Mallaig — Attraction in Great Britain

The bustling and thriving port of Mallaig is situated on the north west coast along the famous Road to the Isles.

The town is a fascinating place where visitors can soak up the atmosphere of a working fishing port but at the same time its remote location makes is a great place to relax. Try the pleasant Mallaig Circuit walk which has great views over Mallaig harbour and across Loch Nevis to Knoydart.

Due to its strategic location, Mallaig is a great base to explore the surrounding area and is a great gateway to the Isle of Skye. Scheduled services connecting Mallaig with the island are operated by the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry and operated throughout the year.

The well known Jacobite steam train (featured in the Harry Potter movies) follows the famous Road to the Isles and operates in the summer months from Fort William to Mallaig, calling at Glenfinnan Station where visitors can visit the museum, have a meal in one of the old dining cars and even stay in one of the restored carriages.

History

Mallaig, derived from old Norse “Mel Vik”, meaning sand dune bay.

While the Vikings, Lords of the Isles and Jacobite warriors lace the West Highlands with tales of legend, they seemed to be mere passing shadows to Mallaig itself. With the Rough Bounds – the inhospitable wilderness between Lochs Hourn and Shiel – separating Mallaig from the inland hubs of the Central Highlands, the bustling coastal hub that we see today was a fairly late arrival on the scene. Only really growing and flourishing in the mid-19th Century, the village would go on to become one of the herring capitals of Europe, with the fruit of the sea continuing to fuel the place to this day.

In 1841, merely a couple of dozen resided here, in lands owned by Lord Lovat. It was he who pushed them towards fishing as an occupation, with the idea rapidly taking off and the population soon multiplying. The railway found its way from Fort William, through those Rough Bounds, at the turn of the century, giving unprecedented access to new, international markets. Mallaig was on the map.

Transport

One of the main ferry hubs of the west coast, travellers from near and far surge onto boats headed for Knoydart, Skye, the Small Isles and even the Outer Hebrides. Chartered sails, wildlife cruises and bespoke fishing trips are also available from Mallaig pier. The calm pace of winter season is shattered as the population surges with visitors in the midst of their adventures. While we’d always encourage you to stick around for a bit and explore some of the many things to do in Mallaig, the excited energy of traveller anticipation is what makes the place tick.

The game-changing trainline continues to be a focal point, with daily comings and goings of both the Scotrail trains and the tourism big-hitter the Jacobite Express. A novelty since the 1980s, the iconic steam train puffs its way back and forward from the Fort during tourism season.

The excellent A830, the Road to the Isles itself, spans a spectacular one hour scenic drive from Fort William and ends in the village. Truly one of the great road trips of this land, explore our blog section for inspiration for things to get up to along the Road. Take your time, the magic is out there.

Services

The main hub on this stretch of the coast, there is a small Co-op supermarket, fuel services, toilet and parking facilities. Not to mention a host of places to sleep, eat and drink, many of whom you’ll find within our membership. Locally-sourced seafood and traditional live music are particularly worth seeking out. And don’t be surprised if your ear catches a little passing Gaelic, it’s still proudly taught in the local schools. Mallaig is still at its heart a working fishing port and prides itself on its fresh catches including traditionally smoked kippers. The fishmonger Andy Race & Jaffy’s provide genuine oak smoked kippers from shops on the harbour.

You can also find a bank, pharmacy, bakery, art gallery, post office, bike hire...

Mallaig lies at the end of the West Highland Line and is both a busy fishing port and a gateway to the islands off Scotland's west coast. It's hard to imagine today, but the village didn't exist at all until 1840, when local landowner, Lord Lovat, moved his tenants away from inland farms and towards the coast. Herring fishing remained the mainstay of Mallaig's economy for the rest of the 19th century, until the arrival of rail sparked off a new wave of growth and laid the foundations of a modest tourist economy that continues today. Trains to Mallaig arrive at an attractive two-platform terminus that dates back to 1901. Though the station has shrunk over the years - it has lost a turntable, a line extension to the nearby harbour and a glass canopy over its platforms, removed in 1975 - its facade remains a charming sight, with stone walls, pitched slate roofs and a...

First time I went to mallaig was to go on a calmac ferry island hopper .. you can park campervan free in car park near harbour .. the jacobite steam train from harry potter also runs from fort William to mallaig . The drive out to mallaig known as "the road to the isles" is stunning . Glenfinnan viaduct . Jacobite monument . Loch Sheil and loch eilt freshwater lochs. Loch nan umah viaduct and sealoch where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed to stake his claim to the crown in 1744 . Arisaig . Silver sands and cambusdarach beach.. loch morar the deepest freshwater loch in uk at 1000ft deep .. all worth stopping at along the road to mallaig .. mallaig was also a main route to skye before the skye bridge was built .. I definitely recommend an island hopper day on ferry .. the islands rum and canna we went to . What a day . Also the sun was blazing...