Rail/Sail from Glasgow, across the Clyde to Brodick on Arran with ScotRail and CalMac

I've wanted to do this before, but the weather has always been very poor. But this time there wasn't much wind and I was up for a train ride and a voyage across the Firth of Clyde to Brodick on the Isle of Arran.
This is CalMac's busiest route and I can see why. On a lovely day, if I was a Glaswegian, I'd be right up for a rail/sail day out on Arran. There's beaches and walks a-plenty.
Departure: Glasgow Central, Scotland, UK
Destination: Brodick, Scotland, UK
Rail Distance: 51.5 km / 32 miles
Rail Duration: 46 mins
Ferry Distance: 20 km / 13 miles
Ferry Duration: 55 mins
Cost: Rail/Sail combined ticket, with 1/3 railcard discount: £18.50 / €20,90
Date of Travel: February 2023
Operators: ScotRail and Caledonian MacBrayne
Motive power: Class 380 3-car EMU. Built: Alstom (2009-2011) and
MV Isle of Arran Built: Ferguson Ailsa (1983)
Thank you to everyone that supports the channel by subscribing, liking, commenting or just watching these videos. I really appreciate it!

[@garrytuohy9267]

Glasgow Central looks like a gem of a Station.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. It is wonderful. I do it more justice in one of my earlier videos kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGOQfGWmnqahbKc Thank you so much for watching 👍

[@nuinmarnuinmar5321]

Every time I visited Glasgow, I told myself I'd take this trip - er, never quite happened. But this is inspiring me for sure. Thanks Johnny.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Do it! It was great fun 👍

[@pauljohnson4525]

It would be nice to see more Ferries

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I've already got Rosslare to Fishguard recorded - just waiting for its time to come round on the release schedule... and I will be doing more.👍

[@johnferguson1412]

Did this 20 years ago from Newcastle. Had GNER full English breakfast at 0800 passing Berwick and another full Scottish on the ferry at 1100! Walked it off the next day.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Sounds like a cracking start to the day! Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@AndrewG1989]

At least the weather was nice and calm. Beautiful scenery I have to say. 😍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

The trip across the Firth of Clyde was an absolute delight! With definitely be doing more on CalMac! ⛴️

[@VVellieMan]

Super little trip, despite the typical February weather. Surprised how many people were on that ferry for an out of season crossing. And yes, of course, more Scottish island hopping would be welcomed.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ok. I'll put some more in my plans for 2023. 👍

[@otisreed8799]

Lovely, thank you! When I was on the MV Isle of Arran back in march I took a photo of the ‘primate’ sign!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Haha. - has to be done 😁 Thanks for watching another 👍

[@cryzcryz2345]

Thank you for this great video!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you for watching! Have a great weekend hezké víkend

[@cryzcryz2345]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Are you in Chech Republic again? I'm not Chech but Polish but I understand a little bit chech language 😁 Have a nice weekend! Milego weekendu! 😉

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@cryzcryz2345 haha no! I will have to practice my Polish.

[@RoddyJenkins]

Another great video, Johnny! Will definitely have to add this trip to my bucket list, as you’ve sold it to me so well! Some more Rail/Sail videos would be welcome in the future 👍

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Excellent. Thank you! Next time I'm in Scotland I will def do more CalMac!

[@Del-bm]

Another great video and good value too

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes. It was a pretty cheap way to get a lovely day out from Glasgow! 👍

[@iancrawford1140]

trains and boats and bus trips as well!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Can do! Will do! I went on a bus in Ireland. So even a bus ride is coming soon! Thanks for watching! 👍

[@Timstravels01]

A most enjoyable and informative watch. I know mv Isle of Arran is getting on a bit but I think it’s a lovely vessel.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I loved the MV Isle of Arran. As long as it stays mechanically OK and safe, I'd be happy they kept it for as long as they can. I thought it had a timeless quirky charm. Thanks for watching and commenting and "keep travelling!"

