An iconic paddle steamer will return to the west coast this summer as it celebrates its 40th tour since being saved from the scrap yard.
The Waverley will steam into Oban at the end of May and will make a number of trips to the isles and other west coast beauty spots.
The boat, which is the world’s last sea-going paddler, was saved from the breakers yard in 1973 and re-entered service two years later.
Since then, she has carried the remarkable total of more than five million passengers and is now a well known sight on the Clyde and on the west coast.
Her annual visit to Oban will begin on May 30 and sailings over the weekend include a visit to Inverie, home to the remotest public house in Scotland, a cruise past the Four Lochs of Shuna, Melfort, Craignish and Crinan to Corryvreckan Whirlpool, and an excursion to Iona.
On May 31, there will be a castles and cruise evening, with entertainment provided by award-winning band Trail West.
Earlier in the week, there are day cruises from Armadale, Mallaig, Kyle of Lochalsh and Portree.
The boat dates back to October 1946 by the Inglis yard in Glasgow.
Chief executive Kathleen O’Neill, who has been with boat since 1995, says her main challenge is to find ways of generating a minimum of £12,000 every day it is scheduled to sail.
Fuel is undoubtedly the single biggest cost but other factors include the annual winter overhaul, and health and safety regulations.
Senior master captain Andy O’Brian had a 24-year career with Caledonian MacBrayne and worked his way up from “gangway boy” to relief chief officer.
He said: “Regulatory environment has made commercial operation of an old steamship increasingly difficult.
“Three years ago we thought that financially the doors were closing for us and we would all have to look for a new job. That’s always hanging over us.
“Any October could be the last one but we are in Waverley for the love of it.
“An entire new generation has been introduced to the delights of Clyde cruising on a paddle steamer.
“That is something in which we take immense pride.”