MV Glenachulish

MV Glenachulish is a ferry operating a summer service between Glenelg and Kylerhea, on the Isle of Skye.  Built in 1969, she is the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world. 

History
Glenachulish was built at Ailsa Shipbuilding Company in Troon in 1969.  She is named after Glenachulish, a glen and hamlet near South Ballachulish. 

In 2006, Murdo Mackenzie, the owner of the ferry, was planning to retire.  A community interest company was formed by local residents to buy the ferry and run the service.  

In 2008, the ferry was featured in the film Made of Honour. 

In January 2012, following a landslide blocking the A890 road, Glenachulish began a service at Stromeferry.  The service crossed  Loch Carron to North Strome, avoiding a  diversion by road. 

Service

From 1969 to 1975, Glenachulish operated at Ballachulish.  After the opening of the Ballachulish Bridge, she became the relief ferry  at Corran, Kessock and Kylesku.  The latter two routes have since been replaced with bridges. 

Since 1982, Glenachulish has operated the Glenelg ferry across Kylerhea narrows between Easter and October each year.  The  550 m crossing takes only 5 minutes and is the shortest sea crossing to Skye.  There has been a ferry on this route for over 400 years, with a car ferry since 1934.  It is one of only two remaining ferries to Skye from the mainland - the other is the Caledonian MacBrayne service between Mallaig and Armadale. 

References

External links

Glenelg - Skye ferry - Isle of Skye Ferry Community Interest Company. 

Category:Ferries of Scotland
Category:Ships built in Scotland
Category:Isle of Skye