- Access some of the finest walking routes in Scotland by boat as you explore the most remote mountains in the UK
- Visit the wonderful Small Isles for day walks with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities on both land and sea
- Enjoy the unparalleled wilderness of the rough bounds of Knoydart and experience the wildlife that thrives there
- Sample some of the finest cuisine in Scotland while staying in a unique lodge which can only be accessed by boat
- 7 nights accommodation in a remote wilderness lodge by the shore. Accommodation is in twin or single rooms
- All meals during the trip, from dinner on night of arrival to breakfast on day of departure (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- The services of an experienced and knowledgeable walking guide and boat skipper throughout
- All boat transport throughout the trip, starting and finishing in Mallaig
Blue Graded Walking Holidays
Blue graded walking holidays are suitable for fit and experienced hikers. We walk at a good pace and you can expect to be out for 6-8 hours a day. You will not always be on a path and the terrain underfoot can be rough and boggy, including boulder fields and mountain tops. Some of the daily walks will involve a mountain ascent of over 3000ft / 900m high. Daily distances will be typically up to 16km but may be longer occasionally. Daily hike details are available in the itinerary.
5th May - 12th May 2018
Pete Long
There are 2 types of people remaining. Those who have heard Pete's 'orange for a head' joke and those who haven't.23rd Jun - 30th Jun 2018
Rosie Mckenzie
Meet our Wilderness Guide Rosie Mckenzie. She has a love for trekking in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Find out more ...21st Jul - 28th Jul 2018
Kirsty Chuchla
Join the effervescent Kirsty as she leads groups to Scotland's beautiful wild places.11th Aug - 18th Aug 2018
Dave Picken
Meet Dave Picken, expert guide and bee-keeper extraordinaire.8th Sep - 15th Sep 2018
Adam Mackintosh
Find out more about our Harmonica playing Wilderness Scotland guide Adam Mackintosh.ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
Accommodation is a mixture of twin and single rooms in a simple wilderness lodge set by the beach in Knoydart. The bedrooms, which are fairly compact, are located on the upper floor while the ground level consists of a large lounge and open plan kitchen for tea & coffee. Shared bathroom facilities are next door to the kitchen with showers, basins & toilets. Electricity is generated on site during the day. Wifi is available while the power is on and cameras etc can be charged.
Freshly prepared and locally sourced meals are taken in the adjacent restaurant and are a real highlight of this trip. Special dietary requirements can be catered for but must be advised at the time of booking. The restaurant is licensed and offers an excellent choice of wines, beers and spirits. Shoes with decent grip are needed to walk to the restaurant.
SINGLE ROOMS
There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. There are a limited number of single rooms available on this trip at no extra charge. These are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis so if you would like a single room then early booking is highly recommended.
You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide on the main platform at Mallaig Railway Station at 5:50pm on Day 1 of your trip. The time coincides with the arrival of the train from Glasgow. At Mallaig we board our private launch to take us to our accommodation which is approximately a 30 minute crossing.
You will be returned to Mallaig railway station at 10.00am on the last day, shortly before the Glasgow train departs Mallaig.
Customer Kudos
Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us.
Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.
That's why we read each of our client's reviews and although we don't respond to all of them, if it's glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.
by Kathy Denardo 26/12/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Very clear directions and preparation provided. Would have been helpful to know we'd be walking from rooms to dinner - I would have brought rubber boots too.
Trip Comments
One of my best vacations every. Great exercise. Amazing scenery. So peaceful! Loved the boat trips too. Food was so amazing - everything made from scratch!
Accommodation and Food
Accommodation was basic but so comfortable. Food was so delicious! Even made my special lunches for me.
Your Guide
Dave was great. Funny, helpful, instructive. Just a delight to travel with and felt in very good hands.
The Bottom Line
In my top 5 best vacations ever! Thought I'd never make some of those hills but I did and enjoyed every minute of the trip!
by Susan Snell 26/09/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Good instructions on what was needed for equipment etc
Trip Comments
Dave was great. He was very enthusiastic about the area and the hikes and he was good at making you go a little further than you thought you could. The food and the staff at the lodge were great.
Accommodation and Food
As previous the food was great the accommodations were a little rustic and the shared bathroom was a bit off putting at first. It would be nice to have a separate place to dry clothes etc
Your Guide
As mentioned Dave was great. He was very enthusiastic about the area and keen to show it to you. He was also good at getting you to push yourself out of your comfort level.
