exposed waters of the west coast. Renamed Glendale<\/em>, she served on the Gairloch and Stornaway routes before settling down to the Islay service from Glasgow. Unfortunately, she too ran aground, at Deas Point, Kintyre, on July 20, 1905.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Glendale on the rocks with the puffer Zephon in attendance<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIslay steamer ashore at Mull of Kintyre. While on her passage from the Clyde to Islay, Mr MacBrayne\u2019s steamer Glendale<\/em> ran ashore late Thursday night about two miles south-east of the Mull of Kintyre Light-house. She lies in a critical position on a rock-bound coast, and should heavy weather set in is likely to total wreck. The Glendale<\/em> left Greenock about half-past five on Thursday afternoon, and was making good passage in calm weather when she encountered banks of fog. Suddenly, about 11.30 p.m., she crashed on to the rocks about stone-throw from the shore. As was afterwards ascertained, several of the boulders pierced her side, and water rushed in at the forehold and stokehold. The Glendale<\/em> carried three cabin passengers and about a dozen steerage passengers, some of whom were in their berths asleep when the vessel struck. The order was immediately given to lower the lee boats, and the passengers, who remained quite calm, were landed without much difficulty, and within twenty minutes of the steamer\u2019s striking, on the rocks under high cliffs. They remained among the boulders till daylight, when, it being seen that there was no danger, they returned to the Glendale<\/em>. Just after the steamer struck one of Messrs Laird\u2019s Irish steamers came up, and, standing by, offered to convey the passengers to Ireland, but the offer was declined. Yesterday afternoon the steam lighter Spartan<\/em>, laden with wood for Islay, came into the bay, and took off the passengers who were proceeding thither.\u201d\u2014Greenock Telegraph, July 22, 1905<\/p>\n

\u201cCritical position of the steamer Glendale<\/em>.\u2014The Islay steamer Glendale<\/em>, which ran ashore near the Mull of Kintyre late on Thursday night, continues in critical position, and understood to damaged more than was at first supposed. The crew of the steamer Glendale<\/em> have returned to Glasgow.\u201d\u2014Greenock Telegraph, July 24, 1905<\/p>\n

The Glendale<\/em> became a total loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr James Gush, submarine diver, Greenock, has purchased Mr D. MacBrayne\u2019s iron paddle steamer Glendale<\/em>, which went ashore and became a total loss near the Mull of Kintyre a short time ago. Mr Gash has left the Albert Harbour this forenoon la his steamer Beamer<\/em> carry out salvage work at the Glendale.\u201d\u2014Greenock Telegraph, August 5, 1905.<\/p>\n

The second mate, Peter M\u2018Innes, was found to be at fault and had his certificate suspended for four months at the subsequent inquiry.<\/p>\n

\u00a0In 1904 Messrs Macbrayne ordered the paddle steamer Pioneer<\/em> from Messrs A. & J. Inglis of Pointhouse. The vessel was launched in February 1905 and was an attractive, modern steamer with her promenade deck carried forward to the bow\u00a0and\u00a0fully plated below.<\/p>\n

\"WR<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer (Robertson)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In summer on alternate days Pioneer<\/em>\u00a0left Port Ellen in the morning with a call at Gigha, reaching West Loch Tarbert to connect with Columba<\/em> around noon, and returning to Port Askaig with a call at Jura, with the reverse, leaving Port Askaig , calling at Jura with the return to Gigha and Port Ellen. There were no Sunday sailings.<\/p>\n

\"Pioneer<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer at Port Ellen<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pioneer<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer at Port Ellen<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pioneer<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer off Texa<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pioneer<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer at Gigha<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer at Gigha<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"SP<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer at West Loch Tarbert<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"ML2<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer awaiting departure at West Loch Tarbert<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"pioneer-w-loch-tarbert-01-may-1930-442\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer leaving West Loch Tarbert, Mayday, 1930<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pioneer<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer in the Sound of Islay<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pioneer<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer arriving at Port Askaig<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pioneer<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer and the puffer Badger at Port Askaig<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pioneer<\/a><\/p>\n

Pioneer at Port Askaig<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The relief for Pioneer<\/em> was Macbrayne\u2019s other paddle steamer, the 1910 Mountaineer.<\/p>\n

\"west-locg-tarbert-mountaineer-197\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Mountaineer at West Loch Tarbert in 1922 (Valentine)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Mountaineer<\/a><\/p>\n

Mountaineer at West Loch Tarbert (Valentine)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pioneer<\/em> continued to serve her route until the second world war broke out and in 1944 was requisitioned by the Admiralty. She ended her days in 1958 after a spell as a floating laboratory in Portland Harbour.<\/p>\n

\"Col<\/a><\/p>\n

Handa at Bruichladdich<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Islay had no shortage of piers for cargo service. Almost every distillery had one. Here Messrs Macbrayne’s Handa<\/em>, built as the Aros Castle<\/em> in 1878, is seen at Bruichladdich around 1910.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sailings by steamboat from West Loch Tarbert to the Highlands and Islands began with the Maid of Islay in the 1820s. The route became an established connection with the Castle Company and subsequently Messrs Hutcheson and their successor Messrs Macbrayne. The West Loch towards its head was shallow and consequently the steamers serving the Islay […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[140,137,422,139,135,138,49,48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fingal","category-gigha","category-glendale","category-islay-clyde-steamers","category-islay","category-jura","category-mountaineer","category-pioneer","et-bg-layout-dark","et-background-image"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5mIcY-D0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2418"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65320,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2418\/revisions\/65320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dalmadan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}