Scenic Walking Holiday - Exploring the Knoydart Peninsula

Join Large Outdoors for a truly remote and wild 4 night adventure in Scotland, staying in a beautiful lodge on Knoydart.


Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration:
4 nights
Accommodation: Lodge
Meeting Location: Mallaig
Group Size: Maximum 10
Level: Leisurely
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs

In a Nutshell:

  • Enjoy exploring one of Britain’s most remote areas with three days of walks in the company of a Large Outdoors guide and fellow adventurers.

  • Revel in the peace and quiet that comes from being far away from the humdrum of everyday life, enjoying Scotland’s wilderness.

  • Be a little bit gloaty if our luck is in and we manage to spot the local eagles, seals, otters and stags!


If you are looking for a mountain challenge, then why not join us for our more active adventure in this area: Walking the Mountains of Knoydart


Collections: Adventure & Explore : Knoydart Walking Adventures : Remote & Wild Adventures : Scotland : Car Free Experiences

 

How do we grade our walks?

Want a full-on Scottish walking adventure - one where there’s wild terrain and wildlife? Then read on…

The Knoydart Peninsula, billed as Scotland’s ‘last wilderness’, is reached only by ferry (our choice) or by walking a very long way.

Sandwiched between Lochs Nevis and Hourn on the west coast, Knoydart’s remoteness hits you as soon as you come ashore having left behind the bustling town of Mallaig. There are only a few roads in and around the hamlet of Inverie, our base for the weekend, and then the rest is miles and miles of mountains, coastline and sandy beaches to explore.

To prevent us going completely feral though, there is also a very fine pub just down the road from our hostel where we can get a bit of civilisation if desired!

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

If you’ve arrived at Mallaig by train, or parked in the long-stay car park at the harbour if you’ve travelled by car, we’ll meet you along at the Western Isles Cruises ticket office, just a short walk away. We’ll be catching the small passenger-only ferry (approx. 45 minute crossing) to Inverie on Knoydart.
Please note: we have no vehicle for this trip so it’s best to leave the ‘kitchen sink’ and any excess bags at home! Once at Inverie, you will need to walk everywhere and this includes from the harbour to our accommodation, which is around a 20 minute walk. Please consider this when packing - a holdall or rucksack, rather than a wheeled suitcase (as the paths are uneven/unsurfaced) is best.

Once we’ve walked to our accommodation - Knoydart Lodge - we can drop off our bags, maybe fire up the wood-burner, or head out for a little wander with time to get our bearings.

Each evening we plan to support the rural community by eating out. Over dinner tonight we get a feel for what the group would like to do walk-wise and outline suggestions for the next day’s excursion. Afterwards, there are no doubt some who will be drawn to the welcoming lights and sounds coming from the Old Forge pub for a night cap!

Days 2 - 4

Each day we start with a breakfast fit for a herd of hungry horses before making packed lunches and heading out for the day. There are plenty of options for walks depending on the weather but here are some of the possibilities:

Heart of Knoydart - Running right through Knoydart lies the valley of Gleann an Dubh-Lochain. There's a path all the way up it, and we'll be able to wander along gazing at the surrounding mountains. We pass the Inverie River, the loch at the centre of the glen, and head up to a low mountain pass that straddles Knoydart's highest peaks. It isn't a difficult walk, but the views are just outstanding and you’ll get a real sense of the peninsula’s remoteness. If time allows, we'll summit a small peak and look over at the famous Barisdale Bay before heading back to Inverie.

Knoydart West Coast - The Western coast of Knoydart looks over to the Isle of Skye, and is a stunning coastline of rocky promontories and hidden beaches. Luckily for us there's a track around most of it, so we'll head out to discover some of the bays and watch for wildlife - seals, otters and eagles could all make an appearance. We'll walk as far as we feel, perhaps to Sandaig or Airor - with the famous 'cafe at the end of the road' - before heading back to Inverie via the beach and maybe the coastal path.

Once back from the walks each day, there’s time for a bit of rest and relaxation before we head out for dinner to a local restaurant nearby. Or if the group prefers, we could always see what’s in stock at the local shop and cook at the lodge – think Masterchef (and then perhaps think again!).

Day 5

This morning we catch the ferry back to Mallaig and begin our re-integration into normal life. If the group has time, perhaps we could grab some lunch or a coffee in the town together before we say our goodbyes and head homewards.

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