MVGlenachulish
 MVGlenachulishat Kylerhea
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | MVGlenachulish |
| Owner | Isle of Skye Ferry Community Interest Company |
| Builder | Ailsa Shipbuilding Company,Troon |
| Yard number | 529 |
| Status | in service |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 57 ft 7 in (17.55 m) |
| Beam | 21 ft 7 in (6.58 m) |
| Capacity | 6 cars |
MVGlenachulishis a ferry operating a summer service betweenGlenelg,on the Scottish mainland, andKylerhea,on theIsle of Skye.Built in 1969, she is the last manually operated steelturntable ferryin the world.[1][2][3]The route avoids the 36-mile (58 km) road journey via theSkye Bridge.
History
[edit]Glenachulishwas built at the now-defunctAilsa Shipbuilding CompanyinTroonin 1969.[4]She is named afterGlenachulish,a glen and hamlet near South Ballachulish.
In 2006, Murdo Mackenzie, the owner of the ferry, was planning to retire. Acommunity interest companywas formed by local residents to buy the ferry and run the service.[5]
In 2008, the ferry was featured in the filmMade of Honour.
In January 2012, following a landslide blocking theA890 road,Glenachulishbegan a service atStromeferry.The service crossedLoch Carronto North Strome, avoiding a 140-mile (230-kilometre) diversion by road.[6]
Service
[edit]
From 1969 to 1975,Glenachulishoperated atBallachulish.After the opening of theBallachulish Bridge,she became the relief ferry atCorran,Kessock,andKylesku.The latter two routes have since been replaced with bridges.
There has been a ferry on this route for over 400 years, with a car ferry since 1934.[7]It is one of only two remaining ferries to Skye from the mainland – the other is theCaledonian MacBrayneservice betweenMallaigandArmadale.
Since 1982,Glenachulishhas operated the Glenelg ferry acrossKylerheanarrows. The 550-metre (600-yard) crossing takes five minutes and is the shortest sea crossing to Skye. The ferry runs seven days a week between Easter and October. It operates every twenty minutes (or as required, if it is busy) from 10am to 6pm (to 7pm June to August).[8]
References
[edit]- ^"Owner of last ferry of its kind in Skye cafe bid".BBC News.21 October 2015.Retrieved22 October2015.
- ^Glenelg or Bust: 72 Hours in Paradise by Nice Tree Films..,retrieved9 July2022
- ^"On board the world's last surviving turntable ferry".BBC News.Retrieved2 May2023.
- ^David Asprey, Stuart Cameron."MV Glenachulish, built By Ailsa Shipbuilding Company".Caledonian Maritime Research Trust.Retrieved4 March2023.
- ^"Case Studies - Isle of Skye Ferry".BIS. Archived fromthe originalon 10 February 2012.Retrieved27 January2012.
- ^McKenzie, Steven (9 January 2012)."Skye boat and Plockton cruiser to join A890 efforts".BBC News.Retrieved27 January2012.
- ^"Owner of last ferry of its kind in Skye cafe bid".BBC News.21 October 2015.Retrieved22 October2015.
- ^"Times and fares".Glenelg-Skye Ferry.Retrieved23 July2021.
External links
[edit]
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