Barbaros Kiran

A bulker which having unloaded her cargo at Glasgow sailed and anchored at Brodick Bay at the Isle of Arran.

Brodick Castle can be seen in the background of some of the pictures.

HMS Ramsey M110

Minsweeper on exercise off the coast at Gourock.

A concrete beach was created at Wemyss Bay during World War II, to provide a durable area where amphibious vehicles and landing craft could transition between land and sea. This would have been part of the preparations made by Combined Operations.

The weight of military vehicles, particularly if loaded with supplies, troops, munitions or armour, and the repeated passage of heavily treaded tyres, or tracks, would soon destroy an unprotected soft or sandy beach with a loose surface, rendering it useless. By laying a reinforced concrete surface over the original beach, it was possible to stabilise such areas, and use them continuously.

Here is a short account of someone who lived in the area at the time.

The Wemyss Bay beach which we knew as the shore road did have the concrete facility as is mentioned and was used by landing craft that came from somewhere and went up some lochs somewhere but we never found out where, such was the way of the war, but the concrete landing area certainly made a good outdoor swimming pool if the weather was good and the tide was in.

I was living at this time in a caravan in Kelly Estate in the avenue, a short distance from McIntyre's Kelly Mains farm, having moved down from Glasgow after the Clydebank blitz. The caravans were all well spaced out under the trees, unlike the present day, and the rent paid to Mr Bill McIntyre was £5.00 a year.

It was not unusual to be awakened in the wee small hours by the sound of army tanks, bren carriers and army lorries coming up into the estate and stopping under the trees to avoid detection from the air, also not realising that the caravans were all occupied thinking they could perhaps get a good billet for the night.

One particular instance, where having disturbed us during the night, the young English officer in charge apologised the next morning and stated that they were now leaving and taking the bridge to Rothesay. We explained there was no bridge to Rothesay and it transpired that he was looking for the Kincardine Bridge as they were going to Rosyth!

George Sneddon, Cumbernauld.

Information courtesy of secret Scotland.

Ali Cat

Ali Cat on her early morning run (0720)between Gourock and Dunoon

RRS James Cook

The RRS James Cook is the latest addition to the scientific research fleet of the UK-based Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

She is seen here arriving Glasgow to berth at King George V dock at Sheildhall.

For more information on the amazing work she does and her adventures check the official web site.

HERE

For some pictures of RRS Discovery click HERE

Seabus

Seabus ferry making her way across the Firth to Gourock.

Lendilfoot

Lendilfoot is a small hamlet a few miles south of Girvan.

Girvan

Ailsa Craig from the beach at Girvan.

Strone

The small fishing boat is Lucy J

MARIDA MAPLE

Departing Loch Long after a visit to Finnart.

Sospan Dau

Dredgers working in Glasgow dump their spoil at the mouth of the Holy Loch.

click HERE for some pictures of her filling in the Kingston Basin a few years ago.

HNLMS Zeeleeuw

Dutch submarine heading for Coulport in Loch Long.