Day 1494 reflections on my PS Waverley trip yesterday

Oh. My. Word.

I’m writing this on Monday night on the bus on the way back to Glasgow. I cannot begin to explain the true extent of the beauty I have seen today. We got the West Coast of Scotland as its absolute best.

“I’m sailing up the west coast, through villages and towns” to quote Dignity by Deacon Blue!

More accurately, we sailed up the west coast taking in several beautiful islands.

We started off on The Clyde at the Glasgow Science Centre and sailed down the Clyde, under the Erskine Bridge, past Greenock and Port Glasgow and down to our first stop in Largs. We picked a good couple of hundred people up in Largs.

My friend Helen sent me the Waverley’s actual trip for the day. I was so chuffed.

We then headed over to Great Cumbrae and sailed north of Little Cumbrae and over to skirt the north coast of Arran…. With Bute in view most of the way.

We then headed across around the Mull of Kintyre and across to Islay and up the Sound of Islay with Jura visible on the right hand side. We sailed on to Colonsay and then back across towards the mainland via the Correyvreckan Whirlpool. Then down through the Slate Isles, past Easdale, Seil Island and Luing… before head into the sound of Kerrera, past Kerrera and into my favourite place on the world… Oban. In the scorching hot sunshine.

What is not to love.

I also met two other solo travellers, randomly both called Chris. One male, one female. We kept an eye out for each other’s bags while we were off away around the boat. I love that kind of connection with someone. We’ll not stay in touch and never see each other again but we shared the day.

I am shattered but I am so grateful that I had the chance to see all of this. I’m gutted I’m not carrying on further north in the Waverley but, given how much I was “bouncing” on dry land… it’s maybe just as well I’m on the bus home. 😂

So I’ll pick up where we left off… we were just about to enter the Correyvreckan Whirlpool.

Now, I’m not going to lie… this is a bucket list thing of mine and I had NO idea that we actually went through it on this cruise. Also, it wasn’t exactly what I expected. It was a bit like sailing through a bubbling cauldron… actually when has anyone EVER done that?!?

These photos WILL NOT do it justice.

If you have ever drive past the Falls of Lora in Connel, near Oban, the effect is very similar.

As the Waverley went into the Whirlpool she was doing 15 knots, by the time she came out she was up to 2/knots just with the force of the whirlpool…. About 10 minutes later, she was down to 11 knots as fighting against a flowing tide.

It’s now Tuesday afternoon and I’ve had the laziest day in the sun. It’s 4.30 already and all I’ve got to show for it is a varnished bench!!

I am quite pleased with it.

So back to yesterday. Leaving the Gulf of Correyvreckan was spectacular.

It was now an evening sunset cruise. After such a spectacular day.

The film crew that were on board were sailing alongside getting lots of shorts for the David Hayman documentary about the PS Waverley.

We are currently here.

The Slate Islands were beautiful. I was torn between watching out to the sun and capturing the green island of Luing and the coast south of Oban.

This is just at Seil island.

I almost missed it but I caught the bridge over the Atlantic!

The Oban lifeboat came out to see us!

The PS Waverley is a celebrity wherever she sails. It’s lovely to be a part of that. Even leaving Glasgow yesterday, folk were waving out of their Clydeside flats.

I’m back out the porthole in the ladies toilets again as we head down the Sound of Kerrera into Oban!

My favourite place on the west coast, Oban.

McCaig’s Tower up on the hill.

The low sun is beautiful!

Docked for the evening!

Taken from the bow of the Waverley.

I’m already off and so sad that the day is over. It was just so perfect.

We then had to jump straight on the bus to Glasgow Science Centre. I literally spend 10 minutes in Oban!

What a stunning night.

Even the bus trip down was stunning, I kept taking photos out the window.

All of these taken from a moving coach… this is the start of Loch Awe.

St Conan’s Kirk on the banks of Loch Awe.

Reflections of the railway bridge at Kilchurn Castle.

The moon is huge….

It’s finally almost dark so I try to sleep but nothing comes.

I got home around midnight after a few wrong turns in Glasgow. My mind wasn’t as fresh as it should have been.

What a truly wonderful day that will stay with me forever. There’ll be videos and more photos to come, I’m sure!

I’m too tired to proof read this tonight so fingered crossed it’s ok 👌

Stay safe everyone 🚢♥️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Day 1493 sailing on the PS Waverley from Glasgow to Oban 🚢 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I’m back on board the Paddle Steamer Waverley with Waverley Excursions.

The red line is roughly the trip we’ll be taking.

Craig got me two sailing ticket for my birthday last year and this is the first one I’m using. I wanted to sail all week but I couldn’t find accommodation in some of the places she is docking for the night. I picked the best of the bunch and despite my low mood yesterday, I’m really looking forward to it.

