Waverley paddle steamer returns to the Bristol Channel

The Waverley will be returning following high demand and soaring ticket sales

An iconic paddle steamer will return to the Bristol Channel this year following a £700,000 winter refit.

The Waverley, launched on the River Clyde on 2 October 1946, is the world's last seafaring paddle steamer.

The boat is currently undergoing its winter refit in Glasgow but will begin its 2024 season on 17 May.

This year marks the 50th anniversary since the Waverley was gifted to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society for just £1.

A spokesperson for Waverley Excursions said it was a "living testament to a bygone era".

An expanded programme of cruises in 2024 will see the Waverley sail through the Bristol Channel over three weeks in June.

It returned to the channel in June 2023 after a five-year absence, visiting Portishead for the first time in 20 years and Tenby for the first time in 30.

The paddle steamer will set sail from Clyde, Glasgow, to travel down the Bristol Channel towards Plymouth

Last year, Waverley Excursions saw most trips sold out before the steamer even reached the calling points, and the boat visited more than 60 ports and piers.

A spokesperson from Waverley Excursions said: "Given the outstanding level of support shown to Waverley last year when she visited the Channel, we are extending the Bristol Channel sailing programme in 2024 with an even greater variety of sailings and departure points.

"We are now finalising the timetable with local piers and ports around the Bristol Channel and will open bookings in early March."

The paddle steamer is currently undergoing refurbishment work on its triple expansion steam engine, with various parts being dismantled and inspected.

The ship is then booked to enter dry dock in April, where the paddles and hull will be inspected before receiving a fresh coat of paint.

The Waverley, seen here at sea in 1978, was launched in 1946