The ongoing issues on the Ardrossan to Arran ferry are set to feature in a new BBC Scotland documentary series.

The Island Crossings fly-on-the-wall series returns for a second series later this month, with unprecedented access to ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac).

Arran's ferry woes have been well documented over recent months as the Ardrossan to Brodick route was plagued by disruption.

The route's usual ferry, the 31-year-old MV Caledonian Isles, has been out of action since January, first for its annual overhaul and then for further major repair work, the need for which was discovered during its spell in dry dock.

On top of that, the second berth at Ardrossan harbour - the so-called 'Irish berth' - was permanently closed by the terminal's private sector owners, Peel Ports, on safety grounds in February.

The closure of the berth means that the chartered catamaran MV Alfred, which is providing additional peak season capacity on the route, is having to sail to and from Troon instead of Ardrossan.

The Ardrossan link is being maintained by the much smaller, and older, MV Isle of Arran, which entered service back in April 1984.

In the opening programme in the latest series of Island Crossings, two senior CalMac managers meet with the Arran Ferry Committee in Brodick.

The committee, which represents local businesses and island residents, gets to discuss the persisting problem of poor ferry reliability.

The BBC Scotland series takes viewers behind the scenes, showcasing how passengers, staff, and islanders face the hurdles of island life and travel.

The series does not tiptoe around the significant trials CalMac faces, from managing an ageing fleet to delayed ferry replacements and harsh weather conditions.

The eight-part series portrays the dedication of CalMac employees, residents who rely on the ferries for their livelihoods, and travelling visitors, evidence of how essential these ferry services are to life along Scotland's west coast.

The second series also features efforts to improve the 'CalMac 'n' Cheese' dish which is a favourite feature on the cafeteria menus of the fleet's larger ships, as well as a sustainable beekeeping project in the Hebrides led by another CalMac crew member, and a local man queuing overnight to be the first to buy Harris Distillery's first single malt whisky.

The series launches at 9pm on July 21 and will air weekly on BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer