Ferry operator CalMac has launched its 2007 Explore brochure at the Royal National Mod in Dunoon, today (Thursday 19 October).

Explore 2007 is CalMac’s main leisure brochure and an essential planning tool for everyone interested in travelling to the 22 islands and 4 peninsulas in CalMac’s network. This year, to help customers plan visits, new suggested island itineraries for each area have been introduced along with fun CalMac Tips for what to see and do on and around the islands.

The new look brochure is being circulated as CalMac’s online accommodation facility, launched in 2005 with Explore 2006 brochure, celebrates a successful first year. Hugh Dan MacLennan, Head of Communication and Customer Care, said: "The new online advertising facility was produced in response to increasing customer demand for CalMac’s website to be a one-stop shop for planning a trip to the west coast islands and peninsulas. CalMac’s website has seen a great increase in web traffic over the last year, increasing from an average of 500,000 hits per month in 2005 to an impressive 700,000 hits per month in 2006. We also went through the million hits in one month earlier this summer, which is an indication of the increasing importance of this channel as a means of communicating with our customers."

The brochure includes CalMac’s timetables from 22 October 2006 to 29 March 2007 (Winter) and 30 March 2007 to 20 October 2007 (Summer) and a selection of accommodation advertisers. CalMac has also confirmed that as the Company cannot guarantee to be the operator of the Gourock to Dunoon service beyond the end of the winter timetable in March 2007, all references to the service (including as part of combined tickets such as Hopscotch) have been removed from Explore.

Visitors to the Royal National Mod in Dunoon were first to view the free 2007 brochure and copies can also now be ordered online at

For further information on the contents of this News Release, please contact Hugh Dan MacLennan, Head of Communication and Customer Care, Caledonian MacBrayne. Tel: 0776 435 4021;
 e-mail 

Caledonian MacBrayne and CalMac are trading names of CalMac Ferries Limited

Issued: Thursday, October 18 : 1000