Full sailings schedule set to kick off for historic Loch Katrine steamship

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The curtain is being raised on the main tourist season at Loch Katrine tomorrow (Saturday) with the reintroduction of three daily sailings of the 124-year-old Steamship Sir Walter Scott.Back for her first complete season in five years, the iconic steamship resumed sailing in the middle of last summer after a major restoration.The Save our Steamship Appeal, organised by the charitable Trust that preserves this national maritime treasure for public benefit, was launched in 2021 to raise funds to replace cracked boilers, install new decking, and complete other major hull repairs.The appeal was successful in generating generous public donations and support from a range of grant funders, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, who recognised the ship’s historical importance and the positive contribution it makes to the public enjoyment of Loch Katrine with the provision of a fully accessible water-based visitor experience and pier to pier transport links for cyclists and walkers.Steamship Sir Walter Scott has two-hour sailings twice daily between Trossachs Pier and Stronachlachar at 10.30am and 2.30pm and a one-hour circular cruise from Trossachs Pier at 1pm.

The new timetable also has seven 45-minute circular cruises each day on Lady of the Lake, named after Scott’s famous poem which is credited with being responsible the birth of Scottish tourism when it was published in 1810 and led to tourists flocking to the Trossachs.James Fraser, CEO and trustee at Loch Katrine explained that this is a landmark year for the popular Trossachs attraction.“For the first time in a long time, we have the historic steamship back for an entire season.