The Bottom Line
I had a wonderful time. Knoydart is a beautiful area of the world that I am very glad I got the opportunity to see it. Our Wilderness Scotland guide David was great as was the staff at the Doune Lodge. The food was amazing. I would definitely recommend the trip to anyone. Just make sure you bring your waterproofs.
by Heather O'Hara 23/09/2017
Pre-Trip Service
The process was straightforward, and all the information regarding essential gear, walking grades etc. very useful.
Trip Comments
From meeting our guide at Mallaig, to saying all our goodbyes I was in my element. It was great to share experiences with people who appreciate the same things - wonderful wild scenery with majestic mountains and sea, ever-changing light (a lot of rainbows). Our group of ten from diverse backgrounds quickly felt comfortable and formed a team culminating in an impromptu brief game of cricket at Loch Coruisk! Our guide Dave was extremely competent and encouraging and I felt we were in safe hands from the start - likewise with the skipper of our boat. Dave is enthusiastic and passionate about the mountains, wildlife and local history, and the surprise visit which he organized for us to Kinloch house on Rum was much appreciated. Back at base the team at the lodge was wonderful and I think with all the great food we were served many of us went home a kilo or two heavier (yes, despite being out walking for hours every day).
Interesting to get a glimpse of life on the smaller islands. Also when island-hopping you never know when some marine-life will pop up and we were very lucky to see some minkes and porpoises.
Accommodation and Food
Accommodation was simple but comfortable. Use of a torch as there was no electricity after 11.30 p.m. added to the adventure, as did the walk down to the lodge from the road. Although we never had to do this path at night it was still a job to stay on your feet sometimes, because of the mud (it rained a lot hence vital to have good gear). I couldn't use my hairdryer as it would have blown the fuses, so I quickly adapted to that situation as I had better things to be doing than worrying about my hair.
As I mentioned already the team at the restaurant where we had breakfast and dinner really did themselves proud with the variety and quality of the meals and their consideration for anyone with dietary requirements.
Your Guide
Dave is an excellent guide and his passion for the outdoors is wonderful, and because he is professional and competent and knows the area really well, we didn't have to worry about a thing.
The Bottom Line
This holiday made me feel alive and I have so many great memories of it.
The problem now is to decide which trip I'll book next.
by Nigel Heys 19/09/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Walking on Rum & Eigg
Accommodation and Food
Food excellent. Accommodation basic.
Your Guide
The Bottom Line
by Sarah Horton 19/09/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Staff happy to answer any queries and look after any special requirements.
Trip Comments
So many highlights! The food, the guide, the wildlife, the place, it was a great trip.
Accommodation and Food
The food was brilliant.
Your Guide
Full of enthusiasm, and just what we needed for a great trip.
The Bottom Line
Simply a brilliant trip in a brilliant place with a brilliant guide. Magic.
by Patricia Ciaschini 19/09/2017
Pre-Trip Service
No trouble finding info on website. Staff replied timely to my questions. Booking was easy online.
Trip Comments
Liked climb up mtn on Eigg. Castle visit on rhum. Variety of hikes.
Accommodation and Food
The food was great for variety, scottish choices, very well prepared. The lodge was fun with group to mingle and meet people more.
Your Guide
David really knew the area hikes and kept things interesting with descriptions, local info, was able to pick hikes suitable for our group, helped us find local products and services.
The Bottom Line
All around excellent. Plus location very beautiful. All wilderness scot staff very friendly and helpful!
by Adrian Crocker 19/09/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Great overall trip, visting Eigg and climbing An Squarr was wonderful, equally visiting Kinloch Castle on Rum was fascinating.
Trip Comments
There were so many, but watching wales and seeing vibrant rainbows was an unexpected surprise.
Accommodation and Food
Doune lodge accommodation was good, warm and comfortable.
The homemade food was excellent, amazingly produced in this remote place, a real credit to to the owners and staff.
Your Guide
Dave was a great guide, capable, caring and considerate and took us on some great hikes.
The Bottom Line
Fantastic trip, highly recommended not to be missed.
by Gillian Morrison 29/08/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Terrific guide, wonderful scenery and a great group of people.
Accommodation and Food
Doune Lodge is a magical place and the food is beyond words.
Your Guide
Gordon did a terrific job and managed to put on a great week despite challenging weather. His sense of humour and patience were both appreciated by all.
The Bottom Line
A very special place.
by Johannes Andersson 27/08/2017
Pre-Trip Service
The pre-trip information was good and covered alot of little details that were really good to know. But the fact that the link to the equipment list had stopped working by the time I was about to pack was a really annoying issue.
