Hovercraft trip from Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy
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I managed to make the hovercraft crossing from Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy today during the two week trial run. I was able to board in Portobello, Edinburgh fairly easily for the 9.30 crossing. The take off is pretty noisy and creates a lot of water spray and sand swirl. The hovercraft is much faster and you feel that you are closer to the water than on a ferry crossing. It was a beautiful clear sunny morning and the views were fantastic.
Hovercraft leaving Portobello
We passed close to the island of Inchkeith. You have to remain seated during the crossing and as I wasn’t at a window seat I was unable to take photos. When I disembarked in Kirkcaldy I discovered that even if I joined the queue immediately there was no guarantee that I would be able to get on the 12.00 crossing back to Edinburgh. I had a walk along the prom and came back to the terminal to join the queue around 11.15. I was one of the last passenger to board the 13.00 crossing.
Hovercraft leaving Kirkcaldy
There is no shelter or seats when you queue and I am sunburnt from standing in the midday sun for almost 2 hours. Mind you it wouldn’t be good to stand in wind and rain for a couple of hours either! If you are still keen to go take some food and drink with you for the queue and appropriate protection, whether that be suncream or a raincoat.
If the service starts to run regularly and you can book a sailing in advance I would do this as a day trip a couple of times a year. Have you hovered the Forth, what did you make of it?
July 31st, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Although I live in South Africa, I was on holiday in Edinburgh last week and also travelled the hovercraft. I’d never been on one before and was stunned by how quickly and efficiently it traversed the route. Like you, I also experienced some frustrations but accept that this was a trial and and am sure that a commercial venture will have proper terminal faclilities coupled with greater capacity. How noisy did you find it?
July 31st, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Hope you enjoyed your stay in Edinburgh. The hovercraft was pretty noisy when it started up but I didn’t find the noise level too bad during the actual crossing. I was amazed how quickly the hovercraft took off from the landing stage. I didn’t have the time to get many photos, the craft reversed out and was away so fast.
The hovercraft was extremely popular and oversubscribed. I spoke to a family from Stirling (around 45 miles from Portobello) who made 2 attempts to cross but were thwarted on both occasions by the long queues.