THE MANUALLY OPERATED
TURNTABLE FERRY
Our ferry boat, the MV Glenachulish, is the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world. She is ideally suited for this unique crossing to Skye and is an important part of our heritage. Although there has been a car ferry service crossing the Kylerhea straits since 1934, the very same crossing has been in almost constant use for hundreds of years, as this is the closest point on the Mainland to the Isle of Skye.
The MV Glenachulish was built in 1969 and has a length of almost 18m and a beam of 6.7m. The ferry has a capacity of 6 cars but will allow any variation of foot passengers and vehicles within its safety specifications (maximum 12 passengers).
People come from all over the world to visit our ferry. She’s been featured on TV and more recently won over new fans via online short films and videos, see Tom Scot’s video below. Travelling on the the Glenachulish is a unique experience, but she is over 50 years old and maintenance is expensive. Please contribute if you can and help to preserve her.
50 Year Anniversary
Reaching 50 years means the ferry is now registered with National Historic Ships, Greenwich.
We held a special birthday party to allow people to celebrate this important milestone.
Over £100,000 has been raised
by public donation in acknowledgement of this historic milestone which helped the ongoing preservation of this, now nationally recognised, historic vessel.
Why Do Turntable Ferries… Turn?
Manually operated turntable ferries are a quirky, uniquely Scottish transport solution. Here’s an excellent film made in 2021 by Tom Scott; a one-man YouTube sensation with over seven million followers!
Tom made a visit to the ferry in 2021 to make a film for his Things You Might Not Know series. His film beautifully demonstrates the genius of the turntable ferry. Take a look at the whole thing below and do take a look at his YouTube Channel.
Preserving The Ferry
The ferry has been in the ownership of the Isle of Skye Ferry Community Interest Company since 2007. Separately, the Glenachulish Preservation Trust was set up to raise funds to preserve this unique piece of Scottish maritime history. Over £200,000 has been raised to bring the boat to her current condition.
The original Kelvin T6 engine requires constant TLC and every winter the ferry is sent for a full check-up and essential repairs.
The Charity would like to ask for donations for this vital work to continue.
To support the continued preservation of this piece of history, please give generously if you can.
More information on the website of the Ferry Charity: gptskyeferrycharity.com