ARRAN AND THE MULL OF KINTYRE

We'll take a trip around the Ise of Arran and, just a couple of miles from Lochranza is the beautiful Catacol Bay.

We can have a pint or two here, at the Catacol Bay Hotel.

We now take to the water, on our own private transport, heading for Campbeltown, the main place on the Mull of Kintyre. This is the harbour (Creative Commons License).

From this point, the long closed Cambeltown & Machrihanish Railway departed. 

The railway, of narrow gauge, had only the most basic of facilities. 

Services ceased in the early 1930s. Since then, puublic transport has been in the hands of West Coast Motor Services. The company's main depot is in Campbeltown.

OSB829K skirts the sea front in Campbeltown.

About to depart for Machrihanish is an Optare saloon.

We leave the mainland (yes, the Mull of Kntyre is part of the mainland, but a tortuous journey from the major places) and take our private boat again back to Arran, landing at Kildonan Bay.

Here we find the Breadalbane Hotel, for refreshments.

The postbus network on Arran once served Kildonan.

A rather convoluted route to the island's capital, Brodick, takes us through the beautiful Glen Sannox.

We approach Brodick from the north, with fine views of the bay.

It's here that find Arran Brewery.

A myriad of small operators combined to form Arran Transport in the 1970s.

Stagecoach later became the main bus operator.

Here's an old postcard view of the bay at Brodick.

Brodick still has a small fishing fleet (Creative Commons License).

For us, it's the Calmac ferry to Ardrossan (Valters Grivins - Creative Commons License).

On the journey back to the mainland, we're visited by the air-sea rescue services on a practice visit.

The next post will see us touring Ayrshire. Follow progress here.

ISLAND HOPPING

In the last post I left you at Port Bannantyne on the Isle of Bute. We now head towards the island's largest (only) town, Rothesay, using the long closed tramway, seen here at the Ardbeg passing loop.

At Rothesay Pier, the trams met the steamers crossing to the mainland. 

Bus services around Rothesay are provided by West Coast Motor Services.

We now leave the Isle of Bute behind.....

......and head for Largs, on the mainland, in North Ayrshire.

Here's an evening view of Largs, from the Clyde Estuary.

Our first stop in Largs is a bar, Charlie Smith's. Sadly, Google says, "No". Permanently closed apparently.

Thankfully, the Clachan is still open, though it has since changed its name to The Waterside. Two real ales on sale, I believe.

This is the Main Street in Largs around the turn of the century (19th/20th).

Largs railway station is a terminus, at the end of a long branch from Kilwinning. A DMU is seen awaiting departure.

Here's the station with DMU set 101360 in 1986.

The next year saw the line electrified. In 1995 an EMU failed to stop and demolished the ticket office. Learn more here. 318253 is shown on a different occasion.

Clyde Coast used to run a bus service south towards Ardrossan and Saltcoats. A former Trent Leyland is seen in Largs.

Clydeside had a depot in Largs, where an ex Paton Bros (of Renfrew) Leyland Leopard is seen.

Stagecoach now run most of the buses.

Orion once provided a bit of variety.

We now take to the water again and this ferry will take us to the island of Great Cumbrae.

Cumbrae Slip is the car ferry's destination. Another vessel arrives in 2001. Largs is seen across the water.

At the ferry terminal, two rival operators once touted for business. Millport Motors and Cumbrae Coaches. Both operators would convey passengers to the centre of the island's only town, Millport.

Here's a postcard from my collection of the town of Millport in the 1950s.

Another view of Millport Bay, this time in 2001.

This former Ford demonstrator was being used on the Millport Motors' service to Cumbrae Slip in 1980.

Three years later and ex United Services (of Yorkshire) AWW675G was being employed.

The ferry 'Keppel' arrives at Millport to take us to our next island.

As we leave Great Cumbrae, we're accompanied by some friendly seagulls.

We pass the neighbourng island of Little Cumbrae.

Leaving the ferry behind at Lochranza on the Isle of Arran, we finish this post at the castle. (Photo by Phil Sangwell, Creative Commons License).

The next post will take us on a tour of Arran, with a quick trip over to the Mull of Kintyre. Follow the route here.