Latest news with #WaverleyExcursions
Wales Online
30-05-2025
- Wales Online
50 years of steam magic: discover the beauty of Ilfracombe via the magnificent Paddle Steamer Waverley
Summer is the perfect time for family adventures. This summer, families can embark on an enchanting adventure by water, by setting sail on the magnificent Paddle Steamer Waverley - which has recently received a Visit Wales Gold Award for 2025 - as she celebrates 50 years of sailing in preservation. From Monday, June 2 until Wednesday, June 25, families can take a trip like never before aboard the world's last seagoing paddle steamer, with cruises departing from Penarth, Swansea, Tenby and Porthcawl to the charming and idyllic North Devon seaside resort of Ilfracombe, a nod to what has been a long-standing tradition for South Wales passengers. Once aboard, take a step back in time as you observe the magnificent triple expansion steam engine, bringing to life the authentic charm of a real steamship as you hear the telegraph ring, witness the engine's graceful motion, watch the paddles turning through the portholes and sense the soothing aroma of hot oil and steam. Waverley's master, captain Dominic McCall, said: "We have developed our best possible sailing programme for South West Wales to ensure that as many locals and visitors as possible have the opportunity to step aboard Waverley and enjoy a traditional pleasure steamer excursion." (Image: Waverley Excursions) Introducing Waverley Waverley is named after Sir Walter Scott's Waverley novels. She was built to replace the 1899 Waverley, which was sunk by enemy action on May 29, 1940 at Dunkirk. Waverley's keel was laid on December 27, 1945 but due to material shortages after the war, she was not ready for launch until October 2, 1946. It wasn't until the following year on January 20, 1947 that she was towed to Greenock for the installation of her boiler and engines. Her maiden voyage was on June 16, 1947. Waverley was built for the route up Loch Goil and Loch Long from Craigendoran & Arrochar in West Scotland. She now visits several areas of the UK, offering regular trips on the Clyde, The Western Isles, the Thames, South Coast of England and the Bristol Channel with calls at Liverpool and Llandudno. Waverley is the world's last seagoing paddle steamer. In 1974, at the end of her working life, she was famously gifted for just £1 to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. Waverley Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., a charity registered in Scotland, was set up to own and operate the ship. Waverley then began a second career as a beloved tourist attraction. Since she has been in operational preservation, she has been awarded four stars by Visit Scotland, an Engineering Heritage award, and has carried more than six million passengers from more than 60 ports around the UK. Throughout your cruise, full catering facilities will be available, allowing you to indulge in a hot or cold snack, afternoon tea and cake, a wholesome meal in the Dining Saloon - or you can simply relax in one of the steamer's comfortable lounges. (Image: Waverley Excursions) No cruise is complete without visiting the souvenir shop, where exclusive gifts and mementos await, allowing you to carry a piece of Waverley's legacy home with you - ensuring the memories of your special day last a lifetime. Special offers are available on selected dates, allowing a friend to travel with you, free of charge*. Children travel for just £1, whilst under 5s travel free of charge on all sailings. If you dream of creating unique family memories that will last a lifetime this summer, then don't miss out on a Waverley Excursion. Bookings are now open, with tickets available from or you can secure your cruise by calling the booking office on 0141 243 2224. *Seniors bring a friend for free on selected sailings only. Buy one senior ticket and receive a second ticket free of charge. Both passengers must be aged 60 or over to take advantage of this offer. Applicable to advance bookings only.
STV News
30-05-2025
- STV News
'Labour of love': Renovated island pier gets visit from the Waverley
It was a day decades in the making. On Tuesday, hundreds gathered at Salen Pier on the Isle of Mull to welcome the Waverley paddle steamer to dock. The occasion marked the first passenger ferry to stop there since 1964 – when the pier was the island's main port. For owner Peter Stanhope, the day marked a major milestone in a nearly 20-year-long renovation project. STV News Peter Stanhope boarding the ferry at Salen Pier STV News 'It's been a labour of love,' he told STV News. 'We tried for some grants but they weren't forthcoming, so it's literally been restored by blood, sweat and tears from friends and family.' Pupils from Salen Primary School led the warm welcome as the paddle steamer arrived. 'We've never had a welcome like that,' the commentator announced on board. Barry Whenman The children of Salen Primary School celebrating The Waverley's arrival Barry Whenman Mairi Maclean, headteacher of Salen Primary School said: 'The children really enjoyed it, they were really excited about seeing the Waverley coming into the pier. They were cheering and just really looking forward to seeing a paddle steamer.' The pier was bought by Peter in 2007 when it had fallen into a significant state of disrepair. Peter Stanhope Salen Pier archive from 1934 Peter Stanhope Between 1905 and 1955 the MacBrayne MV Lochinvar served the as the island's principal connection to the mainland, stopping off at Salen before heading to the island's capital of Tobermory. The pier had been the island's main port contact to Oban on the mainland, but when the car-carrying ferries replaced the Lochinvar the pier was abandoned and suffered decay. Today, Peter runs holiday homes from the pier's former waiting rooms – the only holiday rentals to sit on a pier in the UK. Peter Stanhope The pier when Peter bought in 2007 Peter Stanhope He hopes the Waverley visit marks a new chapter in the forgotten landmark's history – and can be the first of many visits to come. Paul Semple, the general manger of Waverley Excursions, said: 'The first visit to Salen has been a great success. We'll look to build it into the future programme. 'Occasionally we do find piers that the Waverley has not visited and we'll try and take the ship to the piers because we know the reaction and the support the ship will get when she visits somewhere new.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Waverley: 50 years of the paddle steamer bought for £1
Douglas McGowan thought it was a wind-up when he was offered the Waverley paddle steamer for £1. He was one of a group of young enthusiasts who enjoyed a jaunt out on a paddle steamer in the 70s. But they never thought they would actually own one. However that is exactly what happened back in 1973 and Scotland's beloved Waverley, the world's last seagoing paddle steamer, is still going strong. She is marking a special milestone of fifty years since the ship ran its first passenger sailings after being taken over as a heritage attraction. The steamer was first launched on the Clyde in 1946, intended for cruises up Loch Loch and Loch Goil - and she became a familiar sight for generations going "doon the watter" for their holidays. Now something of a national treasure, Waverley was triumphantly returned to service in 1975 by a very determined group two years after the very cheap purchase. "I thought it was a wind up at first," said Mr McGowan from the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) on the offer from Caledonian MacBrayne. The company had briefly operated the ship before making the £1 offer to the society. Mr McGowan had to persuade his committee in London that it was a genuine offer and then, he said, "the fun and games started". They did not have a really clear idea of what to do with the ship as the offer had been totally unexpected. But an inspection of the hull showed that it was in decent condition and a public appeal raised £100,000 - a huge sum for the time. Fifty years on, the Waverley's 2025 sailing season is now underway. This year she will visit 74 ports and piers around the UK. "Waverley has witnessed so much change in her lifetime," said Paul Semple, general manager at Waverley Excursions. "The river area and the riverside has transformed, yet Waverley has remained". Like many involved with the ship, Mr Semple sailed on her as a child. He started work with her as a student summer job in the mid 90s and has never really left. He said keeping a heritage steam ship running was not easy. And over the years there have been challenges like repairs, maintenance, new boilers, incidents where she has gone into a pier and Covid. "Money is a challenge," Mr Semple said. "But also the people to work the ship to learn the skills of a paddle steamer to ensure that she's here for many years to come". On the first public sailing of the new season, there is a real air of excitement. One young boy is celebrating his birthday, and others have childhood memories. "As a kid it was magic," said Alistair Quinlan, who was born and brought up in Helensburgh. He remembers family and Sunday school trips on the Waverley. "The fact that the engines are open," he added. "Just the sound of it - it is a living playground for young children". Another passenger, Diane MacKinnon, explains that her husband was born very nearby. "He remembers when the river was full of ships like this and everything was really busy on the Clyde," she said. The enthusiasts who took over the Waverley more than 50 years ago said they could never have imagined it would be still going strong today. "The nice thing about Waverley is that she's not stuffed or mounted in a museum somewhere," said Douglas McGowan of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. "She's alive and well and in very good condition". The enduring allure of The Waverley paddle steamer Moment The Waverley steams under London's Tower Bridge Waverley finally sets sail after two years
Scotsman
16-05-2025
- Scotsman
Historic paddle steamer Waverley sets sail on major anniversary year amid record bookings
