Enjoy the nostalgia of genuine steamboat cruising and relive the romance of a generation gone by…
SCOTTISH CRUISING AT ITS BEST
Cruising the west coast of Scotland is truly one of life’s highlights, & to experience it on an 80 year old Clyde Puffer is something very special indeed.
At a steady six knots, between the strangely beautiful islands, little can equal the peace of silent steam, on deck before the smokestack in good weather or in the saloon if you desire shelter.
The ever varying light on the hills, the pure-air of the sea lochs, the Hebridean sunsets , the small towns and fishing villages beneath the heather – all will give you, rain or sun, a holiday unequalled anywhere else in the world.
If Dougie were here, he would tell you himself that this is a true escape from the pressures of a cluttered world.
Whatever happens, potentially this could be the holiday of a lifetime.
THE HOLIDAY
Each holiday week begins with guests joining us on board from mid afternoon on a Sunday with the crew ready to help with bags & show you to your cabin – Afternoon tea will be ready to get you settled in after your journey!
We will not be steaming away until the Monday morning, thus giving you an opportunity to get to know the boat and use her as a base to explore the surrounding area.
During your holiday you may sit back & relax on board or stroll ashore on one of the many nature walks or historic excursions on offer.
For those who wish, you may of course participate in the running of a traditional steamboat – from berthing and casting off the ropes, steering by compass or landmark in the wheelhouse, studying charts to plan the route ahead, learning to bake bread in the galley –or even helping the engineer to keep up steam by shoveling in the engine room!
All cruises end with tea on a Friday afternoon.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A typical day starts after a leisurely breakfast, when the steam whistle resounds over the hills to wake the sluggish, and we steam silently along the canal or loch until lunch, when we are either moored at our destination for the day or still gently pottering through the water. The afternoon is usually spent exploring quayside, countryside or town life ashore.
If you enjoy walking or hill climbing, you can venture into a glen and see the view, or bird-watchers can observe the wide variety of migrants seen in Scotland; and we have dinghies for picnic expeditions or fishing. You never know, even if you don’t fish, you may catch the Loch Ness Monster!
These holidays are for any age group, but a modicum of physical and mental agility is necessary. VIC32 is not a luxury liner; it is a comfortable passenger puffer.
DINING ABOARD VIC 32
Dining aboard VIC 32 is an important ingredient to the Puffer experience. The long saloon table is an amazing space for passengers to eat and share their experiences of the day. Certainly not the formality of cruise ship dining, but somehow something far better!
All guests will enjoy a continental breakfast with Scottish nuance, morning coffee, buffet lunch, afternoon tea with home-made cakes, and three course dinner from Sunday afternoon until the following Friday tea.
We are lucky to have a variety of amazing local producers supplying VIC 32 & encourage our cooks to focus on the best each season has to offer. We are renowned for our high standard of cooking – we have our own cookbook after all!
Drinks may be purchased from a small bar, including some traditional malt whiskies rarely found outside Scotland.
THE BOAT
the accommodation aboard VIC 32 is best described as quirky, cosy and intimate. On the main deck is a roomy saloon with comfortable and friendly seating shared with our companionable crew near an enclosed wood-burning stove for chilly days, together with a long table where meals from the adjacent galley are served beneath a traditional oil lamp
On the lower deck there are five cabins, three with twin berths (beds orientated in an L shape) and two with double berths.
There are also two modern bathrooms with WC, washbasin and shower with hot and cold water and shaver points – no worries here about the lack of hot water, thanks to the main boiler!
All cabins have a good amount of storage space for your luggage, USB charging points, blankets and hotties, a mirror and some hanging space.
All bed linens are provided but we ask that you bring your own towels.
WHAT TO WEAR
We recommend you bring simple, light clothing for hot days, together with warm clothes, waterproofs and good boating footwear and hill walking boots with good ankle support.
If you’re looking to participate in helping our crew then casual working clothes which you won’t mind getting grubby are of use.
A limited number of boiler suits are available for loan, but no laundry facilities.
VIC 32 is a traditional steamboat and the funnel emits the occasional cloud of black smoke with the inevitable effect of causing some smut and grime on deck – so we recommend you save you best for our last night celebrations!
STEAMING INTO A GREENER FUTURE
Stepping aboard VIC 32 takes you on a living piece of Scottish History – she is the last steam-powered traditional Clyde Puffer still puffing through Scottish waters.
Until very recently VIC 32, like all steam powered vessels, burnt coal as its source of energy – now both scarce & not a sustainable option for steaming into the future
Over a number of years trailing various options, and truly leading the way in the heritage sector, our team have made VIC 32 the first steam powered marine vessel to operate using Biofuel in the UK!
Your holiday aboard VIC 32 not only allows The Puffer Preservation Trust to restore & maintain VIC 32 for future generations – we are also working towards sharing our research, providing traditional skills training in steam engineering and educating the next generations on the incredible & vital role that Clyde Puffers played in the lives of those on the West Coast in times gone by…
