Summer ferry link announced for Kintyre peninsula

[Kintyre Forum News]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-g ... t-22152943

A new summer ferry service has been announced in a bid to boost tourism and trade to the Kintyre peninsula.

The service, run by CalMac on behalf of Transport Scotland, will operate three times a week from Ardrossan to Campbeltown, with an extra stop at Brodick, on Arran, on Saturday.

The ferry will start on 23 May to tie in with the Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon and 10k race three days later.

It will also aim to boost attendance at May's Kintyre Songwriter's Festival.

The new service was announced on Monday by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during the official opening ceremony of Campbeltown New Quay.
'Community spirit'

The £4.6m development aims to establish Campbeltown and Machrihanish as a centre for the renewable energy industry in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon said: "This new pilot project will help to develop that sense of community spirit further by providing an additional transport link that will boost trade and tourism opportunities for the area and develop the local economy."

She added: "Opening the new quay marks a significant milestone - not only for the local community in Argyll, but for the whole of Scotland.

"This will be the first of many of the renewables sites to come into full working use across the country, helping to create new employment opportunities and drive forward this important industry."

CalMac managing director, Martin Dorchester, said the new service was the first new route for the firm and the Argyll area in nearly 20 years.

"We are confident it will prove very popular with locals and visitors alike who now have an attractive alternative to the overland route," he said.

"In addition to benefiting the communities in Kintyre, Arran and Ayrshire, we expect it to increase traffic to the rest of Argyll and beyond."

[Kintyre Forum News]

News release from John Semple

CAMPBELTOWN FERRY LANDED BY SNP 15/4/2013

Today Campbeltown became a bit closer to the rest of Scotland as the hard work of local SNP councillor, John Semple, comes to fruition.

Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon announced the 3 year pilot summer service whilst on a visit to open the extension to the town’s New Quay.

SNP Councillor for South Kintyre, John Semple, who has campaigned hard to establish vital transport links for South Kintyre said,

“I have been fighting for services such as this for Kintyre for nearly 13 years. Indeed it was during this time that I realised that the attitude of local and national government had to change if our community was going to survive. It was this that drew me into politics in 2007.”

“I am glad to say that the changes we have seen in Argyll and Bute Council with an SNP Led administration, and a SNP Government in Edinburgh which has led to a much more positive and proactive approach.”

“I met in the past with Liberal Transport Ministers, Nicol Stephens and Tavish Scott neither of whom did much more than shrug”

The timetable which has been agreed will operate from the 23rd of May with the Calmac vessel Isle of Arran. The 3rd year of the service is likely to be priced under the Road Equivilant Tarrif, the introduction of which has seen significant traffic increases on other routes.

Councilor Semple said – “I have been working closely with Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP and his team on the fine detail of the service and I am satisfied that the timetable produced offers great opportunities for weekend summer travel options for locals and visitors alike, but it will take further work to make a success of this service and I look forward to working with the local business community to ensure the service works for them."

[Kintyre Forum News]

DRAFT timetable below

Click to see image

[Govangirl]

That is fantastic news!

[howlsatthemoon]

Looks like you can get a ferry from Campbeltown to Brodick on the Saturday but can't get one back from Brodick to Campbeltown on any day.

[Drumlemen]

Looking at the ferry timetable quicker to travel to Glasgow by car from Campbeltown. Do not see what local would use this service if the cost for a car plus four passengers comes to double the cost of solely travelling to the central belt by road from Campbeltown.

[Bonnie Lass]

Looks like you can get a ferry from Campbeltown to Brodick on the Saturday but can't get one back from Brodick to Campbeltown on any day.

It would make an interesting "day out" to leave via Campbeltown, visit Brodick Castle and surrounding area, coming back by the Lochranza - Calonaig Ferry, a picturesque circular route

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Three hour ferry crossing or three hour drive.Which is preferable?

[odds]

That is fantastic news!

Really ?

Not when you consider the timings of the sailings and lack of choice, if these are confirmed.
Can't find any costings yet, but I bet it wont make paying the extra for the ferry more favourable than driving, and if you drive you wouldn't be arriving at such a silly time at night.
Personally I was looking forward to this and it is such a disappointment, certainly wouldn't suit my needs.

Pete.

[howlsatthemoon]

Looks like you can get a ferry from Campbeltown to Brodick on the Saturday but can't get one back from Brodick to Campbeltown on any day.

It would make an interesting "day out" to leave via Campbeltown, visit Brodick Castle and surrounding area, coming back by the Lochranza - Calonaig Ferry, a picturesque circular route

Yes it would make an interesting day out, but what if you wanted a weekend or a day on the Island without your car?

[Kintyre Forum News]

Received this from Councillor Kelly

Welcome for new Campbeltown ferry service.

Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands Conservative MSP, has welcomed the news today that a ferry service pilot from Campbeltown to Ardrossan (via Brodick on a Saturday) is to be established from next month for the summer months.

Speaking today Jamie said:

“ This is welcome news for Campbeltown and Kintyre. Councillor Donald Kelly and I have been arguing for this kind of ferry service for many years now and today’s announcement is a very positive step forward.

“ While the pilot service is due to run 3 days a week and a Saturday, the hope of the local community and businesses is that the pilot service will become permanent and will become a daily for the benefit of hauliers, tourists and locals alike.

“ Campbeltown and Kintyre have a great deal to offer tourist visitor, including world glass golf courses, and I very much hope that the pilot ferry service proves to be a huge success and allows us to retain a permanent and frequent car and passenger ferry linking Campbeltown with the Ayrshire coast.”

[Bonnie Lass]

howlsatthemoon: Oh, I see what you mean, no transport down, buses available on the island for touring around, but nothing available from Claonaig for those without a car, they obviously hadn't thought of that.

[Stebyr]

howlsatthemoon: Oh, I see what you mean, no transport down, buses available on the island for touring around, but nothing available from Claonaig for those without a car, they obviously hadn't thought of that.

A possible business opportunity for someone on Arran

[howlsatthemoon]

Received this from Councillor Kelly

Welcome for new Campbeltown ferry service.
“ While the pilot service is due to run 3 days a week and a Saturday,

Does this mean it is running 4 days a week

Bonnie Lass, I mean it would be quite nice if we could step onto the ferry in Campeltown disembark in Brodick and then after our stay step on board the ferry in Brodick and disembark in Campbeltown without the need of a 40 odd mile trip back to Campbeltown from Claonaig

[EMDEE]

Apart from giving an opportunity for folk from Kintyre to have a day trip to Arran and spend a bit of time there, I'm sure Arran would appreciate the wee bit extra money that would be spent on the island.

Does anyone remember when the Cloanaig link was established? I think it was the 1970s. Is this correct?