Scottish Shipwrecks

Information and Pictures of Shipwrecks in Scotland

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Islay Wreck Site Revisited

10th July 2023 By Peter Moir Leave a Comment

A recent visit to the beautiful Isle of Islay, provided an opportunity to undertake some land based wreck hunting. Islay is blessed with an abundance of shipwrecks around its coastline, not least because of its exposure to Atlantic storms, but also its location close to the main shipping routes to the Clyde, Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin.

The target was the wreck site of the Cardiff owned steamship Belford which turned out to be a 3 km walk from Saligo north to Smaull on the west coast of the island. The Belford was disabled 200 miles west of Queenstown after hitting a derelict (semi-submerged wreck),  incredibly she floated along the western seaboard of Ireland and Scotland for 10 days before being driven ashore on the north west coast of Islay on 9 February 1916.

Ian Crawford and I first located and dived the wreck in June 1992, but I wanted to try and locate the viewpoint of the photograph that had helped us locate the wreck site. 

Photograph used to locate the wreck in 1992

The above picture must have been been taken between the 10-11 February as the wreck completely disappeared from view during a storm on Sunday 13 February. The location proved to be on the steep northern flank of Dun Bheolain – a craggy headland, and the picture below shows my viewpoint with an image of the Belford wreck photo of 1916 superimposed. 

Montage showing wreck superimposed on a recent photo overlooking site

The aerial photograph below has the outline of the Belford shown in red, although there is little of substance of the wreck remaining. The remains have been pounded by successive Atlantic storms over the 107 years since her loss until completely fragmented, any brass remains have been shot blasted so that they are shiny and almost gold in colour underwater. The only structure recognisable in 1992 were items such as a boiler, winch, engine parts and propshaft. 

Location of wreck ashore

Mission accomplished and an enjoyable walk along the west coast of Islay. If you would like to read the tragic story of the loss of the Belford please follow this link

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Book Sales

Argyll Shipwrecks records the loss of around four hundred ships along the west coast of Scotland, from Kintyre to Mull. Stories of courage and rescue are enhanced with old photographs and detailed charts recording where to find and dive on the wrecks. The book is a unique catalogue of shipping history of the area and its legacy of shipwrecks. Buy this book here

Clyde Shipwrecks records the loss of around three hundred and fifty ships along the Clyde estuary in south west Scotland. Stories of courage and rescue are enhanced with old photographs and detailed charts recording where to find and dive on the wrecks. The book is a unique catalogue of shipping history of the area and its legacy of shipwrecks. Buy this book here

Featured Post

Islay Wreck Site Revisited

10th July 2023 By Peter Moir Leave a Comment

A recent visit to the beautiful Isle of Islay, provided an opportunity to undertake some land based wreck hunting. Islay is blessed with an abundance … [Read More...]

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