The Kintyre Forum

Just noted an article in todays electronic courier regarding a Troon/Campbeltown ferry Starting in May of 2006.
Anyone know anything else about it?
Would be a great way to get from Glasgow airport to my mothers house.
MQOE

Its a passenger ferry running to Campbeltown and in particular aimed at golfers.

Mind you, I assume plenty of non-golfers would choose to use this route too. Wee cheap flight to Spain from Prestwick and you wouldn't mind paying extra to go across by water!

David

Well, thats wonderful, thanks JS. Anything to avoid that bus trip. (mind you, you do get all the local gossip on that bus).
MQOE

Sailings every Monday, Wednesday, Friday from May 2006.

All arrival times subject to weather conditons e.g In calm conditions we aim to cover the passage in 1 hour. In moderate – rough conditions we may exceed our arrival times slightly, in the interest of passenger safety & comfort.

FULL DAY RETURN £55.
Departing Troon 1st sailing 08:15 and returning from Campbeltown on the 4th sailing 17:15. Ideal for day trip golfers to Machrihanish ( 2- 12 golfers ) or conduct a full day business.

SHORT DAY RETURN £39.
Depart Troon 1st sailing 08:15 return 2nd sailing 11:00. Ideal when only require an hour in Campbeltown to conduct your business and get back to Troon for 13:00 hours.



1st Sailing
Depart Troon 0815
Arrive Campbeltown 0930

2nd Sailing
Depart Campbeltown 1100
Arrive Troon 1300
(via Lamlash)

3rd Sailing
Depart Troon 1530
Arrive Campbeltown 1645

4th Sailing
Depart Campbeltown 1715
Arrive Troon 1830

Check out their website http://www.kintyreexpress.com/index.htm

If you require a taxi when you get to this end try

http://www.visitkintyre.info/businesses/taxis/index.htm

Really good idea this - right, time to get a cheap flight to Amsterdam!

Thanks for the link DP.
This is a brilliant idea, hope they make a go of it. Husband a little nervous as to the size of the boat. Im up for it, told him he's lived to long anyway. He wants to know what the fishermen think of it.
Have some friends going to Scotland/NI in June have sent them this link with what to see do and where to stay in C'town. I will be there in August. Now to get that airline ticket.

Is this a "wind up" surely..

Dunc (Ex MN)

Dunc wrote:Is this a "wind up" surely..

Dunc (Ex MN)

Definitely not Dunc - its a goer. First heard about it at the golf club and again recently and then got a flyer in the Comm.

You know you get things called waves and wind out there and wee boats and those dont go well together.

Dunc

Dunc wrote:You know you get things called waves and wind out there and wee boats and those dont go well together.

Dunc

Granted the statement above is correct, it is hardly a 'wee' boat though, an 11 metre (37ft) fully enclosed Red bay rib, probably one of the best sea boats about, especially in this area. It should be & is fully MCA (Marine Coastgaurd Agency) coded. Which means they are heavily regulated to run a passenger service. If the weather is that bad they will not run the service, the skippers of the boat have to be fully qualified too. This guy has put a lot of thought & money into this. I certainly wont knock it as it gives us another transport link.

If you look at MOK seatours there boat is 9.5 m long this boat is 1.5 longer, it doesnt affect his buisness that much if the weather is bad, the average RIB you see coming & going from the Argyll, ayrshire & Irish coast coast is round about 6.5-7.5 metre.

On the contrary I wish it the best of British only the boat on the picture did'nt look 11 mtrs long.

PS where's Sandra Island??

Dunc

Possibility of spotting a "minky" whale off "Whitting Bay"!

Just to bring this to the top again. The service starts on the 1st May 2006 and times are as above.

Sailings every Monday, Wednesday, Friday from May 2006 you can book a private charter on the other days.

Obvious charters to think about are the major events in Kintyre as well as the Ayr Races!

so thats how yer ironing yer y's.....tae put up the flagpole at the heid o the quay for the launching of this service.


Joking apart, could be a worthwhile service, it gives us anothe roption to travel to that side of the coast.

To be brutal - what is needed for Campbeltown is some actual attractions and maybe slightly better cheaper/faster (air) access! The whole Irish ferry thing - though a decent idea - was never going to survive was it? Therefore the Troon/CBT thing - nice romantic idea - just not realistically viable!!

What is an attraction to you Jonathon?

How will it not be viable?