Supporting the preservation and operation of paddle steamers Waverley and Kingswear Castle
The CGN’s Ouchy shipyard opened its gates to the public on 18–19 April 2026, offering a rare chance to see the engineering, craftsmanship and behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps the Léman paddle steamers and other ships in the fleet running. For a tour of the yard in pictures click here: May 2026: Ouchy Shipyard Open Days…
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The first steamship trip of the season on Lake Lucerne was taken by Stadt Luzern on Saturday 18th April sailing away from Lucerne at 11.12 to Fluelen 14.00 and back to Lucerne at 16.47. To take a look at some pics click here: 18th April 2026: Stadt Luzern Starts Season – Kingswear Castle
Tickets are now available online for KC’s only planned trip to Totnes this season on 8th September. You can book either for the round trip leaving Dartmouth at 3.30pm or as singles each way. All the ticket revenue will go to the KC Rebuild Appeal. To buy tickets click here: Shop – Kingswear Castle
The CGN is opening their Lausanne Ouchy Shipyard to the public on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th April from 10.00 to 17.00. Visitors will be able to explore the various workshops and other under cover facilities at the yard. Admission is free but there is a charge of 15 francs for adults and 5 francs…
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Uri was in steam running trials on Lake Lucerne on Wednesday March 25. For more details of when she and other Swiss paddle steamers are due back in service click here: Uri Out on Trials – Kingswear Castle
On Friday 20th March Waverley entered Garvel Dry Dock for her annual out-of-the-water inspection and refit.
Members of the Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust Board, along with PSPS Chairman John Allen, visited KC in the Dartmouth Shipyard on 19th March to see how work on Phase 2 of her rebuild is progressing. All were very impressed with what they saw. For some pics click here: 19th March 2026: KC Rebuild Phase…
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Peter Walker, who looked after Kingswear Castle’s accounts for more than thirty five years, has died. For his obituary on the Kingswear Castle website click here: 4th February 2026: Peter Walker Obituary – Kingswear Castle
Illustrated progress report
KC was taken out of the water on the Old Mill covered slipway on Thursday 8th January. Work is continuing apace on Phase 2 of her major rebuild. This will include renewing the steelwork strake of the hull just below the deck forward of the paddle box both sides and renewing all the decking from…
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It was with great sadness that we heard earlier this week about the passing of our joint Patron, Prunella Scales at the age of 93. It was particularly poignant as it was less than a year ago since her husband Timothy West, our other joint Patron passed away. Prunella was an outstanding English actress, best…
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2025 was not a good summer season for the CGN paddle steamers on Lake Geneva with only the diesel electric Italie and Vevey in service during the peak weeks out of a total of eight paddlers on the lake. To find out more click here: Season 2025 Lake Geneva – Kingswear Castle
The Dampferzeitung magazine has asked the managements of paddle steamers on a number of the Swiss lakes for their assessments of how the 2025 season has panned out for them. To find out more: 2025 Season in Switzerland – Kingswear Castle
Three cruises are planned this summer season to raise funds for Phase 2 of KC’s major Rebuild Appeal. For more details click here: 19th March 2024: KC 2025 Fundraising Cruises – Kingswear Castle
The weather has not been kind to Waverley for her visit to the South West this year. But she did make it to Dartmouth to meet KC on Saturday 30th September and on Monday 1st September was able to run from Dartmouth at 10.45 with a call at Torquay at 12.15 to Weymouth where she…
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The weather has not been kind to Waverley for her visit to the South West this year with fresh to strong winds causing many cancellations. However she did make it to Dartmouth in the late afternoon of Saturday 30th August where she met up with and steamed alongside KC. Here are some pics of the…
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On her voyage north about to the South Coast Waverley made a call at Dundee on Wednesday 27th August. For more details click here: Waverley Calls at Dundee – Kingswear Castle
KC returned to service for the 2025 season on Tuesday 1st July. To have a look at some pics of her first trip check out a post on the KC website: KC 1st July 2025 – Kingswear Castle
Waverley returned to the Clyde on Thursday June 26th after a highly successful visit to the Mersey and Bristol Channel. She started her main summer season on the Clyde the following day. To see some pics of her arriving at Greenock at 11.15 on Sunday June 29th check out the post on the KC website:…
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Work is scheduled to begin today scrapping Kingswear Castle’s sister Compton Castle in Truro. Compton Castle to be Scrapped – Kingswear Castle
PSPS Chairman John Allen took these pics in Dresden following a recent trip aboard the veteran coal fired paddle steamer Kaiser Wilhelm from Magdeburg on Wednesday June 11th to Dresden, where the ship was greeted by the paddle steamer Diesbar, with overnight stops at Rosslau, Witttenberg and Reisa along the way. This pic shows Kaiser…
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National Historic Ships UK Flagship 2025 Sir Walter Scott received her Flagship Pennant at a ceremony on Loch Katrine on Saturday 7th June. To find out more: http://kingswearcastle.org/news/nhs-uk-flagship-sir-walter-scott/
Following the withdrawal of La Suisse on 3rd June after the discovery of a crack in her HP cylinder mounts, added to the delays to work being carried out on the paddle steamers Montreux, Savoie and Rhone on Lake Geneva, means that there will be a significant reduction in paddle steamer sailings on Lake Geneva…
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Forty years ago on May 18th 1985 KC was returned to service with full Passenger Certificates by the team at Chatham after twenty years out of service. To find out more check out the KC website: 16th May 2025: 40 Years Ago – Kingswear Castle
On Thursday 22nd May 1975 Paddle Steamer Waverley undertook her “2nd maiden Voyage” when she sailed from Glasgow to Dunoon with invited guests at the start of her preservation career. Two days later she sailed from Glasgow to Ardrishaig on her first public sailing on charter to the PSPS. Today 50 years on and she…
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The SGV at Lucerne have announced that their paddle steamer Uri is to have another rebuild. For more details of how the company has fared in the last financial year and its plans for the future take a look at a post on the KC website: PS Uri to be Rebuilt – Kingswear Castle
Waverley left drydock at Greenock around 2pm on Wednesday 16th April. For more pictures check out the post on the Kingswear Castle website: Waverley Leaves Drydock – Kingswear Castle
Both Italie and Vevey are currently rostered to run on Lake Geneva this February and March. To find out more: Paddling on Lake Geneva Feb/March 2025 – Kingswear Castle
For 2024 Waverley was given the prestigious title of Flagship of the Year by National Historic Ships UK in recognition of her ambitious sailing programme. Throughout the season Waverley flew a special Flagship Pennant above the bridge to denote her national status and received an engraved brass plaque which is on display in the Dinning…
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2024 was the 180th anniversary of the birth of Capt John Davey whose long career at sea included commanding his own sailing ship Hilda along the coast of China to Shanghai before coming home to settle down as a Director of the Devon Dock Pier and Steamship Company owners and operators of the Exmouth based…
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