Jus’ cruzin’

I’m not a great fan of cruise boats. But stick a triple expansion steam engine in one with paddles on the side and send it up to the west coast of Scotland then how could we pass it up (well … the weather did try to upset plans)!

We took our first trip on the Waverley some 30 odd years ago along the Dorset coast and have kept a loving eye out for her ever since. Seeing her itinerary bring her up to our neck of the woods, we opted for a cruise up the coast of Skye. The bad weather kicked in and we feared it would be cancelled, but the wiley skipper just took us through the Kyle bridge into the rough stuff, then adjusted the schedule, turned round and gave us a tour down the Kyle Rhea passage down to Mallaig and the three lochs: Nevis, Hourn and Duich on the way back

This avoided the worst that the northwesterly gales were throwing at us, keeping the Cuillins in the way. So despite the weather we had a relatively calm cruise in a historic boat with a thoroughly warm heart.

Extra added of the heavy metal in action!