The Waverley visits the Clyde and surrounding waters every summer and she is a delight to see and a reminder of bygone years. She is the last sea-going Paddle Steamer in the world and will be cruising the Kyles of Bute and upper Loch Fyne during the Fife Regatta. We hope you will take the opportunity to step aboard!

Enjoy a fantastic return trip from Tighnabruaich exploring upper Loch Fyne and Tarbert harbour on Wednesday 3 July. She is magnificently restored with towering funnels, timber decks, gleaming varnish and brass. Built on the Clyde in 1947 she is a young ship compared to many of the beautiful Fifes, however, she is still a fine example of the products of the Clyde shipyards.

Wednesday 3 July is a lay day in the regatta programme. There are many options of how to spend your day in the area of Tighnabruaich and Portavadie but none quite as unique as a trip on PS Waverley. Your ticket, which can be purchased at Regatta Registration for just £20, will be a return trip to Tighnabruaich, stopping in the beautiful harbour of Tarbert and exploring upper Loch Fyne.

Timings for the day

13:40 Depart Tighnabruiach
14:45 Arrive Tarbert
14:45–16:20 Loch Fyne Cruise
16:20 Return to Tarbert
17:25 Arrive Tighnabruaich

Loch Fyne is a long sea-loch which runs from the Sound of Bute deep into the heart of the Argyll mountains and is well known for fishing and oysters. At 41 miles long, it is just two miles short of being Scotland’s largest sea-loch. It would take far too long to sail all the way so Waverley sails up as far as Kilfinan Bay where she turns and heads back amidst spectacular mountain scenery.

Enjoy the full journey or alternatively disembark in Tarbert at 16:20, have a walk ashore exploring the galleries and shops, and return to Portavadie via the ferry link operating between the two villages . The Caledonian MacBraynes ferry departs Tarbert at 15 minutes past the hour and runs until 1915. The journey time across to Portavadie is only 25 minutes and the marina is a short walk from the ferry slipway.

The Fife Regatta organisers think this would make a truly memorable day out and we look forward to arranging tickets for you, your crew, friends and family at registration. To find out more about the Waverley read on below or visit www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk

Copy from Waverely Excursions

Built on the Clyde in 1947 – to replace the original Waverley that sunk off Dunkirk in 1940, the Waverley was originally built to sail only between Craigendorran & Arrochar in West Scotland. It is amazing to think that she now sails right round Britain offering regular trips on the Clyde, the Thames, South Coast of England and the Bristol Channel with other calls at various ports & piers throughout the UK. 

£1 doesn’t get you much these days, but in 1974 it bought a 693-tonne paddle steamer! Mounting running costs left the then operators no choice but to withdraw Waverley from service with the idea of preserving this unique ship. The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) stepped in and took over the helm – for the princely sum of £1. It is a credit to the Society and supporters that the Waverley became more than a museum and now operates a full programme of cruises from Easter to October. 

2003 saw the completion of a major restoration project, which returned Waverley to the original 1940s style with which she was built. This has only been possible with major grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund totalling over £6m and the PSPS. Contributions have also come from Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, the European Regional Development Fund and local authorities. WAVERLEY has been supported by the PSPS with a vibrant membership of over 4,000 for 30 years but only the excellent partnership with the HLF has provided WAVERLEY with a viable long-term future. 

There are many books & videos on Waverley for those who wish a more in-depth look at her long & varied history, or log on to our supporters website at www.pswaverley.org