[@bigjj1109]

Yes please do some more sail and rail this month I went from Dublin to Hollyhead then on to Chester great adventure 😂

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Will do then! Nothing in the pipeline yet, but I plan to return to Ireland this year by ferry and also hope to do more CalMac in Scotland Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@vnk5932]

The deck, open to all winds and a cramped salon, is considered an anachronism in our time. This vessel will float until it sinks like England itself

[@alexhd8973]

Really enjoying the videos. Great quality, has all of what you need and want about each journey. Should really be getting a lot more views so hopefully that's an algorithm thing that gets fixed!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks Alex. All we can do is I'll make 'em and you watch 'em... and as you say, we have to leave the rest to the algorithm! I'm so pleased you've enjoyed this one and the others you've watched. Thank you.

[@jvgreendarmok]

7:56 "Oh, s***, man, you see that door over there? The one marked "Primate"? Do you think a primate lives in there?"

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Who knows? I didn't go in to look! 😉 Thanks for watching 👍

[@nickyevans83]

There's normally a bigger ferry called the Caledonian Isles on the Arran route the mv Isle of Arran was the last Arran ferry before her however she only lasted 9 years before being replaced by by her bigger sibling due to being to small she still provides the second ship during the summer when traffic demands two ships

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks for the additional information and thank you so much for watching 👍

[@Kulla1berg]

Why not it is very interesting vlog and I think you reviewed the ferries to ireland

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I did! I will be reviewing more ferries. People seem to like them and so do I 😀

[@Kulla1berg]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels I have enjoyed them a lot What I like and even be very confused about British Railway is the system with exchanging of token and all manual level crossings handle by a security guards

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@Kulla1berg we have many more automated crossings and branches. I do not think my local single track line from Exeter to Exmouth still has token working. But as you say, many less busy single track railways in the UK still do have them as I have shown. Age-old method of avoiding head-on collisions!

[@craiglogistics2092]

You could of course take a train from Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier and take the ferry to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Actually yes. That does look like a great thing to do 👍

[@colinriley123]

Enjoyed the video. Was the music soundtrack a new thing? I had been thinking after watching several Steve Marsh videos that this was a distinction between you both. I checked back on your Belfast cruise and there was no music. All, this interests me. There is no doubt that musical soundtracks are powerful and affecting, however reliance on the image and the spoken word is somehow a more demanding aesthetic. What are your thoughts, and have I got this wrong and, you have been using music all along, but I haven't registered it?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah you are so observant. Yes, you are right that I do not, as a rule put in music. I decided fairly early on that it would not be my general style. However I will admit that I looked at the edit and thought about what I had and what I could say and actually I felt that section suited a bit of music. I had lots of beautiful B-roll shots and I didn't feel it worked to talk over them. Don't expect lots of music to creep in though from here. I'm going to continue to use it sparingly for now. Thanks, as ever, for watching another video. Always appreciated. Btw. Bonus vid out tomorrow of the following day when I mucked about round Glasgow. Not really an "A to B" vid, so I thought it should go out on a different day to normal Friday ones. I suppose this bonus one is a bit more "Steve Marsh" with quite a lot of voice to camera. I'd be interested to hear your comments on that style.

[@garrytuohy9267]

Have you ever tried the Seacat out of Liverpool?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

No. I never did. But there will definitely be more ferries. 👍

[@davidbilling9600]

How often are the ferries each day. Is there time to explore Arran?

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

yes, I think there's time. There's a ferry/train back to Glasgow sometime arounb 7pm and the island buses leave from right outside the ferry terminal. so I reckon you'd have plenty of time to see a fiar bit of the island. Thanks for watching 👍

[@jimmcintosh9045]

Shame the main ferry was out of commission as it's a much better ferry. Up the gangplank!? You've been watching too many pirate films. It's a gangway.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

haha! Yes! Too many pirate films! doh... Then I might just come back another day to try the better ferry, but, to be fair, I had a wonderful time on that one. Thank you so much for watching and commenting and I hope my piratical distortions didn't ruin it too much.