I was going to make a post about the Maid of the Loch receiving an award of £950,000 from the Scottish government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund towards the goal of £5.5 million needed to complete the paddle steamer’s return to operation.
While I first saw this listed in the total award summary, the BBC was kind enough to prepare an article summarising the project.
After some 22 years of constant fundraising and repairs, investments of around £2 million over that time, the company is almost ready for the final attempt to get the steamer fit to sail the waters again.
The Maid has not sailed since 1981 and has been moored at Balloch Pier for more than two decades.
The funding from the Scottish government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund takes the project closer to its £5.5m target.It is hoped the ship can be used for cruises and functions.
The Loch Lomond Steamship Company, which owns the paddle steamer and is leading the regeneration project, has described the funding as a “major milestone”.
Chairman John Beveridge said: “It is absolutely wonderful news and a complete game changer for The Maid’s full restoration.
“This takes us significantly closer to reaching our £5.5m target, but we still have a way to go.”
Via Major funding for Balloch-based Maid of the Loch
It’s so long since I’ve been able to go there, but it might be worth the effort of using public transport to get there soon.
My last visit was ages ago, during a ‘Doors Open Day’, when visitors could wander around.
I was also lucky enough, by chance, to sail on the loch not long before the Maid was taken out of service.
Some years later, when I assumed the paddle steamer was lost and gone, I was walking somewhere out of Balloch towards the loch and got a shock/surprise to find the derelict vessel parked somewhere on the shore.
Maid of the Loch 2017
Secret Scotland 