CalMac reshuffles fleet after 'exceptional' problems
MV Caledonian Isles, which operates on the Arran route has been out of action since last February with a series of issues including rust and twisted frames. The ship was due back next month, but this has been pushed back, possibly to late April, after new issues were found with the tubes for its propeller shafts. MV Isle of Lewis, which operates to Barra, needs steelwork replaced during annual maintenance, and will not return to service until Sunday 23 March, almost a month later than expected. MV Clansman has also been slightly delayed in overhaul, while MV Isle of Mull is restricted to just 45 passengers.This is due to problems with its emergency evacuation systems, which will not be fixed until mid May at the earliest.
Mr Mackison said the publicly-owned firm was "dealing with an exceptional set of circumstances"."Challenges with several vessels in the fleet have converged at the same time, creating a significant capacity issue which leaves us with difficult choices to make in terms of service provision," he added. "Given the age of our fleet and the need to overhaul all vessels outside of the busy summer season, our vessels are spending a record amount of time in overhaul this winter. "This stretches our services and, when unplanned delays such as those we're experiencing with MV Isle of Lewis and MV Clansman are factored in, our resources to the limit"
The lack of vessels means a Troon-only service to Arran will continue - using the new ferry Glen Sannox and catamaran Alfred - and the more frequent services from Ardrossan will not resume until Caledonian Isles returns in April.A shared service for Barra and South Uist has been extended.Mr Mackison said: "The extension of the shared service is far from ideal but is the only deployment plan available to us which allows us to maintain services and meet demand across the network."The Ardrossan-Campbeltown route has been cancelled for a third year in a row. Full details of services are available at the CalMac website. Four new large Calmac ships are being constructed at a shipyard in Turkey, with the first due for delivery in the coming months, but all four are delayed and will require weeks of crew familiarisation trials before entering service. MV Glen Sannox, built by the Ferguson shipyard, began scheduled sailings in January after years of delays, offering a significant boost for Arran services. Its sister ship Glen Rosa is currently due for delivery in September but a further delay is expected and a new update from the yard is awaited.
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The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
SNP's Kate Forbes leaves big gap to fill on Scottish economy
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Times
5 days ago
- Times
Why Islay should be your next family holiday (whisky fans look away)
Islay may be best known for its distilleries and golfing, but it's also a great break with children. From deserted beaches beneath big blue skies to wildlife, ancient castles and family-friendly lodgings, here's how to do Islay with kids. The Islay ferry from Kennacraig is half the fun. For starters, it's probably the most spectacular of all CalMac crossings — you sail through the narrow West Loch then out across the Sound of Jura with the Paps rising above. For another, at two hours, it's just long enough to make you feel that you are on holiday, but not so long that the kids will get bored. Grab a CalMac and cheese from the café, watch for seabirds and seals from the deck, then you're fares £17.40 per adult (children £8.70) plus £87.90 per car; Once a rather formal golf hotel, the Machrie has been given a new lease of life by its new owners Another Place — the brand known for its laid-back, family-perfect Lake District hotel. The interiors have been thoughtfully reimagined with contemporary art, including from John Bellany and Grayson Perry. Vast acres of glass in the lounge and restaurant look out over the beautiful links course and dunes (with the stunning seven-mile long beach beyond for sandcastle building and bracing dips). There are ten refurbished family rooms and spacious self-catering lodges sleeping six. These open directly onto the newly planted garden with outdoor hot tubs, a sauna and cold plunge. Families can borrow fat bikes for beach rides and try their hand at golfing, followed by after-dinner board games in the Snug. B&B doubles from £225, with room for extra child's bed; two-bedroom lodges from £528, B&B You are never far from a stretch of gorgeous, unspoilt coastline on Islay and its beaches are often blissfully deserted. Machir Bay is among the best, while secluded Singing Sands earns its name from the squeaky sound the sand makes underfoot. Built in 1832, Carraig Fhada Lighthouse stands at one end. Note that, even in summer, Islay's beaches can be windy — so it's worth keeping the odd