ROUTES
OPERATED |
 Main
Crossings
Sconser - Raasay |
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Sconser - Raasay |
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Crossing Time: 15 Minutes |
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Regular Ship:
Loch
Striven
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ROUTE TIMELINE: |
Ships to Serve:
1976: Canna
/ Raasay
1977 - 1996:
Raasay
1997: Raasay
/ Loch
Striven
1998 - Present:
Loch
Striven
Additional Ships:
Various members of
the Island Class
and Loch Class
ferries on relief duties |
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Terminal Facilities: |
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Sconser: Minimal facilities, as with
many of the shorter crossings. Slipway and pier jutting out into the loch
at Sconser. Small area set aside for cars to queue in while waiting for
the ferry. No ticket facilities - these are purchased on the ferry.
Raasay:
Small harbour for the ferry to berth in while not in service. There is a
small waiting area for cars and passengers, but as with Sconser - tickets
are purchased on the ferry so there is no ticket office.
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Route History: |
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The current route to the small island of Raasay opened in early 1976 when
the new Canna
service and also opened the new terminal at Sconser on Skye. Prior to this
happening, Raasay was served by a mail steamer of Portree; the Loch Arkaig. In 1975 the little
Eigg
took over the route from Portree but less than a year later the crossing
from Portree to Raasay ceased.
The Canna
brought with her a new, shorter and much more convenient service which
still exists virtually unchanged today. The new crossing only took a mere
15 minutes to complete in either direction. The ferry was also based on
the island as opposed to Skye - thus providing a means of transport out of
hours - for example in a medical emergency.
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Later on in 1976 however, the route was placed in the care of what was to
become its dedicated ferry for the next 20 years. The appropriately named
Raasay
entered service as the eighth and final member of the 'Island Class'
ferry. Her capacity was for 6 cars and she quickly settled into a routine.
The Raasay
remained on the crossing to her namesake isle for over twenty years. She
did not serve any other route in that time and indeed her only time off
the route was once a year for her overhauls. As well as this, she also
achieved a rare record in that she did not miss a single full day of
service through either being stormbound or struck down by mechanical
failure of some sort.
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Raasay off duty at her namesake isle
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Loch Striven arriving at Sconser
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The Raasay crossing in the 1990s, as with almost everywhere else in the CalMac
network, saw traffic levels grow considerably. The Raasay,
with her capacity of only six cars per sailing began to suffer the same
problem as had dogged her sisters some ten years previously and found
herself leaving cars behind more and more.
As had been the solution elsewhere in the network, it was decided that a
larger ferry should assume the Sconser - Raasay duties. And so it was that
in the summer of 1997, the former Largs - Cumbrae ferry Loch Striven left the Clyde for pastures new and displaced the faithful
Raasay.
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Since 1997 the short crossing to Raasay has been looked after by the Loch
Striven. Capable of carrying twice the number of cars as her
predecessors, she has dealt well with the traffic presenting itself for
shipment. Years before there had been reluctance to have a larger ferry on
the crossing as it anticipated that the newcomer would not be based on the
island, however these fears came to nothing and today the Loch Striven still sails back and forth between Raasay and Skye.
 Images from Ships of CalMac Collection |
Loch Striven heading for Raasay |
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SoC Links |
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To see a more detailed description of the islands and photos, visit
Undiscovered Scotland and click on a place. |
