Caledonian MacBrayne’s shortest ferry crossing between Colintraive – Rhubodach is advertised to take 5 minutes but according to the crew the actual passage time is is 90 seconds.

Colintraive is on the Scottish mainland on the Cowal Peninsula and Rhubodach is at the northern end of the Isle of Bute approached by its own road from the Island’s principle town Rothesay.

We took the ferry from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay, a route we had taken many times over the years as foot passengers but never with the car. On this trip we decided to rectify that with a road tour of Bute planned.

Bute is a totally different feeling island to Arran which we had toured a couple of days previously. It was once a very well to do holiday resort and its hotels speak of that. In fact the architecture on the Island generally is superb.

By the time we had reached Rhubodach the weather was miserable and my family decided to stay in the car whilst I headed to the Loch Dunvegan for her next trip

I should imagine in nice weather the scenery would be lovely but low cloud scuppered any hope of images of that.

The ship was on the opposite slipway when I arrived and a queue of around 12 cars had formed.

Once she has sailed across and unloaded her inbound cargo I was ushered on board by the lovely lady purser who told me I could take a seat in either of the two lounges or on the upper deck.

I’ve always said that Calmac ships are very much of their era. Isle of Arran and Caledonian Isle for example are achetypical of the 1980’s and 1990’s. The Loch Dunvegan however is a curious beast.

On approaching the slip it was evident that this was a noisy beast, much like the Isle of Arran has become of late. Once on board it was evident this was a very elderly ship and clearly built to a price – and there are reasons for that.

Built along with sister vessel Loch Fyne the ship operated Kyleakin – Kyle of Lochalsh ferry service they were to be redundant just 5 years after delivery a fact already known when they were ordered. It was one of those bizarre situations where new tonnage was needed for just a few years use but a bridge put paid to their service.

It was planned that they would be sold on and were laid up after the bridge opened and offered for sale. Despite a number of people looking over them they were reprieved and used in the fleet permanently.

Kitted out in a very basic finish with steel floors and uncomfortable and unattractive seating its easy to see why they didn’t attract a buyer.

Now 28 years old the Loch Dunvegan is frankly a bit of a mess. A number of the ships wc facilities are no longer in use and the decks are pitted and worn. Sadly this isn’t the only ship in the fleet in need of tlc.

She sounded particularly rough on passage but nonetheless she completed her short run with the usual cal mac precision and efficiency.

Given the environment she operates in it is to be hoped she will be replaced with a more energy efficient vessel perhaps akin to the Catriona. Her passenger capacity is wasted really so a ship with smaller passenger facilities may well do the job.

That said i’m glad I took the opportunity to cross on the ship and I would encourage anyone in the area to give her a try too before its too late.