MV Cowal in 1954. She inaugurated the regular Wemyss Bay to Rothesay car ferry service, on 1 October 1954 and remained in the upper Clyde for her whole career. From 1957 the three "A, B, C" sisters were working interchangeably. In May 1970, "Cowal" inaugurated a short-lived seasonal Fairlie-Tarbert-Brodick service. When this ended in September 1971, "Cowal" operated between Largs and Millport, until displaced in March 1972 by the former Skye ferry on the quicker Largs to Cumbrae Slip run. With linkspans at Gourock and Dunoon, the hoist-loading "Bute" and "Cowal" were restricted to the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay crossing, where "Cowal"
Cowal Way the Cowal Way has been listed as one of Scotland's Great Trails by Scottish Natural Heritage. The route is fully waymarked with the Cowal Way logo, which depicts a stylised image of a path in a landscape of hills and lochs. The Cowal Way links directly to the Three Lochs Way, which shares the section between Arrochar and Inveruglas. There are also indirect links to three further Great Trails at both end points of the Cowal Way. At Portavadie there is a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry service to Tarbert, which is one of termini of the Kintyre Way, whilst at Inveruglas