Image of the only road on Knoydart leading into Inverie in background.
Lying between the deep sea lochs of “Heaven and Hell” ( Loch Nevis and Loch Hourn), lies the spectacular rugged landscape of Knoydart, one of the most remote areas of the Scottish mainland.
Of all the peninsulas that thrust out from the western seaboard of Scotland, Knoydart is without doubt the grandest. The great mountains, Ladhar Bheinn, which is the most westerly Munro, Luinne Bheinn and Meall Buidhe dominate, whilst other high mountains make up the landward barrier. Knoydart has been described as the last wilderness in the British Isles.
The name Knoydart is believed to be of Norse origin, meaning Knuts Bay as in King Canute - commander of the waves, areminder of the Vikings’ raids and pillage.
Being virtually an
“island”, although actually a peninsula, Knoydart is unspoilt in its natural,
wild beauty. It enjoys apredominantly mild
climate and provides a haven for the wildlife which thrives in abundance
including red deer,
wildgoats, seals and
otters. Birds include waders, divers and other seabirds, songbirds of all
sorts, Buzzards and rarer raptors such as Golden Eagles, Merlins, Hen
Harriers and visits from the Sea Eagles of Rhum. Dolphins, porposes and
whales can sometimes be sighted offshore. A comprehensive summary of some
of the local animals can be seen here on the Doune website.
Doune is one of the other accommodations on Knoydart a few bays around
from Sandaig.
The landscape is
steeped in history, from the Vikings, to the Highland Clearances, to the recent
ground-breakingcommunity
ownership. After the ‘45 a long drawn out period of emigration from Knoydart
began. Towards the middle of the 19th century,
a combination of potato blight and failure of the migrating herring shoals to arrive
brought famine anddire poverty to
the area. The Chief of the time, Arenas of Glengarry, sold all his lands except
Knoydart and sailed toAustralia only to return in
1852 to die in Inverie.After his death,
agents for his widow Josephine MacDonnell removed the remaining tenants to make
way for sheep. In 1853, over 400 hundred people were evicted from their homes in
one of the darkest episodes of the Highland Clearances.Whilst many opted for
emigration, albeit unwillingly, those who stayed were forced into homelessness
and starvation. Thethen priest Father
Coll came to their aid, feeding and clothing many at his own expense, procuring
tents and, at one time,seven or eight
families lived under canvas in the chapel garden at Sandaig.
In Victorian times Knoydart was a major sporting estate, centred around Inverie House and providing stable employmentfor the community. It subsequently passed through several changes of ownership, not all of them popular.
The community of Knoydart is now peaceful; having itself recently obtained ownership, through the Knoydart Foundation,of the main body of the Knoydart Peninsula, including many of the buildings in Inverie. The purchase was a landmark inreversion of land ownership to community interests. It followed a similar recent purchase made by the inhabitants of theIsland of Eigg and was widely reported in the press and much celebrated on Knoydart.
Community life is focused on the village of Inverie, lying on the northern shores of Loch Nevis. Inverie has a thriving pub the Old Forge,guest houses, restaurants, post office and a primary school.
The fishing town of Mallaig, from where one catches the boat to Knoydart, provides a range of shops, hotels, banks,schools and a railway. Further shopping, including a large supermarket, leisure facilities and schooling are available in FortWilliam, about 38 miles away.
Some parts of the Knoydart peninsula are in private ownership, including a large estate to the west of Inverie. However,access to all of Knoydart is generally free to everyone, subject to safety restraints that may be in force seasonally, particularly when stalking is in progress.