Rail & Sail To The Isle of Bute | Glasgow Central - Rothesay

ROUTE: GLASGOW CENTRAL - ROTHESAY
OPERATOR: SCOTRAIL & CALEDONIAN MACBRAYNE
TRAIN: CLASS 380 EMU
FERRY mv ARGYLE
COST: £28.40 RETURN (with Two Together Railcard)
One of the best ways to see the Scottish islands is to use the ‘Rail & Sail’ method. All in one rail and ferry tickets can be purchased with Scotrail. In May 2024 myself and Mrs Tim’s Travels travelled the 26.1 mile Glasgow Central - Wemyss Bay section of the Inverclyde line. The journey would see us make our way westward through Paisley Gilmour Street and then run alongside the Clyde estuary. Just after Port Glasgow Station the Wemyss Bay section of the Inverclyde line branches. The main route heads through Greenock to Gourock, where it connects with ferry services to Dunoon in Cowal and Kilcreggan on the Rosneath peninsula. The branch to Wemyss Bay heads through the southern suburbs of Greenock where at its terminus it connects with ferry services to Rothesay on the island of Bute.
We took the 1047 service from Glasgow Central due to arrive in Wemyss Bay at 1145.
En route we spot MV Glen Rosa, a Calmac ferry due to be completed by Sept 2025 and take up service on the Arran route. We also see the volcanic plug, Dumbarton Rock. The Dumbarton FC badge features an elephant with a castle on its back, this represents Dumbarton Rock with Dumbarton Castle upon it, based on the historic town crest. Dumbarton Rock is said to resemble an elephant. The team's nickname 'The Sons' is derived from the phrase 'Sons of The Rock', a term used for those born in the town of Dumbarton.
Wemyss Bay station and pier in their current form were built in 1903, by the Caledonian Railway Company, The architect, James Miller, and Donald Matheson, Chief Engineer of the Railway Company, were responsible for its design. It was the first of the Clyde railway piers to be built, and is now the last one remaining. James Miller was the architect behind the distinctive "chalet style" stations on the West Highland line. He was also the architect for Stirling railway station.
The ferry sailing from Wemyss Bay - Rothesay takes just 35 minute. We took the 1215 sailing. Two ferries operate on this route, in addition to mv Argyle there’s the sister ship mv Bute. Check out calmac.co.uk for timetables.
MV ARGYLE is the 7th ship on the Clyde to bear the name. Built in Poland, she was launched on 12 September 2006 and entered service on 16 May 2007. She has a speed of 14 knots with capacity for 450 passengers and 60 cars.
Two lifts from the car deck to Deck 4 can accommodate wheelchairs. Passenger accommodation is on two levels: the first housing forward and aft lounges with a kiosk area and toilets between, while the second level is open deck space from the twin funnels to just forward of the bridge. The bridge sits on its own perch above the open deck. A single lift connects the car deck with the lounge.
As you may have guessed, I’m Tim and I live in the Scottish Highlands. I’ve always had a love of travel and thanks to the magical KZbin thing I can share my travels with you, the unsuspecting viewer. Thank you so much for watching this video and supporting my channel. All your likes, dislikes, comments and subs are greatly appreciated. If you like what you watched please hit that Subscribe button!
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MUSIC
Kimochii by Mona Wonderlick / monawonderlick Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/3aovLOi
Music promoted by Audio Library • Kimochii - Mona Wonder... ri
MAPS
All Maps: © OpenStreetMap contributors (routes added)
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#travel #train #scotland #ferry #ferries #railway #isleofbute #island #islandlife #islands #calmac #caledonianmacbrayne #scotrail #scotlandtour #random #timstravels #highlands #scottishhighlands #rail #railways #railways_of_europe #class380

[@briocheoleary5043]

Do you remember when you could drive into central up a curling driveway and onto the platforms… loved those days

[@Timstravels01]

Those were the days indeed.

[@flyingmyles]

What a wonderful journey! Stunning views as always in Scotland. Wemyss Bay Station is magnificent, beautifully made and very individual!

[@Timstravels01]

Even on a grey day, the scenery was outstanding. Wemyss Bay is an absolute belter of a station. Its like stepping back in time. Thanks for watching Myles, I hope you're well.

[@sandiandgregh]

That’s an excellent deal for a day out.

[@Timstravels01]

Incredibly good value.

