Visiting Ailsa Craig, the remarkable volcanic plug that rises from the seabed in the lower reaches of the Firth of Clyde, has been tradition dating back to the earliest times. With the advent of the steamboat, a trip around the island was an early feat to demonstrate the reliability of the vessels.

Duchess of Hamilton rounding Ailsa Craig around 1905

Throughout the 1800s, passengers were landed briefly on the island from special sailings of steamers when the weather was amenable, but the main communication was with Girvan on the Ayrshire coast. Sailing coasters and fishing smacks brought not only tourists, but also transported the quarrymen to the quarries set up by the Marquis of Ailsa to supply curling stones to the world.

Sailing smacks and yachts from Girvan landing visitors at Ailsa Craig

Towards the end of the century, William Girvan, who was involved in transporting the granite for stones to Girvan and ran much of the visitor trade, used a small steam launch, the Nimrod, to tow the smacks when the weather was calm.

Alisa Craig (Riddel, Girvan)

Ailsa (Riddel, Girvan)

Ailsa on an evening cruise (Riddel, Girvan)

In 1906, he had a small yacht-like steamer, Ailsa, built at Troon. Just 75 feet long and 15 feet broad, she was powered by an engine supplied by Messrs Houston & Co. Ltd, that drove her single screw.

Beta

The 38 ton ketch, Beta, built in 1856 at Rothesay, master Robert Ramsay, of Campbeltown. Bound from Irvine to Ailsa Craig. Cargo 73 ton of coals, 13 ton of which saved. Crew of 4 saved. Lost 15 July 1910. 20 yards from Ailsa Craig Lighthouse Station, 50 yards from Lighthouse. Wind north east, strong breeze. Cause of wreck, very sudden rising of wind from north east, blowing inshore. “On the 14th the ketch Beta arrived here with the annual supply of coal for this station. At about 5 p.m. the master beached his boat, it being about high water and dead calm, commencing at once to discharge our coals. They had taken 13 ton ashore, when the wind came in very sudden and strong from the north east, blowing the ketch sideways on to the beach where she became a total wreck”. Source: Ailsa Craig Lighthouse.

A gallery of Ailsa.

Ailsa at Girvan

Ailsa off to Ailsa Craig

Ailsa off the lighthouse Ailsa Craig

Landing visitors at the jetty, Ailsa Craig

Ailsa at Ailsa Craig

Ailsa at the jetty

Ailsa at the jetty, Ailsa Craig

A new and larger steamer, Ailsa II, was built from the Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. at Ayr in 1924 when the Alisa was sold. She was almost 96 feet long and over 22 ft in breadth, and her single screw was driven by a more powerful engine supplied by Messrs A. Hall & Co. of Aberdeen.

Lady Ailsa, ex-Ailsa II at Girvan

The Ailsa II was renamed Lady Ailsa shortly after she entered service and she served until 1932 when she was sold to an owner in Brest, France and renamed Camaret.

Lady Ailsa at Girvan

Lady Ailsa off to Ailsa Craig at Girvan

Lady Ailsa approaching the jetty, Ailsa Craig

Lady Ailsa at the jetty

The Lady Ailsa’s successor was also named Lady Ailsa. Smaller than her predecessor at just over 52 feet, she was a wooden motor vessel built by Messrs Hugh McLean & Sons Ltd., of Govan in 1934 and was driven by a Gleniffer paraffin engine.

MV Lady Ailsa returning from Ailsa Craig at Girvan

MV Lady Ailsa entering Girvan Harbour

MV Lady Ailsa leaving Girvan

A consort, Carrick Lass, also sailed on the service but was owned by Mr Robert L Greig, and was slightly larger and more powerful. Her main business was pleasure cruising along the coast from Girvan. She was sold to an owner in Hythe in 1937. The Lady Ailsa lasted until 1955 when she was sold to W. W. Hogarth, Morcambe.

Carrick Lass at Girvan