Clean-up planned for 'Boat Graveyard' at Kelly's Pier

Calum Huntington, who recently took over nearby Bonawe Farm from his mother, planned the clean-up after becoming fed-up with the ever worsening sight near the popular pier. 

Kelly’s Pier lies to the north of Taynuilt, and was used in the 1830s to serve the quarries along Loch Etive. Now it is simply a popular spot with tourists and locals to enjoy some peace, and maybe a dip in the loch.

The issue of boats being fly-tipped at Kelly’s Pier has always been present, but since Storm Eowyn it has been at its worst. 

Many of the 20+ small boats were damaged in the storm, with others left in the grass so long that they have rusted away. 

Calum said that most of the boats are fixable, but repairing them would be a long undertaking, a passion-project which he does not have time for. 

So he has organised the clean-up and offered anyone who wants to take a boat for themselves to do just that, warning that they will need "a lot of love". 

Calum said: "People take walks down to Kelly’s Pier every day, and it’s gotten to a point where it’s just horrible to look at.

"I have recently taken over the farm from my mum, and have a new burst of energy which allows me to tackle issues which have been bothering me for a while."

Calum sees the clean-up as a preventative measure to stop the problem from getting any worse.

He continued: "All the boats being there gives people the feeling that it’s okay to dump them, which is why things have gotten so bad in the first place. It sets a bad example."

Any boats which are not taken during the clean-up operation will be taken away and destroyed.