The Otter Hide – A Winter Day on Rum Between Two Boats

The walk

The otter hide walk is a short out-and-back from Rum's ferry terminal on Loch Scresort, along the loch's south shore to the hide. It's about 1.2 km, three quarters of a mile, there and back by our measure on OpenStreetMap, and the island's community trust gives it as 30 minutes. The path runs through woods on a good surface that isn't sealed, steep at the start and gentle after.

It passes the ruins of some of the island's early settlements, which the community trust calls the Blackhouses. In winter the trees are bare, the boulders and old walls are thick with moss, and a small footbridge crosses a burn. The hide is a timber hut with a turf roof at the water's edge, and inside it a long window looks straight out over the loch. Sit quietly and give it time. Otters and seals are often seen on Loch Scresort, and porpoises and dolphins sometimes come in, so bring binoculars. The trust lists the hide among the places on the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trail. Keep dogs under control at all times.

Back in Kinloch you may see Rum ponies, a rare and ancient breed, in the fields outside Kinloch Castle. Bring food and a flask. The village shop sells coffee, hot soup, fries and sandwiches; check its winter hours with the shop. Notices of deer stalking are posted in the village, and stags should be given a wide berth in the rut, around October.

On CalMac's winter timetable, from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, this works as a day trip only on a Tuesday or a Thursday. The boat leaves Mallaig at 9.50am and lands on Rum at 11.15am. It goes on to Canna, calls at Rum again on its way back and leaves for Mallaig at 2.25pm, arriving at 3.50pm. Foot passengers check in 20 minutes before the boat sails, so be back at the terminal by 2.05pm. That gives about 2 hours 50 minutes ashore, enough for the hide and a look at the village, and there is no later boat. Miss the 2.25pm and the next sailing to Mallaig is two days away. No boat runs on Tuesday 1 December or Tuesday 2 February. Book the crossing ahead: CalMac's Mallaig office, on 01687 310240, option 2, takes bookings until 4pm on the working day before. Check CalMac's timetable before you go, as the times can change, and look at its service status page that morning, as weather can cancel the boat.