A five day wild camping journey into the heart of Scotland’s last great wilderness.
Join us for this unique five day journey through Knoydart.
You will be fully supported and guided through this experience by qualified Mountain Leaders Anna Danby and Lindsay Warrack. They both have a wealth of experience in the mountains and can’t wait to share this amazing landscape with you.
Lindsay’s passion for the Knoydart peninsula was ignited 20 years ago on a trip with mountaineering club friends from Glasgow University, since then she has revisited the area many times on foot, bike and sea kayak. She has gained a love, knowledge and a deep respect for the rugged landscape of this region.
Anna lives locally to the area and has spent many hours moving through these hills. She has been guiding wild camping trips for the past four years. She loves how journeying through the mountains in this way connects you with landscapes and facilitates so many special moments in nature.
The Journey
As much as we love to scale mountain tops we are also passionate about making space to slow down and spend time just ‘being’ in the natural spaces we journey through. This journey will encompass both. There will be opportunity to climb some of Knoydart’s Munros, to explore and take in the wild glens and coastlines and to soak up the views in the quiet of camp.
Starting from Mallaig we will traverse across the rough bounds to the tiny, remote hamlet of Tarbet. From here a private boat charter will take us along Loch Nevis and deep into the heart of Knoydart. From Camusory we’ll head west to reach the famous village of Inverie.
Most days there will be a choice of routes with one group heading high through rugged mountain terrain and the other following low level trails. The evenings will be shared together in camp.
The exact route will depend on the group, weather and conditions but the following gives you an idea of what it might look like.
| Day 1 Monday, accommodation: wild camp | Meet at Mallaig, head west along Loch Morar to a remote loch side camp. |
| Day 2 Tuesday, accommodation: wild camp | Sail from Tarbet along Loch Nevis to Camusrory. Spend the afternoon relaxing at camp, climbing the nearby Munros or exploring Glen Carnach. |
| Day 3 Wednesday, accommodation: wild camp | Head west into the heart of Knoydart. Options for more mountains or a traverse via a high pass. |
| Day 4 Thursday, accommodation: bunkhouse | Arrive in Inverie with a comfy bed for the night at the bunkhouse and a celebratory meal in The Old Forge. |
| Day 5 Friday | The chance for a last mountain day, coastal explore, or quiet morning before taking the ferry back to Mallaig. |
There are five remote and beautiful Munros in the Knoydart area that we could attempt over the course of the 5 day trip, these are; Sgurr na Ciche, Garbh Chioch Mhor, Ladhar Beinn, Luinne Bheinn and Meall Buidhe. If summiting Munros isn’t your thing every day, or even any day, then the lower level glen walks available on this journey are stunning and unique.
Accessibility
We work hard to create an inclusive atmosphere where everyone can feel at ease and participate on their own terms. We believe that the most valuable experience is one that you feel an active participant within, able to shape your own journey. You will never be made to do anything that you do not resonate with.
There is no requirement to own camping equipment or have access to a car
Locations can be reached by public transport and we provide all the technical kit, food, navigational and camp-craft skills. This removes the requirement for you to own expensive equipment and provides a supported environment in which to learn regardless of previous experience. Enabling you to come together with other like minded people to spend three days walking, living, learning and connecting in remote and beautiful Highland settings.
What to expect
Knoydart is wild and remote country, the ground is rugged and the walking is often challenging. Being away from civilisation for 5 days is an amazing experience but it is also not without its hardships.
As a result this is not a journey for beginners. You should have some previous experience of mountain hiking and wild camping. This might be through your own adventures or having previously been on a wild camping trip with us. If this is not the case then you might find our Highland Wilderness Journeys better suited for you.
There is a lot of flexibility built into the route for this journey and having two guides means we do not all have to do the same each day. Where possible there will be options for a mountain summit route and a lower level one sticking to better paths when available. The following gives you a guideline of what to expect in terms of physical challenge.
Distance: 10 – 15 km per day
Ascent: variable depending on route choice, max 1200m in a day.
