Loch Katrine Steamship, Sir Walter Scott

Loch Katrine  Steamer SS Sir Walter Scott and 'Ellen's Isle'

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"Lady of the Lake" Download lyrics here.. Download a brochure here

Loch Katrine Steamship Sir Walter Scott

. Scotland is lovely - The Trossachs are exceptional.
.Visit 'The Trossachs' and see 'Scotland in Miniature'

(Phone 01877 332000 to check sailings before making a long journey for your sail on the steamer )

SS Sir Walter Scott is a major attraction to visitors in the Trossachs but few realise the story behind the old steam ship which has plied these waters for over 100 years.

The Loch Katrine passenger steamers have been plying the loch since 1843 when the Paddle Steamer Gypsy was launched - prior to the this  galleys were used on the loch.

PS Gypsy did not last long - she disappeared one night and has not been seen since. The redundant oarsmen were suspected of scuttling her and were taken to court. They claimed it was the Water Bull of the loch that was protective towards the galleys but destructive to competitors' boats by holing them with its horns. Their Gaelic dialect was beyond the court translator and caused such confusion that the case was thrown out with the verdict that the boat was sunk by persons or things unknown.

The galleys did not last much longer when another paddle steamer, the PS Rob Roy, was launched in 1845. A few years later this was followed by a second PS Rob Roy and much later by the present screw driven SS Sir Walter Scott, which still sails the loch and gives pleasure to so many visitors.

'SS Sir Walter Scott' is named after the 19th Century poet who wrote "The Lady of the Lake" and is the last of a series of ships to ply the loch. The story goes that the first steamer on Loch Katrine was sent to the bottom by the sailors who had been employed to row the previous craft!

She is 110 feet long, 19 feet wide and weighs 115 tons, and has sailed the waters of Loch Katrine since 1900. S.S. Sir Walter Scott was built by Denny Bros Ltd at Dumbarton on the River Clyde, transported by barge up Loch Lomond and then dragged by horse-drawn cart up the unbelievably steep hill from Inversnaid and then overland to Stronachlachar at the west end of Loch Katrine where she was re-assembled and launched.

She still has the original 3-cylinder triple expansion engine and has two locomotive-type boilers. The vessel has a crew of five, and is the only surviving screw steamer in regular passenger service in Scotland. Up to the end of 2007 he boilers were fired by coke and the ash emptied ashore daily to minimise any risk of pollution to the loch which is Glasgow's water supply and is owned by the West of Scotland Water Board. At the end of the 2007 season the ship was given a major overhaul and re-fit - the boilers were converted to run on bio-fuel, but still use the original engine.

The usual timetable provides a return trip from Trossachs pier to Stronachlacher in the mornings and shorter cruises which do not land at Stronachlacher. SS Sir Walter Scott is available for private and corporate functions.

SSS Sir Walter Scott , Lady of the Lake and Ellen's Isle sailing Schedules

The Steamship Sir Walter Scott

100 years young with a facelift this year SS Walter Scott awaits your pleasure for a cruise on Loch Katrine

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The 28 seater 'Ellen's Isle'

The 28 seater 'Ellens Isle'  which will provides 45 minute cruises round the islands at the east end of the loch. She offers a more intimate view of the Loch as she is able to go where the steamer cannot.

She is unique to the UK as she is the first passenger boat to be run on Biofuel (vegetable oil).

 

 

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The Lady of the Lake

There is another new cruiser now in operation at Loch Katrine - 'Lady of the Lake'.

More information here soon.

Cruise times: See timetable link below:

 

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About Loch Katrine

Access is by a spur road off the A821 at the end of Loch Achray. This narrow road winds through the native woodland of the 'real' Trossachs pass before opening out into the car park at the pier. At the pier - an interesting structure with a timber roof - is the old boathouse, now a visitor centre and shop. There is also a Charles Rennie Mackintosh styled restaurant.

Ben Venue (hill of the caves) towers over the southern side of Loch Katrine with Ben A'an on the north side of the pass, but only visible from the water or the approach road. Ellen's isle, just visible at the bottom of the photo on the right, was used in times of trouble as a refuge by the women and children of the MacGregor Clan.  The peninsula close by, 'am Priosan' is reputed to be one of the places where Rob Roy MacGregor hid the cattle he 'lifted' from richer neighbours.

At the western end of the loch is Glen Gyle, the ancestral home of the MacGregor chiefs at Glengyle House. Close to the house is an old MacGregor Graveyard on an island in the loch connected to the shore by a causeway. The water level in the loch has been raised by the water board on three occasions, and on each occasion the engineers had to protect the graveyard by walls and raising the level of the island.