Trip Comments
Gordon took us on some really amazing walks and I think he made the very most of our opportunities despite the unstable weather. The Doune lodge had the most amazing food and some very friendly staff that made us feel right at home.
Accommodation and Food
Best food I've had on any premium hiking trip of this kind (this is my 4th).
Your Guide
I really enjoyed Gordon's sense of humor. He is also very knowledgeable about the area and its history which increased my enjoyment of the experience.
The Bottom Line
When I go to Scotland again your trips will be the first I look into!
by Kirk Forrest 25/08/2017
Pre-Trip Service
Trip Comments
Great guide, great food, rather damp weather!
Accommodation and Food
Accommodation rather basic but food excellent
Your Guide
Gordon Andersons scientific background show in his knowledge of plants and wild life. Very personable for a science person.
The Bottom Line
I am familiar with the terrain and the unpredictability of the weather. Some of the group found the going tougher than expected and the pace a bit fast but no one complained.
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Trip Details
Join us on our truly classic hiking adventure in Scotland’s Wilderness.
Often described as the last wilderness in Scotland, the Knoydart peninsula has an island feel about it. Isolated from the rest of the Western Highlands by the ‘rough bounds’ – a notorious strip of mountainous terrain – it remains an untamed and beautiful area of high mountains and twisting sea lochs.
Knoydart has always been best accessed by boat, and from our base at a remote wilderness lodge we make full use of the sea. Making passages to Skye, the Small Isles and remote corners of the Knoydart peninsula we often encounter whales, dolphins and porpoises before we even begin the day’s walk.
For this we use the fast boat, ‘Mary Doune’, allowing us to enjoy tremendous linear walks over mountain passes and giving access to the Small Isles of Rum and Eigg, notable for their variety and distinctive landscapes and history. This combination of wilderness, remarkable mountains and a plethora of wildlife, make for an unforgettable holiday.
Trip Itinerary – Knoydart Walking Holiday
Day 1 – In the evening we meet in Mallaig, which is easily reached by car or train via the spectacular West Highland Line from Glasgow. In Mallaig we meet our private launch a short transfer by boat takes us to our base at Doune on the very tip of the Knoydart Peninsula. (D)
Day 2 – We explore some rarely visited lower hills in western Knoydart, and explore the beautiful coastline around Airor. Leaving directly from the door of the lodge, we hike into the Black Hills, possibly towards the rocky summit of Roine na Beinne. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 14km, approx 7hrs.
Day 3 – Taking to the sea, the goal for the day is the highest point on the island of Eigg – An Sgurr. A dramatic plug of columnar pitchstone, rising abruptly from wild moorlands, it is a fantastic sight as we walk in – and easier than it looks! The summit boasts fine views over this beautiful island, and the nearby emerald wedge of Muck. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 8km, approx 4hrs.
Day 4 – This fantastic walk traverses the Knoydart peninsula from north to south, finishing at the most remote pub in Scotland! The normal route we follow takes a good path up to the Mam Barrisdale col at 450m before enjoying a long descent down Glean an Dubh-Lochain to Inverie. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 14km, approx 6hrs.
Day 5 – Using the ‘Mary Doune’, we speed across the Sound of Sleat towards Rum. We may traverse this wild and beautiful island or climb one of the dramatic peaks in the Rum Cuillin, relishing their thick Viking names. Late afternoon, we are whisked back to Doune in time for dinner. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 10km, approx 5hrs.
Day 6 – Our final island visit takes us into the heart of the Cuillin mountains on Skye. We circle the shores of Loch Coruisk which, surrounded by towering rocky peaks, is one of the most atmospheric places in all of Scotland. If time permits, we may hop over to Canna to complete our tour of the Small Isles, (B, L, D)
Walk details: 11km, approx 5hrs.
Day 7 – The peak of Sgurr Coire Choinnichean rises up behind Inverie village. We follow an easy ridge to its top and from the summit the views to Inverie Bay below us and over the sea to Skye are outstanding. It’s a wonderful point from where we can admire the whole peninsula and reflect on our week in Knoydart. (B, L, D)
Walk details: 10km, approx 5hrs.
Day 8 – Following a relaxed breakfast, we board the launch one last time and, keeping our eyes open for Minke Whales, return to Mallaig. For those travelling by rail, we arrive in Mallaig in time to catch the mid-morning train back to Glasgow. (B)
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