Suspended Campbeltown sailings will not return in 2026

Ferry operator CalMac has confirmed it will not restore its seasonal service to Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute this year.

The summer sailings from Ardrossan in Ayrshire began in 2013 to help develop tourism, but there have been none for three years.

The route was suspended because of the problems the company was facing maintaining lifeline services.

CalMac had hoped to bring the service back each year since and even published timetables, but a spokesperson said it needed to focus on essential routes.

The MV Isle of Arran was previously used for the journey, however it mainly served the Ardrossan to Brodick route.

Arran lost a few sailings each week so Campbeltown could be covered.

Transport Scotland said it was "vital" to redeploy MV Isle of Arran from the previous Campbeltown route to island communities who do not have a road connection.

The summer service to the Kintyre Peninsula town ran on weekends and provided an alternative to the road journey to Glasgow, which typically takes more than three hours.

It was credited with boosting tourism and was also popular with some local people.

Ewen MacDonald, who owns a local holiday park, told BBC Scotland News that Campbeltown should have regained its ferry service.

He added: "In my mind, it doesn't matter what other problems there are on the network - so long as Arran has two ferries, one should be shared with Kintyre.

"With the problems on the Rest and Be Thankful and after what I believe was our worst tourist season in years, this is an almighty hammer blow."

A CalMac spokeswoman said: "I am sorry to have to confirm that we have taken the decision not to operate a ferry service to Campbeltown in 2026.

"This has been communicated with the local community as early as possible, and we understand that they will be disappointed about this.

"Unfortunately, there are still pressures and challenges facing the network, which means that our focus must be on lifeline services to and from the islands, which don't have the option of a road link to the mainland."

She said the Campbeltown service would be reviewed once more new vessels joined the fleet.

Transport Scotland said the government was committed to investing in ferries and acknowledged the impact that service issues had on island communities and businesses.

A spokesman added: "During times of disruption CalMac will deploy vessels flexibly across the network to maintain essential connectivity.

"MV Isle of Arran is one of the most versatile major vessels in the fleet, able to operate to most major ports on CalMac's network on the west coast.

"Redeploying her from the Campbeltown route in summer 2026 to provide resilience and support to island communities, who do not have a road connection, is vital."