The Isle of Rum

Day 1 - Welcome to Rum

Join your Wilderness guide in Mallaig this morning and take the small white ferry to the Isle of Rum. Step onto the jetty in the sheltered bay of Kinloch and meet one of the National Nature Reserve rangers who will introduce you to this diamond-shaped isle. Settle into your lovely private bunkhouse, sitting out in the salty breeze to enjoy lunch and the sweeping views over the water. This afternoon, head out for a walk that curls its way around the shore, passing the striking yet strange Kinloch Castle, before winding its way through old crofting land and back along the seafront to your accommodation. (L, D)

Day 2 - Hike to Kilmory Bay

After enjoying breakfast with views across Loch Scresort, join your guide for a walk through Rum’s northern glens to a breathtaking, white sandy beach. As you walk, with the occasional shadow of a white-tailed eagle passing overhead, enjoy learning about the unique and interesting history of the island – from the tragic Highlands Clearances to the surprising story of the Bullough family. Descending to the beach, you’ll be met with one of the best views of Skye’s Cuillin Ridge on the entire west coast. As you meander back towards a well-earned dinner, look out for the undulating flight of meadow pipits and the friendly faces of highland cattle that roam freely across the island. (B, L, D)

Walk details: 18 km/11 miles | 225 m/740 ft ascent | approx. 4 – 5 hours

Day 3 - Exploring the Isle of Eigg

Today, on a privately chartered boat, sail over to the community-owned Isle of Eigg. Although one of the smallest of the Hebridean Islands, Eigg has an incredibly diverse landscape which ranges from singing sands to heathery moorland, featherbed bogs to deciduous woodland of alder, willow, hazel and oak. Accompanied by your guide, hike up the conical pitchstone peak of Sgurr of Eigg – an impressive remnant of the last volcanic eruption. The views from the top are spectacular in all directions, and on a clear day, you can see the mainland mountains of Lochaber. As you sail back to Rum this afternoon, watch for the dorsal fins of dolphins and the gentle huff of curious seals. (B, L, D)

Walk details: 8 km/5 miles | 403 m/1,320 ft ascent | approx. 3 – 4 hours

Day 4 - Giving Back on Rum

As seabirds take to the wing, white as moonlight against a sea-blown sky, spend a morning on an organised beach clean. From an expert ranger, learn about the biodiversity of the Small Isles and how we can better protect these precious islands. After lunch, enjoy a wild swim with a qualified coach, either taking a quick dip into the waves or striking out across the bay for a bracing swim, returning to shore for a steaming mug of tea. Later enjoy some free time, perhaps cosying up by the wood burner with a book or going for a mellow stroll with your guide. Regardless of how you choose to spend your time, soak up the peaceful calm that comes from spending time in a landscape far from city lights. This evening, enjoy a tasting of the local Askival rum and celebrate a day truly well spent. (B, L, D)

Day 5 - Hike Rum’s Northern Peaks

In the fresh morning air, hike up Hallival and Barkeval, Rum’s most northerly summits. From Kinloch, gain height gradually as you follow a mountain stream onto a broad, rocky ridgeline. The tiny burrows that pepper the ground here are home to Manx shearwaters, Britain’s longest-living bird. Paired for life, they return each spring from the Atlantic to breed, filling the warm evening air with their eerie and melancholic calls. Upon reaching Barkeval, enjoy incredible views over to Harris Bay. As you descend, look out for the russet red coats of red deer, the population of which has been studied since 1972 – making it one of the longest-running research projects of a large mammal anywhere in the world. (B, L, D)

Walk details: 13.5 km/ 8.5 miles | 884 m/2,900 ft ascent | approx. 5 – 7 hours

Day 6 - Wildlife Survey and Depart

On your final morning on this ruggedly beautiful island, join a local ranger to help conduct a wildlife survey. Depending on the time of year, you may walk to an otter hide or assist in counting certain species of bird. Listen out for the high piping cries of oystercatchers and the bubbling call of curlews as you connect with the landscape and all the life it supports. Later this afternoon, board the ferry back to the Mallaig and watch the distinctive silhouette of Rum fade gently into a hazy sky. Back on the mainland, bid farewell to your guide and head back to the train station to begin your journey home. (B, L)