Leith And/Or South Queensferry?

[CAP]

I've just bee researching itinerary information and stumbled across an anomally that I'm looking for help in clarifying. 

In Captain Warwick's QE2 book he lists the ports of call and references Leith but does not mention South Queensferry.  There are obviously plenty of images showing QE2 anchored close to the Forth Bridge and hence a South Queensferry call but I haven't seen anything for Leith.  On looking further into the subject it appears that the port of Leith closed circa2004.  Could it be that prior to this the calls are as Captain Warwick documents with South Queensferry taking over from 2004. 

In effect QE2 in her Cunard lifetime had two different stops for Edinburgh.

Any further detail greatly appreciated...

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Well, we certainly stopped by the Forth Bridge on 26 August 2000, and the port was South Queensferry :


Arrived by the Forth Bridge by prondis_in_kenya, on Flickr

[Stowaway2k]

I have seen Leith listed in QE2's July 1999 itinerary.

She would have anchored in the Forth, just as at Queensferry, as the port itself is far too small for QE2.

Smaller cruise ships do still regularly birth at Leith throughout the summer.

Leith Ports has been in the news recently, as Ocean Terminal has recently been sold, and the area is planned for regeneration with a controversial biomass plant and wind-turbine factories.
I'm sure that Ocean Terminal and Britannia are going nowhere soon... except for Britannia's planned drydocking in January.  Now that will be a great photo-opp.
The crash of the property market has nixed plans for the thousands of apartment that were to be built in the Port of Leith.

[CAP]

According to my information Leith was first visited in June 1993 and South Queensferry had a maiden call in July 1995.  I have found a reference in Captain Warwick's book and he mentions Queensferry (as opposed to the fuller title).

It does appear that Leith was very much a one visit wonder.  Although I don't have a complete listing of QE2's visits from what I have there was no visit to Scotland in 1994 and the following year marked the first visit to SQ.  In subsequent years SQ reappears as the port of call for Edinburgh.

[Michael Gallagher]

QE2 did visit Scotland in 1994 - she called at Greenock on Thursday 1 September. I had the priviledge of taking John Brown - who had a hand in Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and QE2 among many others - around the ship that day.

As for Leith...

Her first call on the Forth on 13 June 1993 actually saw QE2 tie up alongside Hounds Point Oil Refinery (see picture). Is that in Leith? They still ran a tender operation even though she was tied up.

All other subsequent calls on the Forth saw her anchored nearer the Bridge.

It was an interesting cruise in June 1993: Prince Edward lunched onboard a few days earlier in Southampton (11 June) to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Coronation of HM The Queen. And that was the cruise BBC's 'Keeping Up Appearances' was filmed on.

[CAP]

As for Leith...

Her first call on the Forth on 13 June 1993 actually saw QE2 tie up alongside Hounds Point Oil Refinery (see picture). Is that in Leith? They still ran a tender operation even though she was tied up.

Thanks Flaghsip.  Jjust had a look at google earth and Leith is further west although still within the City Of Edinburgh.  The Houndpoint terminal is still there but is much closer to the bridge. In fact very much closer to the current SQ anchorage.  I wonder why Captain Warwick made the distinction between the two locations?

Ho Humm... but thanks to all, it looks like the original question is now answered.

[Michael Gallagher]

That's what confused me too CAP as Hounds Point is very close to the anchor location in South Queensferry and you could clearly see it from QE2 when she was anchored in SQ. But not knowing the area that well perhaps the oil refinery is in Leith?

[Andy F]

Not sure about Hound Point, which as previous posts have rightly stated, is some considerable distance up river (firth) from Leith but still looking into it. 

As to the anomaly with SQ, though more commonly referred to by its full name of South Queensferry (as distinct to North Queensferry), it is I believe, equally acceptable to use Queensferry when referring to the South side only.

[CAP]

It seems that a new anchorage has been listed.  Queen Victoria's stop for Edinburgh on 25/5/14 was identified as Newhaven, which appears to be the same as Leith!

[cunardqueen]

Well given how memorable our departure was from South Queensferry on the UK farewell cruise Anywhere has got to be better than SQ..

Heck even old Invergordon is a bit of a dumpy place, but they do pull out all the stops for visiting ships.
South Queensferry, clearly couldnt do enough and didnt bother