Walking Time: up to 10 hours per day at a relaxed pace
Location: Knoydart, meet Mallaig
Terrain: A variety over the 5 days; rough paths, tracks and trails, rocky and uneven ground, pathless hillside, some steep ascents and descents.
Requirements: A good level of mountain fitness and previous experience of mountain hiking on rough ground. You should be able to walk uphill at a steady pace without needing regular stops. You will also need to be able to carry a rucksack weighing approximately 10 – 12kg.
Hiking for a few days back to back can take it’s toll on the body. Lindsay will be on hand to offer advice on any niggles and suggest end of day stretching exercises to aid in recovery. Anna and Lindsay are both keen cold water dippers and know the value of this in the recovery process!
What is provided for you as part of this Discover Knoydart Journey?
- Expert Guidance: Throughout the experience you will benefit from our professional guidance and coaching. Group sizes are kept to a maximum of 1:4 per guide to ensure there is plenty of opportunity to work with everyone.
- Top Quality Equipment: all the technical equipment required for the journey is provided for you. This includes; tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, eating utensils, head torch and a rucksack to carry it all. All the equipment is high quality and light weight and gives you the opportunity to test out a range of kit. All you need to bring is your own personal walking clothing including waterproofs, warm layers and footwear, full information on this will be provided on booking.
- Logistics and accommodation: this journey is made extra special by access to a private boat charter. The cost of which as well as transport from Mallaig to the walk start point and the return ferry from Inverie are included in the package. Four nights will be in tents and a final night in the Knoydart bunkhouse.
- Delicious Food: Food and drink to keep your energy and spirits up over the 5 days is provided (The meal on the final night at The Old Forge is not included in the price). We use high quality ingredients and local suppliers to ensure everything we are eating is delicious and healthy. All the food is vegetarian and any other dietary requirements can be catered for on request. Dinners are chosen from a range of specialist camp meals. Lunches, snacks and cakes are provided by Stronaba Kitchen, Liz has created a bespoke menu packed full of goodness and suitable for carrying in the hills. Examples of what to expect include:
Pastries: Vegetarian haggis ‘sausage’ roll; Moroccan spiced sweet potato and vegetable pasties; Potato and pea samosas; Spanakopita.
Wraps and Rolls: Falafel, hummus and crunchy veg wrap; spiced lentil bites, date and tamarind chutney and crunchy veg wrap; Vegetarian burrito, black beans, rice, veg and cooked tomato salsa; Millet and Black bean burger, cheese and tomato chutney roll.
Sweet Treats: Lemon drizzle cake; orange marmalade cake; Fruit and oat slices; Panforte (fig and nut nougat); Chocolate brownies; Chewy butterscotch cookies with choc chips and walnuts.
- A unique experience: most importantly you get to create a valuable memory that will stay with you and give you skills and confidence to shape your own future adventures.
2025 Discover Knoydart Journey dates and Booking
| Journey | 2025 Dates |
|---|---|
| Discover Knoydart | Monday 8th – Friday 12th September |
The cost of the 5 day journey including all food, transport from Mallaig, accommodation and equipment is £745* per person.
An early bird booking price of £695* is available for any deposits received before the 31st January 2025
*excludes the cost of your meal and any drinks at The Old Forge Inn on the final night
You can pay this upfront in full or a place can be secured with £150 deposit. You are welcome to pay the balance in as many instalments as you like, just get in touch to arrange. Full payment due 8 weeks prior to the start of the journey.
If you would struggle to meet the cost of the course, The Neil Mackenzie Trust may be able to help. They are a small charity who offer a limited number of grants for skills training and expeditions. You can find out more about their grants here.
This journey has a maximum group size of 8 participants and 2 guides.
The journey is accessible via public transport to Mallaig. We may then travel a short distance to our walk start point but lifts can be arranged for those without their own transport.
Once you have made a booking you will receive an email confirmation. We will then contact you with further details closer to the time including a full list of what you will need to bring and details of the meeting point.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.
See our other journeys in the Highlands
For more information or private bookings please enquire below.