|
Arran lost its regular link to the Argyll mainland last Sunday.
For the next five months the only ferry connection from Lochranza to Kintyre will be once a day. The Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) vessel MV Loch Tarbert left Lochranza on Sunday afternoon and is not scheduled to return to regular crossings of the Kilbrannan Sound until 20 March 2008.
As in recent years the winter service to and from Lochranza will be undertaken by MV Isle of Cumbrae, which normally plies between Tarbert and Portavadie 10 times a day. For the winter months she will divert from her usual run to depart from Tarbert at 12.15pm for the one-and-a-half hour sail to Lochranza, arriving at 1.40 pm and leaving again five minutes later.
This service is only available by making passenger and vehicle reservations in advance with the CalMac office at Kennacraig, telephone number 01880 730253.
Members of the regular Arran crew will be deployed elsewhere on the ferry network for the winter. Purser John van Bogerijen of Kildonan said: ‘It’s interesting seeing other places but I prefer to get home every night.’ Skipper Gavin Crawford is using the winter period to go to college through CalMac and hopefully gain further nautical qualifications. Seaman Robert Ferguson will be taking up duties with CalMac based in Brodick. Andrew McNiven of Shiskine said that he quite enjoys the opportunity to work on other vessels in the fleet.
People using the winter service to Tarbert are recommended to take a good book and something to drink because facilities on the vessel are limited
