As I mentioned in a previous post I’ve been visiting the Clyde for 20 years and my operator of choice has always been CalMac. Ive made numerous crossings on their Gourock – Dunoon car ferry service on the now sadly scrapped streakers Juno and Jupiter. When the service switched to passenger only and rebranded Argyll Ferries the only way to get a car across to Dunoon from Gourock became Western Ferries. The streakers were full of character loading through the stern at Gourock and through the side at the pier at Dunoon. onboard they had modest catering facilities and ample seating for foot passengers who joined the ship from the rail services to Glasgow and beyond.

Western Ferries by comparison were (and still are) nowhere near as well equipped but their service is geared towards car and commercial traffic although a small side lounge is available for foot passengers with rest room facilities too. In total the company operate 4 similar vessels two constructed locally at Ferguson’s Port Glasgow in 2001 (Sound of Scarba) and 2003 (Sound of Shuna) and two built at Cammell Lairds in Birkenhead in 2013 (Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay). The layout of all four is pretty much the same although the older ships seem less comfortable with powder coated steel frame seats with plastic padded inserts on the newer ships the seating is more akin to bus Seating with more modern tables and more modern doors to the conveniences.

The ships are drive through open platform ships with ample height under the bridge to carry high sided vehicles. In total on each ship there is 194 metres of vehicle lanes available.

Whilst the ships aren’t particularly speedy with a speed of 11 knots the crossing takes only 20 minutes and the views are spectacular especially on a fine day.

Sound of Soay Images

Sound of Scarba Images