Mallaig

Where to start? I actually love the town itself, which still feels like a port – perhaps even more so than it is these days.

Here the haddock with your chips was probably swimming not far away very recently and there is a pub with a vast array of single malt whiskies, an interesting ships’ chandlers and a seamen’s hostel.

However, it’s as a place of transport that it simply HAS to be visited. Thr train from Glasgow via Lochs Long and Lomond, Rannoch Moor and Fort William is a delight for almost its whole length. Then there are the boat trips: the Inverie ferry and Loch Nevis with the terrific coned peak of Sgurr na Ceich ahead, the ferry to Armadale on Skye and the weekly cruise to the UK’s most scenic Loch [Loch Coruisk on Skye;] and not least the access to Eigg, Muck, Rum and Canna.

I am extremely distressed to find that Calmac no longer run their boat on Wednesdays that used to call at all four of the last mentioned ‘Small Isles,hte very best one-day trip I have ever made by sea anywhere. It’s even more reason to stay in or near Mallaig for a few days in order to get in a lot of trips!