Very early start with the alarm set for 4.55am!

I parked the Glasgow Science Centre at 6.30am and the Waverley sailed promptly at 7am.

I had wanted to be on a Waverley cruise for the whole week but I couldn’t get accommodation booked up north so had to settle for today’s trip which is the easiest to navigate from home.

It’s much cooler this morning so I’m wrapped up. We’re expecting 18°C but in was so cold on my Ailsa Craig tour last year that I’m wrapped up well today. I am still fairly cold and regretting leaving the fur lined boots at home.

Heading under the Erskine Bridge.

Finally the sun is out. I’ve had a hot chocolate breaking my fast very early for warmth!!

Largs Ahoy!

A large ferry crossover behind the Waverley while we are docked in Largs.

Millport on Great Cumbrae.

The sun is out and while it’s hot the breeze keeps it cool. The sea is mostly calm.

They’re filming a documentary about the Waverley with David Hyman.the hope to release it this year as they’ve been filming it for years.

Sailing into Campbeltown at 12.30. I have taken two layers off. I’m still wearing 3!

Leaving Campbeltown.

Loved these cows on this tiny island. So very Scottish! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Davaar Island.

This is so similar to Ailsa Craig.

This next one is the view from the ladies toilet porthole!

This is Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse. I loved the birds in low flying formation.

They did this a lot.

The Coastguard flew out from the Mull of Kintyre and did a fly around the ship. That was really cool!

Heading towards the Sound of Islay. We were meant to sail into Port Ellen on Islay but there was a grain tanker in our berth. We had to divert to Colonsay. This shows Islay to the left and Jura to the right.

The south coast of Jura.

The Paps of Jura.

Looking back over Jura.

Stopping in Colonsay.

Colonsay looks lovely. I’ve never been here.

As I write this we are currently heading for Correyvreckan whirlpool and then into Oban.

I don’t get home until about midnight tonight so I’m going to put this out now and write about the rest tomorrow.

All I can say is, I have had the best day. I’ve been sailing since 7am and it’s now 18.30. No sadness, no low mood, just total wonder at the beauty of the trip!

Wow.

Stay safe everyone ☀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️

Day 1217 a very busy day at work!

Back to earth with a bump this morning.

It’s funny when you do something really out of the ordinary and then have to go straight back to normal life. It does feel like I had a holiday.

I had such a perfect day yesterday on the PS Waverley. Given the weather we have had through the whole of July, it’s amazing to think we had sunshine all day. I was so lucky.

As I drive to work this morning, I had a wee smile at Ailsa Craig on the horizon…. I’ve been there now. I love that and I want to do so many more things like it.

I had a great sleep and felt ok when I got up this morning. Work was crazy busy today! Lots of people seem to think about Campervan conversion over the weekend, which I suppose is very obvious. It never stopped. I did get a wee half hour out in the sun at lunchtime though which is a good break.

Over the next few days I’ll share some more photos of my trip. I can’t recommend it enjoying. The Captain is so engaging and his commentary is so interesting. It really feels like a huge part of Scottish history.

So I’ll leave you with some more close ups of Ailsa Craig, certainly as I’ve never seen it before.

The bird sanctuary is uninhabited and lies 10 miles off the coast of Girvan.

This is the castle perched on the side facing Girvan. The heather is so pretty in full purple bloom.

The lighthouse and cottage are at the base of the same side. In the back of this photo you can see the Isle of Arran mountains… if you really really zoom in!

The “back” of Ailsa Craig from the Girvan side, is the front of Ailsa Craig to the Mull of Kintyre side and that’s where all the islands gannets are nesting. The noise was incredible.

The rock is very similar to the basalt columns of Staffa that I visited in 2022.

The sun really lit up the birds though it’s impossible to see them all in the photos. It was lovely and calm around this side.

There are just so many shots and so many views, I may be repeating myself. I used to want to take the trip that allowed you to land and climb to the top but I have to say, I’m incredibly happy that I got to sail around without having to climb. I had no idea it would be so steep. Yet with hindsight that seems obvious.

I am so envious of everyone out on other Waverley trips until she stops sailing the Clyde at the end of August. I could just sail on her every day!!

Still grinning from ear to ear.

Waverley excursions posted some amazing photos yesterday which I’ll share now but must give them credit!

I’m in them both. What a special memory!

More trip photos to follow. Least I have content for a while now!!

I should say I’m so grateful I’m not feeling as bad as I did on Saturday. That was a bit of a dip. It scared me a bit as I struggle to accept the lower days. I don’t want to be that person. I don’t understand why that lethargy raised its head after so long. I seem to always need a reason but I can’t put my finger on it this time. The Waverley trip came at such a good time. It lifted my spirits in a big way. I have to plan some more!!!

Stay safe everyone 💙🚢🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