Admiralty Jetty

The the derelict L-shaped Admiralty Jetty (or Admiralty Pier) located in Cardwell Bay/Gourock Bay. Built during World War II for Admiralty vessels, it later served as the main terminal for U.S. Navy liberty boats supporting the Submarine Squadron 14 base at Holy Loch until it closed in 1992
 

Ardnadam Pier

 

Ardnadam Pier on the Holy Loch is 160 meters long and is the longest pier on the Firth of Clyde.

It was built in 1858 and was a traditional steamer pier and was an important link to Glasgow for the remote communities around the Holy Loch.

The Royal Navy established a base here during WW2, traffic greatly reduced after the war, but its fortune changed in 1961 when the American US Polaris submarines were based in the Loch.

The navy base was very controversial at the time and a lot of protests and demonstrations took place over the years.

The base closed in 1992. 

Irvine Wharf and Jetty

The remains of the wharf and jetty that belonged to ICI works and previously the Nobel's Explosives Factory.

Loch Long Torpedo Range

 Loch Long Torpedo Range, sometimes referred to as Arrochar Torpedo Range.

The range was used between 1912 and 1980 when it was decommissioned.

More information about the range can be found HERE

Largs Pier

Largs Pier before CalMac arrived.

Millport Pier

Millport pier which is currently closed.

Catching Crabs

While on a visit to the old Lamonts pier in Port Glasgow I watched as this gentleman was endeavouring to catch crabs.
He had a couple of buckets in which he placed half a chicken in each as bait, he then lowered his buckets into the water, after about half an hour he raised the buckets which had about twenty to thirty crabs in each.
I’m presuming they were being caught for a local restaurant, the man didn’t speak much English but he indicated to me that this was not a great catch and that the crabs are usually a lot bigger.

Craigendoran Pier

 Craigendoran pier was opened to steamers on the 15 May 1882,

Trains from the North British ran from Queen Street station Glasgow straight to the pier head to connect with the steamers.

The pier and station lies approximately 1 mile south of Helensburgh,the pier at Helensburgh was deemed unfit for steamers due its shallow depth water ,it was also considered to be to far from the train station.

Craigendoran pier closed in 1972, with the cessation of steamer services, after 90 years in operation.

Not much survives today of the pier, its difficult to imagine steamers pulling in with hundreds of Glaswegians on their holidays ,walking round the area you can still spot cobble stones under the undergrowth, the odd bollard ,shards of broken posts.