Rounding the loch to Stronachlachar, you come to the pier at Stronachlachar where the steamer calls in the mornings. There is a tearoom, a phone box and fabulous views down the loch to the east. A picturesque island - Eilean Dharag - lies just off the pier.

A 4.5 mile walk/bike ride/drive leads from Stronachlachar to Inversnaid on the West Highland Way at Loch Lomond.

Loch Katrine was, and still is used to supply water to Glasgow. It was this fresh water supply which first helped rid Glasgow of the scourge of typhus when the supply was first established in 1859. The pipeline from the loch to the reservoirs just outside Glasgow is still seen as a wonder ov Victorian engineering.

Walking and Cycling

There is a 13 mile tarmac roadway all the way from the Trossachs pier to Stronachlachar at the west end of the loch. Most vehicles are prohibited from using the road which means it is an ideal place to stretch your legs by the lochside or even take a bike for the 12 mile trip (one way).

From a small parking area on the access road there is a pleasant walk to the Loch Katrine dam, and for the more energetic, over the dam to the 'Bealach nam Bo' (pass of the cattle ) which provided the only passable route to bring cattle along the south side of the loch.

Ben A'an and Ben Venue can also be climbed from car parks near the A821 turn off to Katrine

You can even take your bike on the morning sail to Stronachlachar then cycle (or walk) back by the lochside road but note that at the beginning and end of the season there may be no Wednesday sailings

 

Cycle hire

Wheels Cycling Centre near Callander or Mounter's Bikes in Callander

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Trossachs Pier Sailing Schedules and Tariffs on SS Sir Walter Scott, Lady of the Lake and Ellen's Isle

Panoramic Cruises on Lady of the Lake Take your seat in the heated saloon of Lady of the Lake, and take in the stunning views of Loch Katrine. Relax with a drink or a snack from the kiosk, listen to the legends of the loch as you travel, and enjoy the majestic scenery which inspired Sir Walter Scott to write his famous poem. Operating times 1st April 2008 to 16th May 2008,6th October 2008 to 2nd November 2008	Lady of the Lake departs Trossachs Pier at:
	Cruise Type Departure Time
	Sailing to Stronachlachar (Departing from Stronachlachar Pier at 11.30am), arriving back at Trossachs Pier at 12.30pm			10.30am
	45 mins scenic cruise.			1.30pm
	Sailing to Stronachlachar (Departing from Stronachlachar Pier at 4.00pm), arriving back at Trossachs Pier at 5.00pm			3.00pm
	Ticket Type	Sailing to Stronachlachar		Scenic Cruise
		(Round Trip)	(Single Journey)	(45 mins)
	Adult	£8.00	£6.00	£7.00
Discovery Cruises on Ellen's Isle Discover the secret corners of Loch Katrine, and enjoy a different outlook on its charms with a trip on Ellen's Isle - powered by biofuel to help safeguard the environment. A 45-minute cruise is the perfect introduction to the loch. Sailing Times and prices up to April 2008	Loch Katrine Cruises on Ellen's Isle depart Trossachs Pier at: 10.00am, 11.00am, 12.00noon, 1.00pm, 2.15pm, 3.15pm, 4.15pm, and 5.15pm.
	Adult	Children	Concession	Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 children)
	£5.00	£4.50	£4.50	£14.50
	Purchase your tickets from The Booking Office at Trossachs Pier - or book in advance on (01877) 332000.

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SS Sir Walter Scott Prices Purchase your ticket from the Booking Office at Trossachs Pier or book in advance on (01877) 332000 Ticket type Sailing to Stronachlachar Short cruise   (Round Trip) (Single Journey) (45 mins) Adult £9.50 £8.00 £8.00 Child under 16 £7.00 £6.00 £6.00 Concession £8.50 £7.00 £7.00 Bicycle - £2.00 - Sailing Times Between 17th May 2008 to 5th October 2008 steamship Sir Walter Scott departs from Trossachs Pier at: . 10.30 Sailing to Stronachlachar (Departing from Stronachlachar Pier at 11:30am), arriving back at Trossachs Pier at 12:30pm. 1.30 45-minute scenic cruise. 3.00 Sailing to Stronachlachar (Departing from Stronachlachar Pier at 4:00pm), arriving back at Trossachs Pier at 5:00pm.                 Visit http://www.lochkatrine.com/timetable.html   for further information

For up to date information and reservations call 01877 332000 . - email: cruises@lochkatrine.com

Advance booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.

Special Notice

Please phone or email to check sailings before travelling any distance.