Thousands of passengers could visit Weston via Waverley when Birnbeck Pier fully restored

The glorious PS Waverley which is the only sea-going passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world, could bring thousands of passengers from Wales and the Upper Channel to Weston-super-Mare once Birnbeck Pier’s landing stage re-opens.

Built in 1946, she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973.

Bought by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS), she has been restored to her 1947 appearance and now operates passenger excursions around the British coast

PS Waverley is the last sea-going passenger carrying paddle steamer in the world (Photo: Supplied)

Tim Wardley, Chairman of the National Piers Society and Piers & Harbours Liaison Officer at Waverley Excursions said;

“A re-opened landing stage at Birnbeck Pier will allow daily calls by Waverley during the Bristol Channel season.

This would remove the need for coach returns from Clevedon Pier. Currently, we can only call at Weston-super-Mare once or twice a year when the state of the tide allows sufficient water at Knightstone Island, and we cannot return passengers by ship due to the tide. 

We look forward to bringing thousands of passengers from Wales and the Upper Channel to Weston when the landing stage is re-opened.”