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Starting
Off from Morar
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Explore the wild landscape of the
West Highlands, - Morar, Knoydart,
and the isles of Rum and Eigg.
This holiday provides
you with a unique opportunity to get to know our favourite part of the
west Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Here, the spectacular landscape
of mountains. lochs and islands remains wild and unexplored, even by
the Scots themselves. Many who have visited this unspoilt area consider
it to be the most beautiful in Scotland, and its beauty is matched only
by the tranquility and relaxed pace of life, and the warm highland welcome
from your hosts. Make Tracks helps you get the best out of your time
here, by offering a very flexible itinerary, usually starting and finishing
at Morar, near the end of the famous West Highland Line. There are options
to stay at 3 more centres, the islands of Eigg and
Rum, and the remote Knoydart
Peninsula, each easily accessible by boat from the mainland, but uniquely
different in character. With
Make Tracks, this remote part of Scotland becomes accessible, with detailed
written guides and maps for every day`s walking.
The Morar Peninsula
This part of your holiday is based on the Morar Peninsula on
the mainland, with a flexible choice of walks each day. Dramatic scenery
is everywhere, with deep inland and sea lochs cutting into steep sided
mountains, and remote hill passes leading to sandy beaches, all with
a perfect backdrop - the ocean and the beautiful islands of Rum, Eigg
and Skye.
Typical Itinerary at Morar - 5
Nights
| Day 1 |
Arrive
Morar, usually in the working fishing village of Mallaig. Stay
5 nights at a comfortable Bed and Breakfast overlooking the east bay and the harbour. En-suite facilities in each room in. Then take
your pick of these lovely walks each day. We arrange all your transfers (by boat or by car) to the start and finish of each day's walk. |
| Walk 1
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North Loch
Morar Walk (10 miles) |
Along the north
side of Loch Morar, over a short hill pass to Loch Nevis - transfer
by boat to Mallaig and car to Morar |
| Walk 2
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Morar
Beach Walk |
Spend as long as
you want beachcombing, observing a huge variety of birdlife, or
just ambling along the silver sands of Morar, the delightful location
for the film 'Local Hero.' |
| Walk 3 |
Prince
Charlie's Walk (10 miles) |
Short train journey
on West Highland line to Lochailort, over a hill pass to Prince
Charlie's Cave by remote Loch Beoraid to Loch Morar. Transfer to
Morar by boat |
| Walk
4 |
Loch
an Nostarie Walk (8 miles) |
Short car transfer,
then a walk on rugged ground to a high mountain loch, with fabulous
views to the ocean and the islands of Rum, Eigg and Skye. |
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The walking breaks on Eigg, Rum
and Knoydart can be taken separately or added onto your stay at Morar.
Ferry times vary from day to day, so the possibilities of travel between
islands and to the mainland vary accordingly. You choose how long you
would like to stay at each location, and Make Tracks will arrange your
itinerary, including all ferry crossings and accommodation.
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| Kildonan Farmhouse, with the
Sgurr of Eigg Behind |
Eigg
You will normally be based at Marie
Carr's picturesque farmhouse at Kildonan, in a beautiful bay not far
from the harbour. Eigg has recently been bought by the local community
from the former owner, and the its population of 70 or so people are
fighting to ensure the future prosperity of their island. There are
no Hotels or restaurant on the island, so you can enjoy Marie's home
cooking every night(included in price). The atmosphere is informal and
relaxed, and you may have the chance to be part of one of the impromptu
island meals and celidhs at the village hall. The walking is varied
and can be quite dramatic. They include the Sgurr of Eigg (see photograph),
high cliffs above isolated Atlantic beaches, and more gentle walks to
places of local historic interest.
