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Ayr was once a major holiday resort on the Clyde coast
and whilst it has lost much of its trade, it still sees a fair number
of visitors. Traditionally a major excursion steamer was stationed
at Ayr, where the river Ayr enters the Firth of Clyde and berthed
at the quayside inside the breakwater and in what was then a busy
port for small cargoes and fish. In preservation Waverley revived
Ayr as a call, basing herself there for two days a week in a normal
summer. Whilst there is still activity at the port (some of which
has led to Waverley having to delay or even abandon calls in recent
years), much of the quayside is being redeveloped, including for
flats as seen above. From Ayr harbour there is a direct view across
to the isle of Arran. Waverley is seen leaving Ayr on 15th August
2011. Photo by kind courtesy of Kenny Whyte
Above : Waverley enters Portmouth harbour in 2011 in a photo kindly supplied
by Kenny Whyte. Waverley's financial problems have left many wondering whether,
if the paddler survives, she will still visit places such as
the south coast of the UK. It is, however, a lucrative market and there is
a view that she would be best served spending more time here