31st March 2026:
Don’t miss KC’s only planned trip to Totnes in 2026
Join Kingswear Castle on Tuesday 8th September 2026 for her only planned sailing to Totnes this year. Kingswear Castle will depart Dartmouth at 3.30pm, call at Totnes 5.15pm, due back
25th August 1928:
Royal Sovereign & London Belle
On Saturday 25th August 1928 the paddle steamer Royal Sovereign was scheduled to sail from Old Swan Pier at London Bridge to Ramsgate with London Belle shadowing her from Greenwich
24th August 1960:
Princess Elizabeth
On Wednesday 24th August 1960 Princess Elizabeth was scheduled to run from Haldon Pier Torquay on the following timetable: 11am MORNING CRUISE viewing Thatcher Rock, Babbacombe, Oddicombe, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Berry
23rd August 1925:
Ravenswood
In issue number 14 of Paddle Wheels ex army officer Captain L G A Thomas, then a stalwart of the Wessex Branch, recounted a day out he had almost forty
Sandown, Shanklin & Ventnor to Bournemouth
Prior to the Second World War it was the usual practice of Red Funnel to schedule two sailings a week, usually on Mondays, Wednesdays or sometimes Fridays, in the summer
22nd August 1955:
Britannia
On Monday 22nd August 1955 Britannia ran the long day trip from Bristol and Cardiff to Ilfracombe in place of Bristol Queen. This was the route with which she was
21st August 1965:
Princess Elizabeth
On Saturday 21st August 1965 Princess Elizabeth was chartered at Weymouth on her usual day off service to play the role of a Dover Cross Channel packet for filming for
20th August 1965:
Princess Elizabeth
On Friday 20th August 1965 Princess Elizabeth left Weymouth at 9.30am for a day trip to Yarmouth, Isle of Wight with return at 7.30pm. It was a lovely day. The
19th-26th August 1956:
A Week in the Life of Balmoral
After service in the Second World War as an anti-aircraft vessel and latterly as an accommodation ship Red Funnel’s cross Channel flyer Balmoral was returned to Southampton in 1947 in
19th August 1926:
Columba to Ardrishaig
On Thursday 19th August 1926 Columba was scheduled to leave Glasgow (7.11am) on the “Royal Route” for Rothesay (10.15am), Colintraive (10.40am), Tighnabruaich (10.55am), Tarbet (11.55am) and Ardrishaig (12.40pm) setting off
18th August 1953:
Bournemouth
On Tuesday 18th August 1953, Bournemouth Pier was one of the busiest excursion hubs in Britain: fifteen paddle steamer departures in eleven and a half hours. Let’s look in detail:
17th August 1958:
Embassy
On Sunday 17th August 1958 Embassy sailed from Bournemouth Pier at 2.30pm for a “Grand Channel Cruise to Portland Dockyard for a close up view of America’s famous nuclear submarine
17th August 1937:
Sailings from Lulworth Cove
Lulworth Cove was ever a beauty spot at which paddle steamers delivered far more passengers than they ever picked up but there were some staying in the vicinity who did
16th August 1958:
Bristol Queen
On Saturday 16h August 1958 Bristol Queen was scheduled to sail from Bristol (9am) to Clevedon (10.05am), Cardiff (11.05am), Penarth (11.15am) and, Barry (11.50am) for Ilfracombe (2pm). She was then
15th August 1959:
Consul
On Saturday 15th August 1959 Consul ran one hour trips from Weymouth at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm to view the United States Navy’s newly built nuclear powered submarine USS Skipjack
15th August 1924:
St Elvies
On Friday 8th August 1924 St Elvies was scheduled to take the day trip leaving Prince’s Landing Stage Liverpool at 10.45am for Llandudno (1.05pm – 1.15pm), Beaumaris (2.10pm), Bangor (2.25pm)
15th-22nd August 1966:
A Week in the Life of La Duchesse de Normandie
Although not propelled by paddle wheels I tend to think of La Duchesse de Normandie as an honorary paddle steamer. She was 180ft long. She had two triple expansion steam
14th-20th August 1960:
A Week in the Life of Consul
Consul started her 1960 season on Saturday 4th June running a ferry service between Weymouth and Portland Naval Dockyard for Navy Days. Her last scheduled trips of the season were
14th August 1939:
Balmoral
On Monday 14th August 1939 Balmoral was scheduled to sail on a day trip from Southampton to Ryde, Southsea, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and Bournemouth. She was due away from Southampton
13th August 1952:
Cardiff Queen
On Wednesday 13th August 1952 Cardiff Queen was scheduled to run from Hastings (8.15am), Eastbourne (9.15am) and Brighton (10.30am) to Shanklin, Isle of Wight (1.30pm – 3.30m) then back to
12th August 1935:
Golden Eagle
On Monday 12th August 1935 Golden Eagle, “The Happy Ship” was scheduled to leave Tower Pier (8am), Greenwich (8.30am), North Woolwich (9am), Southend (10.45am) for Margate (12.30pm). She then ran