Classic Clyde vessel celebrating 50th anniversary of being saved for preservation. Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Historic paddle steamer Waverley has set sail for its 50th anniversary season of being saved with amid record bookings that include 15 sold-out trips already. The 78-year-old vessel left its dock beside Glasgow Science Centre on Friday to head down the Clyde to Greenock, Kilcreggan, Largs and Tighnabruaich with 400 passengers on board. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Waverley Excursions, which operates the vessel, fold The Scotsman: 'Pre-booked passengers for the 2025 season have achieved a new record. 'Never before have we had as many passengers booked before the ship has even set sail - more than 41,500 .' The launch of the five-month season follows more £1 million of work on the ship over the winter including an annual overhaul in dry dock in Greenock in April. The 50th anniversary of Waverley returning to service after being saved for preservation will be marked on May 22 with a cruise from Portree in Skye to Gairloch, Ullapool and Kyle of Lochalsh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ship will call at more than 70 ports and piers across the UK, which also include Tobermory and Fort William, and its first visits to Carbost on Skye and Salen on Mull, which Waverley Excursions said were proving 'incredibly popular'. Its spokesperson said: 'The north Wales and the Mersey cruises have been among the fastest-selling, with many sailings close to capacity or sold out. 'We're especially excited to return to Llandudno pier, which has just been named Pier of the Year 2025 by the National Piers Society.. 'This well-deserved recognition follows a period of storm damage and extensive repairs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sailings to Rothesay on Saturday and Oban are also among those fully booked, along with some in the Bristol Channel, south west Wales, and London and the Thames estuary. A total of 160,000 passengers were carried last year, including more than 2,700 on different legs of a day trip around the islands of the Bristol Channel. Record sales notched up in London A record of nearly £90,000 in sales was notched up on an excursion in London last October that sold out when the date was announced six months before. However, Waverley Excursions general manager Paul Semple urged people to keep booking to ensure the steamer kept sailing He said: 'We need the support to keep this story going. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The Waverley story has almost no end. What is needed to keep this ship in service can only happen when people sail on her.' Child tickets will remain at £1 this year to encourage families to book trips, while dogs are allowed on board for journeys up to three-and-a-half hours 'otherwise they get a bit uncomfortable'. Previous operator CalMac gifted the ship for a nominal £1 to the Waverley Steam Navigation Company in 1974, which was set up by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. It resumed sailings the following year.
The Independent
26-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Engine failure caused paddle steamer crash which left 24 people injured
The world's only seagoing paddle steamer crashed into a pier injuring 24 people following engine failure, investigators have found. Fewer people might have been injured if passengers had been warned ahead of the impact, a Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report said. The report also found the paddle steamer had 're-entered service with inexperienced crew and worn machinery'. The Waverley was trying to berth at the pier at Brodick, Arran, on September 3 2020 after a two-hour trip along the island's coast when the crash happened at 4.46pm. The report said 21 of the 186 passengers on board and three of the 27 crew were injured. Investigators said many passengers were standing at the time of the crash and either fell to deck or hit fixtures on the boat as they were thrown forward. Three passengers sustained serious back and pelvis injuries, and two of them were evacuated by helicopter to a mainland hospital. The other passengers sustained cuts and bruises and four were were taken to a mainland hospital with nine treated at the local hospital on Arran. The report states: 'No impact warning or instruction to brace was broadcast and 24 of the passengers and crew were injured. 'This number might have been smaller had sufficient warning been given.' The Waverley's bow was buckled inwards by the impact, resulting in three holes in the bow plating above the waterline. The report found the engine failed when trying to use to it to slow the ship on approach to the pier and could only be restarted too late. The Waverley hit the concrete wall at the end of the pier at approximately 2.8 knots. Investigators said the engine failure was caused by a 'dead centre event' where the high-pressure steam piston came to rest at the top of its travel when the engine was stopped – known as the dead centre position – preventing the engine from running. It was slow to restart due to an incorrectly secured piston valve. 'Dead centre events were a known phenomenon but they had only occurred infrequently. The chief engineer was unfamiliar with the system indicators that warned of a dead centre event or how to anticipate and prevent its occurrence,' the report states. 'The absence of an effective safety management system and reliance on historic maintenance documentation resulted in the failure to capture maintenance issues accurately.' The report found the risks of such an event occurring and the associated risks 'had neither been assessed nor effectively mitigated'. The MAIB said since the crash the ship's operator, Waverley Excursions, has carried out an internal safety review of its management system. This led to the creation of an electronic planned maintenance system, a requirement for all berthing activities to be fully risk-assessed and a competency-based training and development programme for engine and deck crew. It has also added awareness of sudden movements while berthing to the passenger safety briefings. The MAIB has made no recommendations to the company 'in light of the actions taken and the time elapsed since the accident'. Paul Semple, Waverley Excursions general manager, said: 'I welcome the publication of the MAIB report and support its findings and conclusions. 'The report recognises the extensive work undertaken by Waverley Excursions since the incident back in 2020, including a full review of the safety management system. 'I am pleased to note that given the actions taken by the company and outlined in the report there are no recommendations made by the MAIB.' He said this year passenger service is due to start in May and this season marks the 50th anniversary since the Waverley's first sailing in preservation.
