I’ve already seen a few other reviews by Silver Travellers who have enjoyed cruises on this paddle steamer, but as some of them refer to a ‘last chance’, I thought I’d take the opportunity to show that it’s still going strong in 2018 (although since our cruise I did hear that it broke down recently, leaving passengers stranded for several hours!).
The Waverley was built on the Clyde just after the 2nd World War, and has been very well restored. If you like the nostalgia of machines/machinery of that vintage, this is for you! The engines seemed in excellent condition and worked well throughout our trip.
There are several places around the country where you can board the steamer, but as we were visiting our daughter in Scotland, we chose Helensburg, from where we spent the day cruising the Clyde estuary and Loch Long. The weather was cloudy and a little cold, unfortunately, as sunshine would have been brilliant, but we still managed to spend most of our time out on deck. The views were stunning, and the commentary also very informative. There is a bar, a tea room and a restaurant, so no shortage of places to buy refreshments, although we noticed that many took their own.
It’s a curiosity, which may not last much longer, although their Preservation Society is obviously doing its best to ensure it continues to provide a rather unusual, yet pleasant experience.
“Steamer website”:https://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk/