Is it just us or is there is not something quite magical about the River Clyde at night? It is especially on a crisp dark evening when the lights of the bustling city reflect on the water. Now is your chance to see the River Clyde in all its splendour as the City’s famous landmarks and bridges are lit up, creating a fascinating, atmospheric trip along our beautiful river. Our next Glasgow By Night trip will take place on Thursday 16th February giving you the rare chance to see the sights of Glasgow stunningly lit up at night whilst sailing down the river in one of our heated vessels.

As we set sail from Broomielaw Pontoon (Bottom of York St, Glasgow) at 7pm we will sail underneath the 5 bridges for you to take in the breathtaking array of lights. We will pass other famous Glasgow landmarks along the way including the Finnieston Crane, BBC Studios, Glasgow Science Centre, The Armadillo, New Riverside Museum, Tall Ship, the Glenlee, Warships under construction at two shipyards, Braehead Shopping Centre and Titan Crane at John Brown’s shipyards, which is spectacular at night with changing colours.

For this trip there be live commentary so you will have the chance to learn some interesting facts about the Clyde’s history and future.

So if you want to spend a Thursday doing something a bit different we would love for you to join us. We set off at 7pm and return at 8.30. Tickets cost £20pp.

Tickets are limited so to book your place on Glasgow’s exclusive River boat event, call us on 01475 721 281

COMPETITION!

The River Clyde is steeped in history and more recently it is being transformed. With it’s changing faces and transformations, no matter what age you are The River Clyde will no doubt have played a part in your life. So we would love to hear your favourite memory of the River Clyde?

Simply share your memory, story or even photo of the Clyde on our Facebook page and you could be in with a chance of winning 2 tickets to Glasgow at Night next Thursday. Share your comments on our Facebook page.

For the last two years we have ran our very popular West Coast Tours on the Crinan Canal. This sailing tour allows an unrivalled opportunity to see some of the most stunning scenery on the west coast of Scotland from a different perspective. With abundant wildlife and wilderness, sheltered, calm sailing waters and an opportunity to escape from the daily grind to this calm, peaceful and beautiful area it truly is an unforgettable experience.

Passing through a lock on the Crinan Canal

Departing from Victoria Harbour in Greenock, early on the Friday morning we sailed to Barcaldine on Loch Creran via Oban and the Crinan Canal. On Saturday, we sailed northwards to Fort William via some lesser visited piers and lochs. The sailing on Sunday included a 3 hour guided tour by mini-bus of the Glensanda coastal quarry. Finally, on Monday we departed Oban for the return sailing to Greenock via the Crinan Canal.

Operating a lock on the Crinan Canal

Following some fantastic feedback, we have decided to develop this year’s tour to take in both the Crinan and Caledonian Canal between Thursday 26th April and Tuesday 1st May 2012. The “Royal Route” is a unique 3 day sailing excursion from Greenock through the Crinan and Caledonian Canal to Inverness. Our 3 day excursion is designed for the independent traveller who is keen to see the West Coast of Scotland and this famous route from a different perspective.

Enjoying the scenery on Clyde Cruises' West Coast Tour

A sail through the Great Glen along the world famous Caledonian Canal is a never to be forgotten experience. Some sixty miles in length, forty of which are natural freshwater lochs dotted here and there with small islands, the beauty of which both fascinates and charms, while the pine clad mountains sail past. A wonderful sailing experience, beautiful and awe inspiring in its grandeur, the entire area is steeped in the history of the Clans Fraser and Cameron.

This truly magnificent journey, made famous by Queen Victoria is home to some of the most captivating scenery in the West Coast of Scotland. Join us and our highly trained crew will expertly navigate the MV Rover through stunning waterways and quaint villages.

For more information on this year’s tour, download our Royal Route Highland Tour brochure (PDF, 270kb).

This trip was an excellent opportunity to see Glasgow from a different perspective and one we are keen to repeat, perhaps next time with a warming drink and some interesting live commentary.

Below are some beautiful photos from the cruise, taken by John Crae.

Around 80 youngsters dressed as pirates and Vikings crossed the River Clyde on the new Govan Ferry and planted flags on the other side to reclaim the territory as part of the ancient burgh of Govan.

Clyde Clippers were delighted to be involved in the project and welcomed the youngsters onboard the mv Cruiser to transport them across the River to Yorkhill Quay at the Riverside Museum.

It was fantastic to see one of our much loved vessels filled with such a passionate group of youngsters, their chants and songs filled the air creating an electrical atmosphere and their colourful costumes added such authenticity to the crossing. We were truly delighted to be able to participate in such a well put together, realistic and fascinating event.