[@paulpayton8238]

Thanks for sharing my travel friend very interesting 😊 I've always loved Scotland 😍

[@Timstravels01]

Thank you for watching! Scotland is a beautiful place to live, I love exploring it.

[@webrarian]

A joy to watch as ever. And happy memories of doing that same journey three years ago. I had to return to Wemyss Bay station by car again last summer just to enjoy the building a bit more. And the smell of cooking bacon from the café.

[@Timstravels01]

The station is simply stunning. I loved rolling in and seeing the ferry waiting, it was like going back in time. Thanks so much for watching.

[@alanmorr3635]

Great video, I go to Wemyss Bay regularly, Rothesay was the place my wife and I went our honeymoon.

[@Trond_travels]

What a lovely journey. A train ride with a seaview and then a ferry crossing. It’s my cup of tea 😊 We do have a lot of ferry services in Norway, not so much trains though. Thanks for sharing this video 😊

[@Timstravels01]

Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it. We are very fortunate in Scotland with the train and ferry options available, particularly on the west coast.

[@simewinder2261]

Absolutely love your videos Tim. My ancestors (Munro) are from Dingwall before we got sent down here to Vic, Aust a century and a half ago! More strength to your arm.

[@Timstravels01]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoy my stuff. I'm through in Dingwall every week - it's a very pleasant place.

[@michaelobrien9825]

WEMYSS BAY RAILWAY STATION A FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE IN THIS SCENIC PART OF THE COUNTRY.

[@Timstravels01]

It is simply stunning.

[@rogermulvaney9533]

I thought you were playing Bullseye Qs Challange on the train and ran out of time!😂#letshavealookatwhatyouwouldvewon😊

[@Timstravels01]

😂😂😂 Stay out of the black in the red. Nothing in this game for two in a bed. Thanks for watching buddy.

[@ohheyitskevinc]

Great little trip! I didn’t realise there’s a train station that close to GLA. You’d think they’d have stuck some 🐄 track down between the airport and at least Paisley by now. 🐄. Anyway cheers!

[@Timstravels01]

Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it. There has been talk over the years about connecting GLA to the rail network. It makes sense to me but the powers that be must have other ideas.

[@WorldWide_Dom]

Must have seen you coming Tim and decided that they needed to send you on the whole network. Thats all I can think off to be given so many Ferry coupons 😅 Great Video again, keep them coming! 😁

[@Timstravels01]

Hey if Calmac want to send me off on their entire network, I’m up for that. 😂 I’m off to check out an Air Greenland video now. 😀👍

[@stewartwallwork6505]

Thany you very much.I remember this station from holidays taken maybe 40 years ago pleased to see it unchanged.Assume later you visit the magnificent victorian toilets on Rothesay?

[@Timstravels01]

Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it. Wemyss Bay station is a stunning piece of architecture. I did visit the toilets at Rothesay, they are spectacular. They make an appearance on a video I released a couple of weeks ago.

[@ste6634]

Exceptionally clean windows

[@Timstravels01]

Not everyone notices these things.

[@leneeanderson4848]

You're humor!😂😂😂

[@Timstravels01]

Thank you! I’m glad someone gets it. 😂😂😂

[@TravelSignal]

Certainly looks like an enjoyable journey. Laughing at how many tickets though!

[@Timstravels01]

It was a very pleasant day out. I’m still reeling from the tickets. 🤣

[@watp6528]

you should do a video off Rothesay, go to port Bannatyne and Ettrick Bay

[@Timstravels01]

I’ll definitely be back! Bute is beautiful.

[@neil6447]

Class 380 was built by Siemens in Germany. Class 385 was built by Hitachi.

[@Timstravels01]

Silly mistake by me. Thanks for putting me right.

[@flyingchilders]

The amount of paper tickets you had and also the fact you had to exchange tickets to get on the ferry shows just how much we need an Oyster type card in Scotland, wake up Transport Scotland!

[@Timstravels01]

Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it. An Oyster card approach would make sense, it’d possibly save a tree or two. 🤣

[@michaelharkin3150]

You are lucky you never bought tickets on train.those would have been "loo roll" paper tickets

[@Timstravels01]

That’s a terrifying thought!

[@reb0118]

Unfortunately "loo roll" tickets are not enabled for rail-sail. Yet they have an aztec code that could in theory be scanned upon boarding.

[@ronflynn5043]

could'nt understand a word the lady said...........

[@Timstravels01]

Thanks for the feedback. Was it because of the background noise or was she too softly spoken? Just so I can make improvements for future uploads.