I have enjoyed researching Loch Katrine's rich history and presenting the stories of this fascinating place in the heart of Scotland to visitors. Here is the story of a project to create a new exhibition covering ‘The History of Steamships at Loch Katrine’.

As I cover on another page, the last few years for the popular attraction in the Tossachs have been about fundraising to restore the historic Steamship Sir Walter Scott to get her back sailing. 

Building Steamship Sir Walter Scott

The Steamer was built in 1899 on the Clyde, tested around the Isle of Arran, and then dismantled for transportation in sections by barge up the River Leven and Loch Lomond. From Inversnaid, the last five miles involved horses lugging the sections across the land to Stronachlachar, by Loch Katrine, for reassembly to enter her new home. 

Steamship Sir Walter Scott and the Trossachs Tour

In 1900, the Steamship Sir Walter Scott began service transporting passengers up and down Loch Katrine. Many on the famous Trossachs Tour, an iconic route across land and water combining Loch Lomond with Loch Katrine. 

Loch Katrine's Steamer was the latest and longest-serving. It replaced Rob Roy II, which Queen Victoria sailed on and was captained by John MacKinnon. 

Steamship Sir Walter Scott Restoration

In 2023, an incredible 123 years after her launch, the Steamship Sir Walter Scott resumed sailing following a £850,000 restoration. Recently, Ownership has been through a charitable trust that protects the historic vessel for public enjoyment. 

180 years of Steamships on Loch Katrine

As part of the restoration, Loch Katrine sought to tell the story of the Steamships, spanning 180 years and starting with the ill-fated Gipsy, which sank under mysterious circumstances shortly after her launch. It was alleged that oarsmen who rowed visitors to the nearby islands were responsible for scuppering Loch Katrine's first Steamship, presumably fearing they would lose their jobs. 

New Steamship Exhibition Commissioned

The exhibition I worked on was for the end of the covered walkway at Trossachs Pier, ideal for those waiting to board the newly restored Steamship Sir Walter Scott. 

We decided to use different storytelling methods, such as information panels, audio stories, video footage, and braille. 

New Steamship Sir Walter Scott Stories

I had an excellent head start for my research with an introduction to Morag Jeffrey (nee MacKinnon), a relative of John MacKinnon, the first Captain of Steamship Sir Walter Scott. Morag invited me to her Stirling home, and together, we poured through her family archive to learn how many of her ancestors had such a crucial role in the first half of the Steamer's life.  

The MacKinnon Family at Loch Katrine

Morag provided valuable information about the roles of both Captain John MacKinnon, the skipper of Steamship Sir Walter Scott from its launch in 1900 until he died in 1939, and his son Donald (Morag's great uncle), who was working in the engine room succeeded him following his death.

Like many of the day, Captain John was fascinated by the 1810 poem Lady of the Lake, set at Loch Katrine and written by Sir Walter Scott, whom the Steamer is named after. He would read extracts of the poem to passengers and regale them with legends of the loch, such as clan chief turned outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor, who was born nearby. 

It must have been difficult for son Donald to become captain after his father's sudden death, and he was not alone in continuing the family legacy.

Steamship during two World Wars

John and Donald's daughters assumed responsibility during the two World Wars. John's daughter Rachel steered the boat during the First World War, falling in love with a U.S. serviceman who came for a sail, eventually eloping with him to Missouri in the United States. Donald's daughter Helen carefully hid the Steamship by one of the islands during World War II, camouflaging her to ensure she wasn't a target for German bombers.

Bringing Scottish History to Life

These stories allowed us to bring a human element to the exhibition's fascinating history. The display on the walls features classic photographs, sketches, and information. It also documents the impact of the golden age of steam and the historical significance of Loch Katrine. 

Loch Katrine Audio Stories

I wrote scripts for audio stories, which the talented David Kinnaird, who hosts Stirling Ghost Walks, brilliantly brought to life. Click the play buttons below to listen to the audio stories.

The Captain MacKinnon: Audio Story

The first audio story tells the story of Steamship Sir Walter Scott's first sailings and Captain MacKinnon's challenges in seeing where he was going! It also covers the role of the MacKinnon family, including during the two world wars.

Sir Walter Scott: Audio Story

Of course, Loch Katrine's popularity is due to Victorian writers and artists whose inspirational works attracted early tourists who wanted to see the dramatic landscapes. Loch Katrine is rightly considered the Birthplace of Scottish Tourism, with Sir Walter Scott's 1810 poem, The Lady of the Lake, set there, being the best example. In this audio story, we join Scott on a visit to Loch Katrine as he is inspired to pen his landmark poem.

Queen Victoria's Loch Katrine Visit: Audio Story

For the final audio story, we celebrate a special day in October 1869: the monarch's visit to Loch Katrine to open the new waterworks. Queen Victoria ceremoniously opened the tunnels, allowing fresh water from Loch Katrine to travel to Glasgow by gravity. This provided Scotland's largest city with clean water for the first time, transforming the health of its population. 

Multimedia Exhibition of Scottish History

These audio stories rotate and play on speakers at the exhibition; I created a silent video showing footage of the Steamship sailing on Loch Katrine, mixed with moments from the restoration and using on-screen text to inform passengers about the Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve that they will shortly be sailing through. 

Braille Interpretation in Exhibition

A miniature tactile wooden model of the Steamer, to which we added braille interpretation for visually impaired people, completes the exhibition. Accessibility was a critical factor in getting the Steamship back operational, as she can accommodate wheelchair users, and we used the restoration process to make the ship and site as accessible as possible. 

I enjoyed bringing these stories to life using various mediums, and it is wonderful to see passengers enjoying discovering Loch Katrine's rich heritage.  

Support Steamship Sir Walter Scott

Please support the work of the Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust; you can help them protect and preserve this iconic vessel and national treasure by purchasing a ticket to sail on her or donating via the Loch Katrine website.

Creating Exhibition Content

I can help bring stories and history to life for your exhibition; please contact me to find out more about this or any of my other marketing services. 

About

Based in Loch Lomond, Paul Saunders Marketing works with clients throughout Scotland, providing marketing consultancy and creative digital media for businesses, charities and organisations of all sizes.

Services include marketing, commercial photography, brand design, website design, video production and social media, events & PR. Call Paul on 01360 661029 or get in touch via the contact page to find out more.