ERSKINE FERRY, Erskine Ferry Road, off Dumbarton Road, below the Erskine Bridge, Old Kilpatrick.
ACCESS : The slipway remains, but nothing else.
///accordion.reckon.falls and ///sneezed.awesome.prettiest (Renfrewshire side).
Also see : NAPIER AND MILLER SHIPYARD index.asp?pageid=737539
Below the imposing Erskine Bridge are the remains of the service that predated it - the Erskine Ferry. What we find today is a slipway, one that has an edge that could be used as a quayside for alighting and disembarking passengers.
To fully understand the features that remain here,and their layout, you need to realise that this was also the Napier and Miller Shipyard. That was quite extensive; the ferry operations simply making the most of what was here.
This area is now derelict and is approached past the refuse recycle point. ironically the very pleasant walks into the Saltings area begins close by.
Across the Clyde is the the opposite ferry terminal. That comprises both a slipway and an "Erskine Hospital Ferry Lodge". This was the ticket office. It is not know why it is referred to soemthing to do with the hospital. (listed B). That building is now a private home.
The ferry service, established in 1777, was also referred to as East Ferry of Erskine as there was another ferry to Dumbarton a few miles down river, known as West Ferry. [Wiki].
At one time and during low tides, the Clyde had been shallow enough to ford on foot. This all changed when the river was dredged to allow large ships to sail upriver to Glasgow. A ferry service then had to be introduced. This was only a passenger-only service at first. The Clyde Navigation Trust acquired the service in 1907 and added a vehicle ferry boat to the service.
The ferry as depicted in an old postcard of 1903.
The ferry service was replaced by the Erskine Bridge in 1971.
If you wish to visit the opposite side of the ferry route, you can reach the slipway by crossing the Erskine Bridge. Exit at the first slip road and head down onto the Erskine road - keeping to this side of the bridge. Look for a small road off in the direction of the Clyde. This passes through trees until reaching the Boden Boo carpark. Besides the slipway, there is the lodge, some parkland down stream and paved pathway upstream.
This is little more than a brief summary of an iteresting subject. If you would like to know more you can find quite a bit on the web. The Colour the Clyde - Dlamadan Index is a good start. See link below.
Also see : NAPIER AND MILLER SHIPYARD
The Erskine Bridge looms above the old slipway and ferry crossing route.
Abandoned timber indicates past jetty structures.
This is what the Ferry Lodge on the Erskine side in Renfrewshire looks like today. It is almost under the Erskine Bridge.
This building, known as the Ferry Lodge and now a private residence, once served as the ticket office for foot passengers crossing the River Clyde on the Erskine Ferry between Erskine on the S bank of the River Clyde and Old Kilpartick on the N. [HES]. That site speculates on quite when that was built and who designed it.
The landscaped area on each side is Erskine Park with that section immediately next to the Lodge known as Boden Boo. These days it only takes a brisk drive across the Ersline Bridge to get to "Renfrewshire's Beach". This may be little more than a strip of sand but there are nice walks from here - and you can get a new perspective of OUR side.
On crossing the bridge southwards, take the left slip road and then right again at the round-about. Then look for the signs to the left down to the shore. If you go at very low tide you can walk out (with care) onto the mud and even get quite close to Dunglass Castle from that side.
CANMORE : https://canmore.org.uk/site/350260/river-clyde-old-kilpatrick
COLOUR THE CLYDE - DALMADAN INDEX : https://www.dalmadan.com/?p=5641
HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND : https://www.wosas.net/wosas_site.php?id=75700
WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE HERITAGE TRAIL : OLD KILPATRICK, BOWLING AND MILTON : https://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/media/2619074/ok_booklet.pdf
WIKIPEDIA : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erskine_Ferry