Typical Itinerary On Eigg - 3
Nights
| Day 1 |
Transfer
from Morar by car and boat to the harbour at Eigg (population 70),
by minibus to your accommodation at Kildonan Farmhouse.. Home cooked
meals included each evening.. Choose from the following walks at
different parts of the island |
| Walk 1
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The Sgurr
of Eigg (7 miles, but steep) |
The highest point
of the island, providing fantastic views of the mainland and all
the nearby islands,. The top looks inaccessible from the harbour,
but can be reached quite easily if your are fit, by our suggested
route |
| Walk 2
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Bheinn
Bhuidhe Walk (5 miles) |
By car or minibus
to the crofting settlement of Cleadale, then along a spectacular
plateau with cliffs on three sides, and a descent to the Òsinging
sandsÓ of Laig. A further 3 miles home, by car or on foot |
| Walk 3 |
The 'Massacre
and Cathedral Caves' (4 miles) |
A walk through meadows
and clifftops to these important sites in local history |
Knoydart
Sometimes called Europe's last
wilderness, Knoydart can only be reached on foot or by boat. It is a
place for solitude by day, but with the chance to enjoy yourself at
night - you will stay in the village of Inverie, at the Pier House,
where you will get a warm welcome from your hosts, Gwen & Murray. Great
meals are available here, with fine home cooked local produce(not included
in price). You can enjoy a drink at the nearby Forge Inn, which also
serves meals, and where there are often informal sessions of traditional
Scottish music. The suggested walks have been selected to provide an
introduction to the area on routes that are accessible to all reasonably
fit visitors.
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On the Knoydart
coast with the Skye Cuillin behind
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Typical Itinerary On Knoydart
- 2 Nights
| Transfer from
Morar by car and boat to the pier at Inverie. Your accommodation
is next to the pier at the Pier House, or in Cara Gray's well appointed B&B in the village. You can also enjoy great evening meals at the Old Forge Inn, mainland Britain's most remote public house. |
| Walk
1 |
Airor
Circuit (16 miles) |
A strenuous walk,
but over good tracks most of the way. A twisting track
into the mountains, a stroll by a delightful mountain stream, then
back along the coast with views to Skye and Rum. |
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The
Pier House, Inverie, Knoydart
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| Walk
2 |
Loch
an Dubh Lochain (6 miles) |
A
good path to a small loch in the heart of the mountains - return
by the same route. Can be extended to Glen Barrisdale on the north
of the peninsula (14 miles) |
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Rum
A National
Nature Reserve because of its unique unspoiled environment (there
are only about 20 permanent inhabitants). You will stay in the
castle formerly owned by a Victorian owner of the island. There
is a great range of walks and spectacular wildlife including sea
eagles and deer that you can almost reach out and touch. Optional
guided nighttime walk into the mountains to see the nesting sheerwaters
(subject to availability).Typical
Itinerary on Rum - 3 Nights
Typical Itinerary
on Rum - 3 Nights
| Transfer
from Morar by car and boat to the harbour at the village of
Kinloch on Rum. You will be met and taken to your accommodation
at Kinloch Castle. Slightly more basic than our usual accommodation,
but compensated for by the spectacular setting. Home cooked
meals included each evening. Choose from the following walks
at different parts of the island |
| Walk
1 |
Bloodstone
Hill and Glen Guirdil (15 miles) |
A strenuous
walk, but can be cut short. An old pony path leads to the
top of Bloodstone Hill. (1300 feet) Then down to remote Glen
Guirdil with its wild goats and deer. Return by remote Glen
Shellesder |
| Walk
2 |
Kilmory
Walk (13 miles) |
A good track all the way to a fabulous beach near which you
can normally see a herd of deer. This particular herd is never
culled, and it is often possible to approach much more closely
than normal to these beautiful wild animals |
| Walk
3 |
Harris
Walk (14 miles) |
A
good track which passes below the lunar landscape of the Cuillin
of Rum, ending at a ruined crofting settlement with spectacular
views over the Atlantic |
| Additional
shorter walks are also possible on Rum. |
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| Glen Guirdil
from Bloodstone Hill |
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Transfer
Boat to Kinloch
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Kilmory on Rum -
looking towards Skye
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