Turntable car ferry – July 1967

This is a slice of everyday travel in the Scottish Highlands and Islands which was taken in July 1967. The boat is named Queen of Kyleakin and was one of the small turntable car ferries that operated across the narrow strait between Kyle of Lochalsh (mainland) and Kyleakin

Before the Skye Bridge opened in 1995, this ferry crossing was the main road route to the Isle of Skye. The vessel is a double-ended turntable ferry, a clever design used on very short crossings. The deck platform in the middle could rotate so cars could drive on and off easily even with awkward pier layouts. The ferry had two wheelhouses, one at each end, so it could simply go back and forth without turning around. The capacity was small — typically about 6–9 cars.

The crossing itself only took a few minutes, as the strait is very narrow.