Vintage photo of the Clansman vessel sailing on the water with bow to the front and passengers out on deck.

Celebrating a historic lineage – which has been serving Scotland for 175 years.

Our roots were first established 175 years ago with the first sailing of Hutcheson & Co., on 10 February 1851 – a company which became David MacBrayne and later, Caledonian MacBrayne.

Vintage close up portrait image of a male MacBrayne's crew member with vintage uniform

Celebrating 175 years

This year marks an incredible milestone for us. We are celebrating a historic lineage – which has been serving Scotland for 175 years. We’ve created a special anniversary film to  honour our heritage, all those people who were at our side, and the journey that has shaped us through the years.

Watch now

At Caledonian MacBrayne – we are part of a historic lineage that’s been proudly serving Scotland since 1851.  

It began on the morning of 10 February 1851 with the first sailing of Hutcheson & Co., – a company which later became David MacBrayne before merging with the Caledonian Steam Packet Company to become Caledonian MacBrayne. 

The spirit of Hutcheson & Co. and later David MacBrayne was to connect the people and places of island and west highland communities - by land and sea. Helping communities, industries and trade flourish. David MacBrayne envisaged and formed a community sustaining entity.  

That powerful idea has remained the north star of Hutcheson and Co. David MacBrayne – and today’s Caledonian MacBrayne.  

In today’s Caledonian MacBrayne, 175 years on, we take that same ethos forward. We are still invested in the isles, and we are committed to supporting those communities to thrive. 

Your journeys through the decades

These are your moments of island magic, captured through decades of sailing to Scotland's west coast islands and peninsulas with Caledonian MacBrayne.