West Scotland ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) has announced that one of its routes will be cancelled for the rest of the year.

In July, CalMac said its Ardrossan-Campbeltown seasonal service was due to return on 24 August.

In addition CalMac said in June, that its estimated that the (routine Islay serving) MV Hebridean Isles – became a (relief) ferry which sails the Clyde route – should be back in service around 27, July.

However, deadline after deadline has been missed and the Scottish government controlled CalMac has now said that the service will be cancelled for the remainder of the year.

The Ardrossan (Ayrshire)-Campbeltown (Argyll) route only runs in the summer timetable, and the MV Hebridean Isles will not be back in service in time for the end of the season.

CalMac in a statement said: “As a result of vessel deployments, and the ongoing issues with MV Hebridean Isles, this service will unfortunately be cancelled for the remainder of the summer period – we do apologise to our customers and the community for this outcome.

To read more from the statement, Border Telegraph reports and on other ferry operations on the Firth of Clyde and to Islay.

Another route to the Mull of Kintyre peninsula, Afloat adds albeit from Co. Antrim is a fast 'passenger' ferry boat operated by Kintyre Express on a summer service between Ballycastle and Campbeltown.

In addition the operator also serves a seasonal Ballycastle-Islay route through Port Ellen.