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The roadless west · Region

The Small Isles and Knoydart

No roads in, and that is the appeal.

Four small islands south of Skye, and a mainland peninsula with no road to the rest of Britain. Eigg runs on its own renewable grid; Knoydart has a pub you reach by boat.

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A small green island in deep blue water off the Isle of Eigg
Isle of Eigg

The Small Isles and Knoydart

The roadless west.

The Small Isles are Eigg, Rùm, Muck and Canna. Each is different: Eigg owned by its community since 1997, with the great nose of the Sgùrr; Rùm a nature reserve with red deer and Manx shearwaters on the hills; Muck a single farm; Canna with the Gaelic archive at Canna House.

Knoydart is mainland Scotland, but the road doesn’t reach it. You arrive at Inverie on a small passenger boat from Mallaigverify, and stay in a place where the evening entertainment is the light on Loch Nevis.

Common questions

The Small Isles and Knoydart, answered.

Read the full guide ↓

Can we take a car?

No. Visitors’ cars stay in Mallaig. These are islands to walk.

Is it suitable for older travellers?

Yes, with care. Paths are rough, but the boats and the guest houses are used to it, and we arrange luggage.

Routes

Routes through The Small Isles and Knoydart.

All routes
A small green island in deep blue water off the Isle of Eigg
Isle of Eigg

8–10 nights · Knoydart · Small Isles · Mull

Roadless west

Six boats · One peninsula · No car for half the trip

  • The boat from Mallaig to Inverie, and two nights with no road out
  • The Small Isles ferry to Eigg and Rùm
  • Ardnamurchan, the westernmost point of mainland Britain
  • The Kilchoan ferry to Mull, and a night on Iona

Suggested8–10 nightsTailored to your dates · no package price

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Where to stay

Stays in The Small Isles and Knoydart.

Placeholders: the kind of place we would suggest, until our specialists confirm the houses and hotels we use.

Placeholder
Illustration

Guest house

[PLACEHOLDER] A guest house at Inverie

Knoydart, reached by boat.

Placeholder
Illustration

Self-catering

[PLACEHOLDER] A croft house on Eigg

Near the Singing Sands.

Daylight by month, StornowayJAN 7 h 09 min, FEB 9 h 24 min, MAR 11 h 45 min, APR 14 h 23 min, MAY 16 h 44 min, JUN 18 h 12 min, JUL 17 h 34 min, AUG 15 h 24 min, SEP 12 h 52 min, OCT 10 h 21 min, NOV 7 h 54 min, DEC 6 h 27 minJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECLongest day18 h 12 minStornoway

Best time to visit

The Small Isles and Knoydart year.

May to September. The Small Isles ferry runs fewer days in winter. Daylight shown for Stornoway, the nearest Light calendar station; the best months are in bold.

  • Puffins and seabirdsMay · Jun · JulShetland, Orkney, the Treshnish Islesverify
  • MidgesJun · Jul · AugWorst on still evenings on the west coastverify
  • Red stag seasonJul · Aug · Sep · OctHighland and island estates. Never part of our trips unless askedverify

Month by month on the Light calendar

The Small Isles and Knoydart

Your guide to The Small Isles and Knoydart.

How the ferries work

The Small Isles ferry doesn’t call at every island every day. We plan the islands around the sailing patternverify and not the other way round.

Where to stay

A handful of guest houses, bothies and self-catering houses on each island. Small, simple, and often the best part of the trip.

Getting there

Mallaig Eigg CalMac
Eigg Rùm CalMac
Mallaig Inverie, Knoydart Local boat operator

Mallaig is the gateway, at the end of the West Highland line from Fort William. Routes and operatorsverify pending a specialist check.

Photographs

The Small Isles and Knoydart, in pictures.

An old blue-and-white rowing boat pulled up on the grass on Eigg
Isle of Eigg

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