Marine Gateway to the Forest Park
  
 
 
 
 
 
 

History of the Pier

The following text has been taken from the excellent booklet ‘Blairmore Pier’ published by Waverley Excursions Ltd, which is available to purchase here.

As more and more villas appeared on the shores of the Holy Loch and Loch Long, a pier was opened at Blairmore during the summer of 1855. Celebrations in a nearby hotel accompanied the opening, but the owner cannot have been quite so pleased when, as early as 1872, substantial repairs were required.
  

In the earliest days, passengers travelling to Blairmore took one of the Holy Loch boats or a steamer heading into Loch Goil or to the head of Loch Long. Henderson and McKellar competed for Kilmun traffic with the Campbells, but by 1869 Bob Campbell had won the day with steamers such as the Express, the Mail and the Vivid. In 1876 he built the Benmore, but financial difficulties in 1885 forced him to sell her. Soon he found new backers, bought the Meg Merrillies, saw off his old ship’s new owners and with confidence renewed built the Waverley and the Madge Wildfire.

Passengers for Arrochar would take the Chancellor. Three vessels in succession bore the name, the last built in 1880. She attracted unwelcome attention by breaking down at Blairmore on the ‘glorious twelfth’ of August 1882. In September of her first season The Lochgoil Company’s Windsor Castle brought a royal visitor to Blairmore, though Prince Leopold did not land on his way to Greenock.

Competition was intense and to reduce accidents when steamers were racing, signalling was introduced in 1889. A cabin was built for the new signals at Blairmore. By day, captains looked out for white or black discs to see whether they might approach. At night, lamps were lit and the signals became red or white lights shining out.

 

  

 

Around the turn of the twentieth century, Blairmore received some 4000 calls a year, many by railway steamers. The Sou’ West ran boats like the Mars, the Glen Rosa and the Minerva to the Holy Loch: in 1902 the Caley brought the Caledonia to the run where she stayed until 1933.

Towards the end of 1922 the pier was closed for some time for repairs and three years later it was gifted by the Younger family to the Forestry Commission, with the rest of the Benmore Estate. Late in 1937 closure loomed: annual revenue was just £140 but some £6000 was needed for repairs. In January 1939 it was agreed that about £1000 could be spent to keep the pier open.

The pier’s deteriorating condition prevented calls planned for the Waverley and Balmoral in 1998 and it was not until its 150th year in 2005 that passengers were able, once again, to embark and disembark at Blairmore from a sizeable vessel.

  

 

Visit the Gallery to see more photographs of the pier and its restoration.