A season of boating on the Tay has been wrapped up, but operators of the water taxi network are already planning on stepping up the river’s impact on Perth next year.
On Thursday morning, river crews dismantled the pontoon walkway tethered to the embankment at Shore Road near the Fergusson Gallery.
Cobbles with outboard engines towed the floating segments downstream through the mist to Perth Harbour, with the main ramp removed by crane.
The platforms will be kept at the Fair City port in storage until spring, when trips along the Tay are planned to begin again.
The boat itself, which is run by charity Taymara, has headed back down the Tay to their base in Newport.
This summer was the third year of guided trips down the iconic silvery watercourse, with a new stop added in Broughty Ferry.
From May to September, seafarers travelled beneath the Tay road and rail bridges in Dundee past the V&A Museum to reach Perth, while others took the shorter voyage from Perth to Elcho Castle on the river’s southern shore.
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The tours, operated by Perth and Kinross Council and the Tay and Earn Trust, have continued to prove the value of the river to the city, according to the trust’s chairman Simon Clarke.
He said: “It was great to see the boat trips operating again this year.
“The trips operated by Anderson Marine from Broughty Ferry to Fergusson Gallery were very popular and the trips were also operated by Taymara Charity from the Willowgate to Elcho Castle.”
Mr Clarke believes that the river taxis are now an established foothold of the trust’s aim to bring the river into more use, now is the time to look at expanding the river’s offering once again.
“Our vision for the future is to offer a unique all-day river experience on the Tay,” he added.
“Visitors could walk or cycle along the river from the Rodney Pavilion in in Perth to the Willowgate.
“They could stop for a coffee at the riverside cafe, then get on a boat to Elcho Castle and walk or cycle back along the river bank to Perth.
“Having the Fergusson and Willowgate pontoons and boat trips in place is the first step towards achieving this exciting vision of promoting the River Tay.
“With support from the Tay Cities funding and Perth and Kinross, we hope to increase the offering for visitors by extending the pontoon network and providing accommodation for river users in some of the riverside bothies.”
