Is it my imagination or did a post about the excessive ferry waiting times from Largs to Cumbrae get deleted or censored? I thought it was from Stuart, but maybe I'm just dreaming?
It was worrisome enough that I deleted Milport from our 2026 trip.
Posted by
OP
Mountains of S. Oregon
709 posts
Maybe I read about it the Guardian of National? Sounds like a problem with damaged ramp hinges. I'm nonetheless curious about the island being an overly busy destination. It's an easy trip from GLA so it provides an easy start or end to a trip originating in Glasgow - but not if there's a multi-hour queue.
Posted by
Delaware
1427 posts
Hi, jjgurley,
You ain't dreaming! This might be the article you're thinking about. It's from the Glasgow Herald.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/24494818.island-relying-ferry-that-scrapped-new-calmac-crisis/
Unfortunately, the main body of the article is behind a paywall.
There's also this:
www.largsandmillportnews.com/news/24482893.four-hour-wait-vehicles-cross-largs-cumbrae-ferry/
Mike (Auchterless)
Posted by
OP
Mountains of S. Oregon
709 posts
I guess the important question is does this route often have long queue's? If it does, then it isn't a great "night before" for GLA flights out.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7324 posts
The wait times are for cars. Foot pax don't have issues. And there is always a waiting bus on the other side.
Yes the issue relates to the wrong vessels being used this year, after an overweight truck was carried to the island, and damaged the ramp of the main vessel.
It was not just overweight but apparently went over repeatedly and there was some kind of issue over how it drove onto the ramp. All quite technical stuff, but real damage.
CalMac have now changed their rules about carriage of commercial vehicles on the smaller vessels.
EDITED- Apparently the propulsion unit failed on one of the other vessels at the weekend, compounding the issues, as the Loch Fyne is now off service as well as the Loch Shira.,
To answer the question directly. at peak Glasgow holiday times like the Summer School Holidays then even with fully functioning ferries vehicle demand outstrips capacity, and long line ups are inevitable. The key is to pick your day as this is not a perpetual issue, one of a minority of dates, perhaps 20% of the year. It depends what you call long- 1 to 2 hours directionally onto Cumbrae in the morning and off in the evening.
Also and I am thinking carefully, as I don't want to start another fight about over-tourism, my strictly honest but very personal opinion is that on peak days too many cars are going over to a small island. It is possible to argue that it is now over touristed on those days. In it's heyday it was foot traffic. which the island could cope with better.
This is emphatically NOT a dig at people driving over, just stating the blindingly obvious. I hope this thread does not now degenerate as so many have recently on such a vexed and complex issue.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7324 posts
By the way as we have a live CalMac thread the Tobermory to Kilchoan ferry is currently away at scheduled overhaul. Due to the small vessel issue elsewhere there is no available replacement so that route is officially a passenger only charter for the time being.
Word on the local street is that a vehicle charter is being provided on certain days, as available, but this is not guaranteed for any specific date.