sheltered bay up your sleeve, such as the one at Portnahaven, with a wee sandy beach and pub for hot chocolates afterwards. • There's more to Islay than just distilleries Perched on the east side of Loch Gruinart at the end of a single track lane is the Oyster Shed, where gargantuan bivalves are served with lemon wedges and not an ounce of pretence. The children's menu playfully lists dishes such as 'I'm not hungry' (a cheese toastie with chips) and 'Aye, ok' (battered chicken bites with chips). The bright blue shed overlooks the bay where oysters are harvested, home from autumn to spring to thousands of barnacle and white-fronted geese. Head to the excellently named Peatzeria ( in Bowmore for stone-baked pizza — including seafood-topped specials — and pasta, followed by a generous scoop of ice cream. No matter that Islay is one of the most spectacular places on the planet — small kids are still going to want a swing. Luckily Islay has an excellent park tucked behind the whitewashed waterfront at the Port Mòr Centre. Head to the nearby Port Charlotte Hotel afterwards for a pint outside while your child plays on the bay. The hotel also has regular live music nights with Gaelic singing and Celtic tunes. • Escape to Islay, the island of walking and whisky Book a boat trip with Islay Sea Adventures to experience the island's most dramatic scenery up close, while skippers share tales of the landscape's rich heritage. Our trip visited the wee islands off the Kildalton coast, which teem with wildlife including red deer, seals and occasional white-tailed eagles and dolphins. Book the seafood tour (£115 per person) to enjoy a generous spread of lobster, crab and barbecued scallops, served onboard with a wee £60 per adult; £50 per child; £20 for under 2s; Little children's imaginations can run wild among Islay's centuries-old fortresses, castles and windswept ruins. The Finlaggan settlement was the seat of the Lords of the Isles and Clan Donald during the 14th century. Today, it is a peaceful place steeped in Scottish history. Tour the visitor centre, where the reception desk is carved in the shape of a longship, and enjoy a picnic overlooking Loch Finlaggan. Mhairi Mann was a guest of the Machrie (
The Guardian
05-08-2025
- The Guardian
Six of the best ferry crossings in the UK – from the Isles of Scilly to the Outer Hebrides
The hills of the Scottish Highlands were still in sight when the cry went up: 'Whale!' And there it was, a humpback on the port side of the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry, blasting a great cloud of mist from its blowhole, then with a farewell flick of its tail, disappearing into the Atlantic. On other voyages you may see glorious sunsets, rare migratory birds, ruined castles and historic lighthouses. Unlike the classic road trip or the great railway journey, however, the humble ferry rarely makes it to anyone's bucket list. They are a means to an end, only chosen by necessity. And yet, the UK has some of the best and most exhilarating voyages within its borders. From exciting river crossings to island odysseys that test the mettle of the best sea captains, these boat journeys can be the high point of any trip. Starting from Penzance's South Pier, in sight of St Michael's Mount, the crossing to St Mary's is the indispensable highlight of any trip to the Isles of Scilly. The gas-guzzling, climate-clobbering helicopter doesn't even approach the magic of this ship and its three-hour voyage into the Atlantic Ocean. Penzance bursts with nautical heritage; many of its remarkable number of pubs have existed since the days of Captain Kidd and Francis Drake. Once aboard the Scillonian (built in Appledore, Devon, in 1977), find a position with a view to the starboard to glimpse Land's End on departure, then keep a lookout for wildlife. Dolphins and whales are sighted regularly on the voyage. Birdlife includes gannets, Manx shearwaters and puffins. Watch out for bird feeding frenzies, which may attract the attention of bluefin tuna (the half-ton fish can leap clear of the water and numbers are rising fast). Other potential highlights include fin whales, the planet's second largest animal after the blue whale – with several sightings in 2024. A day return on the Scillonian III is £35. Woodstock Ark, a secluded cabin near Penzance South Pier, sleeps two, from £133 a night. Star Castle Hotel, close to the Scillonian's arrival point on St Mary's, has great food and superb views; doubles with dinner from £245. Dartmouth has a huge heritage of sailing and boats, and the lower ferry across the mouth of the River Dart is an absolute classic. The best approach is on the steam railway from Paignton, which brings you into what was once the Great Western Railway's imposing Kingswear station on the east bank of the river. Alternatively, you could walk to Kingswear on the South West Coast Path from Brixham (a 10-mile yomp). There has been a ferry