MV Glenachulish

MV Glenachulish is a ferry operating a summer service between Glenelg and Kylerhea, on the Isle of Skye. Built in 1969, she is the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world.[1]

MV Glenachulish at Kylerhea
History
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

History

Glenachulish was built at Ailsa Shipbuilding Company in Troon in 1969.[2] She is named after Glenachulish, a glen and hamlet near South Ballachulish.

In 2006, Murdo Mackenzie, the owner of the ferry, was planning to retire. A community interest company was formed by local residents to buy the ferry and run the service.[3]

In 2008, the ferry was featured in the film Made of Honour.

In January 2012, following a landslide blocking the A890 road, Glenachulish began a service at Stromeferry. The service crossed Loch Carron to North Strome, avoiding a 140-mile (230-kilometre) diversion by road.[4]

Service
Glenachulish approaching Kylerhea

From 1969 to 1975, Glenachulish operated at Ballachulish. After the opening of the Ballachulish Bridge, she became the relief ferry at Corran, Kessock, and Kylesku. The latter two routes have since been replaced with bridges.

Since 1982, Glenachulish has operated the Glenelg ferry across Kylerhea narrows between Easter and October each year. The 550-metre (600-yard) crossing takes only 5 minutes and is the shortest sea crossing to Skye. There has been a ferry on this route for over 400 years, with a car ferry since 1934.[5] It is one of only two remaining ferries to Skye from the mainland – the other is the Caledonian MacBrayne service between Mallaig and Armadale.

References
  1. "Owner of last ferry of its kind in Skye cafe bid". BBC News. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  2. David Asprey, Stuart Cameron. "MV Glenachulish, built By Ailsa Shipbuilding Company". Clydebuilt Ships Database. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2012.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  3. "Case Studies - Isle of Skye Ferry". BIS. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  4. McKenzie, Steven (9 January 2012). "Skye boat and Plockton cruiser to join A890 efforts". BBC News. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  5. "Owner of last ferry of its kind in Skye cafe bid". BBC News. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
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