European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 11, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Above islands and water slip away in the Wake of the car ferry my approaching Oban in Western Scotland. Center right a Castle stands in lonely grandeur near the Shore on the Island of mull. Below right lighthouses like this one near Lochaline Dot the Remote coastline. Above humans Are not the Only passengers on the ferries. Here a Herd of sheep boards at Tiree. South list by Dave Diehl . Bureau in Scotland there is a saying that is biblical in origin. It goes something like this the Earth is the lords except for the Clyde and the Western Isles they re caledonian Macbrayne  no irreverence intended but the 24th psalm lends itself Well to the scope of the ferrying operation run by caledonian Macbrayne. The ferries connect those heavenly Isles with the Mainland. The familiar red and yellow ferries Are legion if not legend around Scotland. They often Are the Only link Between Mainland and Island and Are certainly the Only ferry Between each. Some Island inhabitants rely on the ferries to bring them not Only the tourists but everything they Wear and everything they eat according to caledonian Macbrayne s marketing director Walter Bowie. Twenty three of the Western Isles that lie off the Eastern coast of Scotland have a common link the caledonian Macbrayne Fleet. There Are journeys ranging from the the five minute ride to Cross the Kyles of Bute from Colintraive to Rhu Bodach to the six hour journey Between Oban and Lochboisdale on South list. And there s the 15-minute ride Between Gourock and Dunoon that shaves off some 80 Miles of driving around the Firth of Clyde. Last year some 5 million people crossed Between the islands and the Mainland on 30 ships ranging in size from 50-passenger boats to the 1,100-passenger vessels that hold up to 120 cars. Naturally August is the busiest month for the islands some of the prettiest least populated and most unspoiled land in the British Isles. During this month Bowie said at least 40 percent of the cars on the ferries have foreigners in them. Caledonian Macbrayne offers special deals on its ferries for the one time one Island visitor and packages for the More adventurous. Fares Start at about $3.50 for foot passengers on the Shorter Crossings. Cars Are extra and there Are special tickets allowing passage on All the ferries to All the islands along with eight and 15-Day tickets for those travellers who Don t have a schedule to stick to. For reservation and ticket information Call the office in Scotland at 475-34531. Cows occupy a Beach on the Island of Tiree. Is photos Gus Schuettler where can you go on the caledonian Macbrayne ferries the list of destinations seems endless but Here Are a few popular choices Islay the southernmost of the Western Isles is a Paradise for ornithologists naturalists artists photographers archaeologists and historians. Other highlights include the round Church of Bowmore and the museum of Islay life in port Charlotte. Arran known As Scotland in miniature offers the Bronze age Cairns and Kings caves near Blackwaterfoot standing stones dating to about 2000 . On the Southern coast and Brodick Castle built in 1456. Hikers enjoy Goat fell the highest of the Island s mountains at 2,866 feet. The Road around the Island is about 60 Miles Long. Gig a which is gaelic for god s Island is Only a 20-minute ferry trip from Tayinloan on the Kintyre Peninsula. The famous gardens of the Schamore House almost two Miles from the ferry Slipway Are Worth visiting. Gaga is a peaceful Flower filled Island another favorite of ornithologists. Colonsay is a Beautiful Island with a Rocky coastline that embraces Sandy beaches. From Many parts of the Island there Are Fine views of the mountains of mull and of Islay. Lona known As the sacred Isle is where St. Columba landed in 563 in his Mission to take christianity to Scotland. Sights include a restored Abbey with celtic crosses a nunnery St. Oran s Chapel and other places of historical interest. Tiree is a Low lying Fertile Island. To the Northeast across the sound of Gunna is Coll dotted with the remains of Early forts and a Castle ruin. Lewis the largest and most northerly Island of the outer hebrides offers Many interesting sights among them the famous standing stones at Callanish. Harris an adjoining Island has mountains rising to 2,500 feet the 1 6th-Century Church of St. Clements at Rodel and funeral Cairns in Glen la Dale. North list which seems to have More Lochs than land is dotted with standing stones and Cairns. It is linked by a causeway to be Necula known for its imposing Castle ruins at Borve. South list offers Fine Brown Trout fishing. A massive statue of our lady of the Isles stands on a Hillside looking Westward Over the Atlantic. Mull the third largest of the hebrides is dominated by Ben More a Mountain with an Elevation of 3,169 feet. Its coastline ranges from Sandy beaches to dramatic Rock formations and volcanic Cliffs. Inland Are rough moors farmlands deep Glens and forests. Skye is the Home of the Cullins an impressive Mountain Range. The Island has Many museums and Dunvegan Castle the oldest inhabited Castle in Britain is found there. 12 stripes Magazine August 11, 1988 August 11, 1988 stripes Magazine 13