All aboard the Waverley: Paddle steamer makes a triumphant return to North Devon waters

Iconic paddle steamer the Waverley is enjoying an extended visit to North Devon waters – including returning to Bideford after almost 40 years.

The historic vessel is the last sea-going paddle steamer in the entire world and is currently embarked on a series of cruises in the Bristol Channel between now and June 23, including visits to Ilfracombe and Bideford.

Above: Waverley in Bideford. Credit: Graham Hobbs

Above: The Waverley docks at Ilfracombe Pier. Credit: Nick Harborne Photography

On Friday (May 31) the 80-year-old steam-powered ship entered the River Torridge estuary, cruising past Appledore and Instow to dock at Bideford for the first time since the 1980s.

Above: The Waverley cruises past Appledore. Credit: Graham Hobbs

She departed from Ilfracombe and later in the day continued on cruises along the coast between the two towns as well as a cruise along the Exmoor coast.

Above: Waverley prepares to depart Bideford, escorted by a pilot boat. Credit: Graham Hobbs

Waverley is back in Ilfracombe at 1pm tomorrow (Sunday, June 2) and will be cruising the Exmoor coast before returning to Ilfracombe at 5.45pm and then setting off for Minehead and Clevedon.

Connecting bus services are provided to ensure passengers from North Devon can connect with the ship at ports enroute or return via bus if needs be.

All sailings are of course subject to weather and sea conditions.

Waverley is back in Ilfracombe at 12.30pm on Wednesday, June 5 when she sails from Penarth in South Wales, with a coastal cruise North Devon passengers can join before returning to Ilfracombe at 3.15pm.

Further trips run until June 21 in North Devon and include Porthcawl to Lundy Island via Ilfracombe on June 7, Weston to Ilfracombe on June 8, Clevedon to Lundy via Penarth and Ilfracombe on June 9, Portishead to Ilfracombe on June 10 and Porthcawl to Ilfracombe on June 12.

Friday and Sunday, June 14 and 16 is Clevedon to Ilfracombe including an Exmoor cruise and there is a return to the River Torridge and Bideford on Wednesday, June 19.

The final scheduled sailing in North Devon waters is Penarth to Lundy Island via Ilfracombe on Friday, June 21.

Above: Aerial shots of the Waverley docked at Ilfracombe. Credit: Nick Harborne Photography

History of the Waverley

Waverley was built in the River Clyde and launched in 1946. Her early years kept her in Scotland and she was operated by two steam packet companies and briefly Caledonian Macbrayne, before being sold for £1 in 1974 to Waverley Steam Navigation Co Ltd, a company formed by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society.

She first ventured south in 1977 and her itinerary expanded to include visits to ports all around the UK, including London and the Bristol Channel.

In 2000 the ship underwent a huge £7million heritage rebuild, then in 2019 a major appeal was launched to save the Waverley after it was found she needed new boilers if she was ever to sail again.

The appeal raised £2.3m and she returned to service in 2020 but then Covid hit, with operations scaled back until 2023 when Waverley embarked on her most ambitious sailing season in a decade, with more than 60 ports visited and a return to the Bristol Channel after five years.

**** For full timetable information and more details about the life and history of the Waverley, visit https://waverleyexcursions.co.uk ****