Mallaig – The Circular Walk and a Hill Loch
Mallaig is a working fishing port at the end of the Road to the Isles, and the hill behind it has a fine short walk.
The Circular Walk climbs to a viewpoint over the harbour and the Small Isles and comes back by Mallaig Bheag, an hour in all. Walkers with half a day can carry on over the hill to Loch an Nostarie, a quiet loch in the moor behind the town.
- Time
- About an hour by the Highland Council's Circular Walk, 3.25 km; at least two and a half hours by its Loch an Nostarie Circular Walk, about 7 km. A short hill walk, or a rough moorland one.
- The path
- A well-surfaced track to the viewpoint, climbing 110 m; rough wet moorland paths and a stile on the loch round.
- Where to start
- The East Bay car park on the east side of Mallaig; check the signs for a charge. The Circular Walk signpost is at its west end.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. From November to January set off for the loch by 12.30pm, or for the Circular Walk alone by 2pm.
- Dogs
- Under close control; the loch round crosses a deer fence by a high stile.
- Children
- The Circular Walk suits children who walk well; the loch round is long and boggy.
- Toilets
- Public toilets by the harbour.
- Before you set out
- The loch round follows waymarkers over rough, very wet ground and a high stile over a deer fence: boots, a map and a snack.
The walk
Start at the East Bay car park, on the east side of the village, and check the signs there for a charge. A signpost reading Circular Walk stands at the west end of it. The Highland Council gives its Circular Walk as about 3.25 km and an hour, on a clear, well-surfaced track up to a viewpoint 110 metres above the sea, then on to Mallaig Bheag and back by road. From the top you look down on the harbour and out to the Small Isles.
The longer round carries on from the viewpoint on waymarked paths to Loch an Nostarie and comes back into Mallaig by the old road. The council gives it as about 7 km, rising to 140 metres, and says to allow at least two and a half hours. It's a different sort of walk, rough and very wet underfoot, with a high stile over a deer fence, and the council asks for boots, a map and a snack. Keep the loch for a dry spell and a clear day.
Mallaig's public toilets are by the harbour, and so are its cafés and the Chlachain Inn. From October, check a café's hours before you count on it. Keep dogs under close control. From November to January, set off for the loch by 12.30pm, or for the Circular Walk alone by 2pm.
If it rains
The Circular Walk is on a good track and short enough for a shower, though the view is the point of it. Leave the loch round for dry weather: it's boggy at the best of times.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
For further reading, before you go.