One primary school and one secondary school winner will win for up to 30 of their classmates an exciting river experience down the River Clyde onboard the specially converted ‘Classroom on the Clyde’ to see the many changes that have taken place in recent years and to learn about the history of the river and how important it is to the local communities that live along it.

Each winning group will also be given free access to the Glasgow Science Centre and get the chance to view a science film in the visually stunning IMAX theatre.

The prize includes a donation from Clyde Waterfront to pay for transport to and from school. And, for the two individuals who win, Xscape at Braehead is awarding them each an action pack, so they and a friend can return to enjoy a thrill packed day including bowling, sledging, a laser game and free cinema tickets.

Hosted by Clyde Cruises Ltd, the “Classroom on the Clyde” river experience lasts about 2 hours, sailing down the Clyde from the SECC, past Renfrew to Clydebank and then returning.

Teachers visiting Clyde Waterfront Education have free access to 219 downloadable lesson ideas, written by teachers for teachers and all recently updated to reflect the Curriculum for Excellence.

So be sure to buy your copy of today’s Evening Times for full entry details.

Loch Goil

Passage Cut Through Icefield

Motor Boat Reaches Lochgoilhead

The motor boat Courier succeeded yesterday in breaking her way through five miles of ice to Lochgoilhead.

A thaw had set in on Tuesday night, and Loch Goil was clear of ice up to Carrick Castle.

Beyond that, however, lay a dark and solid sheet of ice extending from shore to shore and stretching right up to the head of the loch. Through this the Courier cut a narrow channel-way to Lochgoilhead Pier.

A Formidable Task

The Courier, which is maintaining the Loch Goil service in place of the MacBrayne motor vessel Comet, left Gourock yesterday forenoon shortly before ten o’clock, carrying six passengers, including three ladies. Bailie Munro, of Greenock, the owner of the boat was in charge. For the purposes of negotiating the icefield in Loch Goil the bow and parts of the sides of the Courier were sheathed in galvanised sheet iron. On the previous day the crew of the motor boat had to break a passage through the ice to reach Carrick Castle Pier, but a thaw had cleared away the ice from this neighbourhood yesterday. A short distance above the village, at Coramonachan Bay, the icefield began and extended right up the head of the loch, a distance of five miles.

Slow Progress

It looked a formidable task for the little motor boat to force a passage, but it set about tackling it at full speed ahead. At the fringe of the field the ice was thin, but after the motor boat had penetrated a few hundred yards she encountered ice fully an inch thick. She made slow but steady progress. Eventually Douglas Pier was reached. Beyond that the Courier found her task more difficult, the ice stretching in a thick, unbroken sheet from shore to shore. By steady perseverance she continued to cut a narrow channel-way, scarcely more than her own breadth, through the ice.

The loud reports of the breaking ice which marked the progress of the boat echoed over the loch, and could be heard for miles. The noise brought to their doors the occupants of lonely cottages on the lochside, and they watched with interest the unprecedented spectacle of a motor boat negotiating an icefield in a Clyde sea loch. Blocks of ice thrown up by the Courier went birling over the surface on either side of the motor boat like curling stones on a rink.

A Remarkable Achievement

The motor boat continued to grind her way forward, and, although at times scarcely  more than moving, she succeeded in making Lochgoilhead Pier, the village of which had watched her passage up the loch with intent interest. It was in its way a remarkable achievement for the little motor boat to succeed in forcing her way through the icefield, and she did not escape unscathed, her bows above the galvanised sheet iron protection being damaged and part of the sides torn by the ice.

Not the least remarkable feature of the Courier’s trip was that when she set out on the return passage she found that the channel-way which she had made had frozen over. Consequently on leaving Lochgoilhead Pier she had to force a new passage for fully a hundred yards. Thereafter the original channel-way was clear of ice, and she was able to make her way down it into open water.

Glasgow, Saturday, January 26, 1929

The Glenlee was first used as a bulk carrier in 1896 and in her time travelled around the world four times including fifteen visits to the ferocious Cape Horn where she survived its infamous storms. From 1922 to 1969 the Spanish navy acquired the Glenlee and used her as a sail training vessel then as a training school until 1981. She lay unused at Seville Harbour until 1992 when the Glenlee (then re-named Galatea) was bought at auction by the Clyde Maritime Trust.

Only five Clydebuilt sailing ships remain afloat in the world and the Glenlee is one of them. Six years of painstaking restoration work was carried out by Clyde Maritime Trust’s volunteers and paid workers, and in 1999 she was recognised as one of the most important of all the UK’s historic vessels in terms of its heritage and technological innovation.

Restoration on the Glenlee is ongoing, but as a museum will host changing exhibitions and various public and private events.

Watch our video of Clyde Marine’s tugs taking the Glenlee up the Clyde.