The Bristol Channel is one of the main areas which Waverley visits. She carries on a vibrant tradition of paddle steamer cruises in the area, coincidentally first made sufficiently popular for the establishment of a long-standing cruise operator by an earlier vessel named Waverley. That Wavverley had itself brought from Scotland to demonstrate to Bristolians a type of excursion which had proven popular on the Clyde for many years.  Thus the P&A Cambell business transferred its oprations from Scotland to Bristol and one of the country's most popular fleets was born.

The city of Bristol made its fame and wealth as a port, sespite being some distance up the narrow and hightly tidal River Avon. Nowadays the main port lies on the Bristol Channel itself, but the city is still accessible, just, for ships the size of Waverley, which the paddler can reach at high tide, but often only with the help of a tug to guide her through the tight horseshoe bend. Waverley rarely visits Bristol now, but when she does, she sets off immediately through the "Avon Gorge" and under the Clifton Suspension Bridge (left), one of the masterpieces of the famous 19th century engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, whose steamship SS Great Britain, one the worlds most revoultionary ship, now lies at Bristol. preserved and reconstructed as an excellent tourist attraction.

For escursionists based at Bristol or the city of Cardiff on the Welsh side of the Bristol Channel, the most popular excursion, as well as being well loved for a longer holiday was the resort of Ilfracombe on the North Devon coast. In the picture left, Waverley approaches, Ilfracombe in the same way as an earlier Waverley did over 100 years before this picture was taken.

Ilfracome remains the most popular destination for Waverley's cruises on the Bristol Channel and the pier has been rebuilt in recent years to provide a safe long term berthing point where once a massive wooden sreucture existed.  The Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world and the new pier-face she is seen at (left) is totally submerged at high tide, when she has to berth on the inner face of the pier, to the right. The inner harbour of Ilfracome dries out at low tide providing a large expanse of compacted sand for tourists to walk along, past dingies, cabin cruisers, yachts and small fishing boats, all high and dry twice a day whilst they remain in port.

London was also a major departure point for paddle steamers in years gone by, but the business dried up quickly after the end of World War II. Very soon after the Waverley organisation decided that in order to generate enough revenue to survive, they had to cruise in other areas than the Clyde, London was selected as an essential visiting place. Here Waverley passes through the famous Tower Bridge in central London.

Above: Tower Bridge rarely has to open for ships these days, so a visit by Waverley is now a bit special.  Below : The Thames Barrier, built to protect London from flooding due to rising sea levels and extraordinarily high tides, is a major point of interest on a Waverley Thames cruise.