Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Caledonian MacBrayne's ISLE OF ARRAN at Brodick and on passage to Ardrossan Harbour

17^th September 2020 was a beautiful Autumnal (American = Fall) day.

   Not a cloud in the sky.   And not warm, but cool,

but pleasantly cool.   Just the slightest breath of wind to

sometimes ripple the glassy sea.

   And at 2.40 pm (1440 hours) Caledonian MacBrayne’s

passenger and ro-ro ferry ISLE OF ARRAN  is approaching

Brodick (Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde, Scotland) on her

regular daily service from Ardrossan Harbour on the mainland.

   ISLE OF ARRAN and another Caledonian MacBrayne

ferry CALEDONIAN ISLES are together on the Arran run from

Ardrossan.   When one vessel leaves Ardrossan the other

leaves Brodick, and they go back and forward each day,

passing each other about midway in the Firth of Clyde.

   So, now that all you lovely viewers know the score, please

join us on ISLE OF ARRAN on her 55 minute passage from

Brodick back to Ardrossan.

   Here is your ticket.   It has been paid for.

   2.40 p.m. and ISLE OF ARRAN is approaching Brodick

 Bay and the new pier

In Brodick Bay

Turning in Brodick Bay.   The highest mountain on

the island “Goatfell” is in the background

Approaching the pier

Approaching the pier

Swinging to bring her starboard side to the berth

Having left Brodick at 3.15 p.m. we have a look at

the Shipbuilders plate (situated just below the bridge)

A view of the bow

 Notice reminding passengers not to throw

rubbish overboard

3.42 p.m. and we pass CALEDONIAN ISLES on

her way from Ardrossan to Brodick. 

    As a matter of interest just about here, well below us,

is the sunken wreck of the Royal Navy Escort Aircraft

Carrier H.M.S. DASHER which exploded and sank during

World War 2.   There was a great loss of life, and bodies

which were washed ashore at Ardrossan are buried in the Town Cemetery.

   More modern times, this area of the Firth is a Submarine

Exercise Area for Royal Navy Submarines and these “boats”

are known to use the Arran ferries as training targets

CALEDONIAN ISLES approaching Arran

A lifebuoy

One of her lifeboats

Upper deck, looking forward.    Someone is making

good use of the seating.   Poor thing must be tired.

   However, look more closely at the red coloured seats.

   They must be about the most uncomfortable seats ever

made : the back end is deep and when you sit down on

them you fall backwards and downwards

Ship’s details

Looking back at Arran across the silvery wake.   A

fishing boat from Troon is in the distance

Approaching Ardrossan Harbour 

Approaching Ardrossan Harbour 

4.10 p.m. Ardrossan Ferry Terminal, and ISLE OF ARRAN

will turn hard to starboard to berth port side-to and meet the ramp.

   The voyage is now finished.   

You can now go for a cup of tea or coffee