The SOS – Save our Steamship appeal was launched in 2021 to restore the much loved 122-year-old steamer Sir Walter Scott and get her back plying the waters of Loch Katrine, in the heart of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

Plans have taken a major step forward with the announcement of a £130,000 grant award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland.

This award, along with the substantial sum raised from an ongoing public appeal and a series of smaller grant awards from The Hugh Fraser Foundation and Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust, allowed work to replace decking and the two cracked boilers on the historic Steamship. It is hoped that work will be completed in the next few months.

Sir Walter Scott Steamship, named after the poet whose famous poem ‘Lady of the Lake’ about Loch Katrine was published in 1810. Scott was born 250 years ago, and his work and that of other artists and poets of the day put Loch Katrine on the map.

Whilst the grant award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland has been crucial for the appeal donations are still welcome as the campaign is still to reach its target of £500,000.