Often a lifeline for remote waterside communities, the Scottish pier has been a functional rather than a pleasure pier. Served by paddle steamers, puffers and small coasters, the piers served a vital function for their communities. Often with stunning mountain backdrops, many settlements clustered around the piers, which provided a means of communication with the world at large. Some piers, like Rothesay's, could accommodate a number of pleasure steamers at once, while others, such as Tighnabruaich's, were built with functionality in mind, providing for the needs of the inhabitants. Alistair Deayton brings together a superb selection of images of the Clyde Coast piers from the late nineteenth century to the present day, telling their history and showing just some of the variety of vessels that called there. From MacBrayne's steamers to the paddle steamers filled to the gunwales with daytrippers and the puffers of Glenlight, a vast array of ships are shown.

Alistair Deayton is a well known author and an acknowledged expert on West Coast steamers. He has written numerous books on the subject including the hugely important Directory of Clyde Paddle Steamers. He lives in Glasgow.