here since the 14th century and the latest incarnation is a barge with room for eight cars towed by a tugboat. The crossing is short but memorable, the flanks of the steeply wooded valley looming over a fast-moving tidal river that froths around the barge as it picks its way through a busy shipping lane. Landing is right in town, next to the blue plaque for John Davis, one of the great sea dogs of Devon, who searched for the Northwest Passage and died at the hands of pirates near Singapore in 1605. If the crossing has whetted the appetite, walk upriver along the historic waterfront to the Upper Dart ferry, another interesting boat. Originally a floating platform linked to cross-river chains that were pulled by horses, today it's a diesel-electric paddle engine combined with cables that can manage about 18 cars. The Lower Dart Ferry costs £5 return for a foot passenger; car and passengers £14 return. Ferryside apartment next to the ferry in Kingswear sleeps four, from £533 for three nights. Further away, Dartington Hall, once Britain's leading progressive school, is now a top arts centre, offering wonderful gardens and accommodation, with doubles from £103 B&B. Scotland is blessed with many memorable ferry routes, but none surpasses the short voyage from Berneray to Leverburgh on Harris. A hop of just nine nautical miles and taking an hour, it crosses the shallow Sound of Harris, which is strewn with deadly rocks, dangerous tidal currents and frequent mists. Before GPS, it was a rule that the captain would turn back if he couldn't see two buoys ahead, and occasionally the ship would slither on to a sandbank and have to stay there until the tide lifted her off. These days it remains an exhilarating passage, weaving between dozens of jagged hazards with evocative names such as Drowning Rock and the Black Curran. Listen for the ghostly cries of seals on the larger islets, and look out for a majestic white-tailed sea eagle. The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry costs £4.70 one way for a foot passenger. Camping at Balranald on North Uist is highly recommended (tent £14), or try 30 Backhill, a restored thatched stone croft on Berneray, from £535 a week. As a shortcut at the end of the Suffolk coastal path, the ferry from Landguard Fort near Felixstowe to Harwich offers great panoramas of the harbour formed by the rivers Orwell and Stour. You're likely to spot some of the planet's largest container ships and a Thames barge. Alternatively, embark at Shotley Gate, the tip of the narrow and beautiful Shotley peninsula that separates the two rivers – the walk down the Orwell from Ipswich is particularly picturesque, taking in Pin Mill. Harwich old town is also well worth exploring, with some beautiful period buildings including the Electric Cinema, opened in 1911. The Harwich Harbour Ferry connects Felixstowe and Harwich (tickets £6 one way), and Harwich and Shotley (£4.80); it runs from April to October. The Alma Inn is a gorgeous Grade II-listed pub in old Harwich, with doubles from £90 B&B. Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion There cannot be many ferries that only run when the barman is free, but this classic crossing requires the pump-puller at the Saracens Head in Symonds Yat to shut up shop for a few minutes and haul half a dozen passengers across the River Wye using an overhead cable. Despite some deplorable environmental mismanagement upstream, the river here remains a beautiful sight. On the far bank, take the lane north to another good pub, Ye Old Ferrie Inn. Their ferry drops you on a footpath that heads up through the woods for the fine views along the curving river from the Symonds Yat rock itself. These crags were visited in 1770, by schoolmaster William Gilpin, who had an eye for untamed landscapes, triggering a revolution in the appreciation of views and nature that we still benefit from today. Alternatively, walk downriver and cross at the beautiful Biblins suspension Symonds Yat ferries cost £2 for adults. The Saracens Head occupies a lovely riverside location, with doubles from £135, B&B. You may, of course, choose to take the bridge to Skye, but for a real Hebridean treat take the original ferry across the 500-metre-wide Kyle Rhea straits. This is the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world (built in Troon in 1969), carrying just six cars and 12 people on a five-minute voyage. Due to strong tidal currents running at up to nine knots and frequently windy conditions, the designers came up with the ingenious solution of a turntable to allow vehicles to disembark safely. Saved by a local campaign in 2006, it has now become a vital part of the Skye experience. The Isle of Skye ferry from Glenelg costs £3 for foot passengers, and £20 for a car (with up to four passengers) one way. Sykes Cottages has a number of properties on Skye, including Beaton's traditional thatched croft, from £457 a week.
