Click the map's Google logo to go to Google Maps - for Directions, Street View etc Undiscovered Scotland Wikipedia Knoydart Foundation
Road to the Isles Kintyre calls itself the mainland island because it's only connected to the mainland at Tarbert by a half mile strip of land. Knoydart has a much better claim to such a title - not geographically - it's solidly attached to the mainland, but getting there overland is a big problem. There are no public roads to Inverie, the main settlement, and the only real access is by boat from Mallaig - or you can hike some 20 miles if you're up to it. Sgurr Coire Chòinnichean, rises steeply behind Inverie, providing an impressive,and imposing backdrop to the village. Sabre description of the road. Inverie & WhiskyWhisky is available from the Old Forge, and you may find a bottle in the Foundation Shop, but otherwise you'll need to take a ferry (or two) and a train.
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1000 people lived in Knoydart in 1841, but the landlord decided sheep were more lucrative than people, so he evicted them Many accepted their fate and emigrated to Australia or Canada. Those that refused to go were forcibly removed. Successive mainly absentee landlords showed little interest in the few remaining tenants in the area, culminating n the infamous 2nd Baron Brocket. A Tory MP then Lord, he bought Knoydart in the 1930s, he opposed the rights of crofters and evicted more workers. He was a leading Nazi sympathiser, who attended Hitler's 50th birthday party.
Following the war, in 1948 seven men, who became known as the Seven Men of Knoydart invoked the Land Settlement Act, which permitted returning servicemen to take over land which was under-used and farm it as their own. Brocket took legal action to evict them, but sold the land soon afterwards. More details on First Foot. They have been remembered in song - You Tube, Lyrics - and a cairn in Inverie also commemorates them. Despite this, the Knoydart Foundation was established in 1997, and was able to buy the land in 1999 - it is a partnership of local residents, the Highland Council and others with the aim of preserving enhancing and developing Knoydart for the well-being of the environment and the people. The current population is around 100. REMEMBER THIS IS A VERY REMOTE AREA Check websites for details, as you WILL need to book ahead for accommodation, and in some cases food. Electricity is not from the mains grid, so may not be available at night in some of the listed accommodation! Arriving & DepartingOpen Cycle Map Bing Map
Nearest National Rail station is Mallaig.(MLG) Live train times Two regular ferry services operate from Mallaig - Knoydart Seabridge and Western Isles Cruises. Seabridge is faster and more frequent, Western Isle's boat is considerably bigger - they also operate a rapid RIB service. SleepingThe Gathering Inverie 01687 460051
Knoydart Lodge Inverie 01687 460129 See the Knoydart Ferry site for Self Catering options See the Old Forge or Foundation site for Bunkhouse/Backpackers options. Knoydart attracts a lot of visitors - best to book well in advance. Near Inverie Doune Doune 01687 462667 (4 miles by road, then half mile path down the hillside - easier if you have a boat!) EatingThe Gathering Inverie 01687 460051
The Old Forge Inverie 01687 4622676 Knoydart Pottery & Tearoom Inverie 01687 460191 Doune Doune 01687 462667 The Galley on the Hill Doune 01687 462917/07901 984125 Doune is 4 miles by road, then half mile path down the hillside - easier if you have a boat! The Road's End Café Airor 07788 671501 Airor is 7 miles by road - again easier if you have a boat! As of October 2017, cut off by road due to a landslip. DrinkingThe Old Forge Inverie 01687 4622676
CyclingNearest Bike shops - Fort WIlliam:
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Photos on this page were taken by me. Click on photo to enlarge. Full size versions of all my photos of Inverie are on Flickr: