18-10-2011

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This page has photos of ferries of all shapes and sizes away from the Western Channel, starting with one of Sea France Rodin when nearly new in December 2001 taken by my friend Stephanie Dinez.

Moving almost to the opposite end of Britain, the Corran ferry across Loch Linnhe, near Fort William.  These two views show the, to me odd, arrangement of an angled ramp

Another ferry across Loch Linnhe is that between Camusnagaul and Fort William.  It's in effect a floating school bus and is seen here tied up at Fort William.

Caledonian MacBrayne's Lord of the Isles berthed at Oban.

Two views of the Cal Mac ferry Jupiter sailing from Dunoon to Gourock, in the right hand one a rival Western ferries vessel can also be seen.

The smallest ferry you're likely to see!  There are rowing boat ferries across the harbour at Weymouth two of which are featured in these photos.

Once a Furness Railway ferry, now a pleasure steamer, on Lake Windermere, the Swan arrives at the pier at Bowness on Windermere.

Two views of another ferry on Windermere, the car ferry across near the middle of the lake.

Heading back south to Cornwall, two views of the St. Mawes ferry at Falmouth.  The vessel is the Adrian Gilbert which used to be with British Railways operating between Kingswear and Dartmouth.

Another passenger ferry from Falmouth is across the inlet to Flushing, seen here alongside the pier at Falmouth.

The Torpoint ferry is a chain ferry between Torpoint and Plymouth, two of them are caught about to pass halfway across the Hamoaze.

The Higher Ferry across the Dart at Dartmouth, a chain ferry.  In 2006 the vessel used was propelled by paddle wheels.  The first view shows her as she had just finished loading.

A photo of her underway, the paddle wheels create a lot of splashing!

By 2009 a new vessel - without paddle wheels - had replaced the "paddller" on this service.

Further down the harbour is another car ferry, the Lower Ferry.  At busy times their are two ferries in use, possible as this one isn't guided by chains but by tugs.

In this photo you can see the tug alongside the ferry "barge", when leaving they go astern then cast off, swing round and tie up again so part of the crossing the ferry is effectively drifting!

Another, closer, view of one of the ferries with Dartmouth Castle in the background - a short crossing with some lovely views!

This one shows the tug in the process of swinging round, it can seem that half the crossing is spent like this!

The other ferry across Dartmouth Harbour is this passenger only service - though both the others can and do take foot passengers - which plies between pontoons at the railway stations of Kingswear and Dartmouth - the latter station never had a train service, just the formerly railway operated ferry.

The passenger ferry alongside Dartmouth pontoon along with her sister ships ready to go on cruises up river or out to sea.

One of those above was seen later at Totnes having come up from Dartmouth once the tide allowed.  You can do a circular trip steam train - boat - bus from Paignton via Dartmouth and Totnes.

The Oldenburg serves Lundy Island from Bideford and, as here, from Ilfracombe.

This little ferry operates from Mudeford Quay across the mouth of Christchurch Harbour in Dorset.

Two of Red Funnel Line catamarans on the Southampton - Cowes foot passenger service passing Calshot.

A Red Funnel Line car ferry on the Southampton - Cowes vehicle carrying service.

Trans Europa Ferries/LD Lines' Ostend Spirit at Ramsgate and sailing for Ostend.

Moving to the Irish Sea, Stena Line's Stena Europe and Stena Express seen from Stumbles Head while entering and leaving Fishguard on the Rosslare run.

  Well, that's it for now, but I'll be adding some more in the course of time as I get the photos.