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Small Isles

Isle of Muck

The smallest of the four inhabited Small Isles, a farming island of white-sand bays, seals and views to Rum and Eigg.

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Muck is the smallest of the four inhabited Small Isles, a green farming island of about 1,500 acres, some two and a half miles from end to end, with white-sand bays round its coast and the mountains of Rum and the long ridge of Eigg across the water.

Visited and photographed by Simon Hird

The ferry comes in at Port Mòr on the south side, the island's settlement, and almost everything is within walking distance.

The tearoom, five minutes from the pier, is the hub of the island, with home baking, seafood and, on some summer Wednesdays, wood-fired pizza. The Green Shed by the pier sells islanders' crafts, eggs and produce on an honesty box, day and night. There is no shop, so bring food from Mallaig. Walk across the island to the beach at Gallanach Bay, climb Beinn Airein, at 451 feet the highest point, or go round the whole coast in five or six hours. Much of Muck is a working farm: keep dogs on a lead and away from lambs.

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The Daily for 5 November, from Scotland with love. The tower house of Duntrune Castle stands on its rocky headland above a loch, autumn-toned shrubs and trees covering the shore below.
Before you go

CalMac sails from Mallaig all year, and boats run from Arisaig in summer; the ferry docks at Port Mòr.

There is no shop: buy food at the Co-op in Mallaig, or order it the day before to go on the boat. The community hall, open all the time, has toilets and a shower; the walking map is on sale at the Green Shed. The coastal circuit is 14km and five to six hours.

Getting there
CalMac from Mallaig all year; from Arisaig in summer.
Food
No shop: bring it, or eat at the tearoom.
Walks
Gallanach Bay; Beinn Airein; the 14km coast.
Dogs
On a lead; avoid fields with lambs.

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Did you know

A rocky hillside catching the evening light, moorland grass covering its lower slopes
Did you know

Made of lava.

Muck is almost entirely lava, most likely poured out by a volcano on Mull.

A rocky headland reaching into the sea, with a small island and hazy coastline in the distance
Did you know

Limestone and dinosaurs.

Camas Mòr, the big bay under Beinn Airein, is protected for its Jurassic limestone, whose layers show below the high-water mark; dinosaur remains have been found.

A stone beacon standing on a grassy headland overlooking the sea and distant hills
Did you know

Cairns of 2,000 BC.

Two cairns on Aird nan Uan, west of Gallanach, date from the Neolithic or early Bronze Age, around 2,000 BC; another crowns Beinn Airein.

A metal gate opens onto a coastal path on Muck, Rum's mountains rising across the water.
Did you know

Puffins at low tide.

At low tide you can reach Horse Island, for seabirds and puffins; seals haul out at Port Chreadhain, and corncrakes rasp in the fields.

A small solar panel array sits in a grassy field on Muck, hills rising beyond.
Did you know

Its own power.

Like each of the Small Isles, Muck makes its own electricity from renewable sources.

Boats moor off a rocky coastline with a distant island rising across the water.
Did you know

The mermaid's pool.

On the south of the island is the mermaid's pool, where many islanders learned to swim.

Hidden Scotland

From our guide to Lochaber

Muck is the smallest of the four inhabited Small Isles, a green farming island about two and a half miles from end to end, with white-sand bays and Rum and Eigg across the water. The ferry comes in at Port Mòr, and almost everything is within walking distance. The tearoom near the pier is the island's meeting place, with home baking and seafood. Walk over to the beach at Gallanach Bay, or climb Beinn Airein, the highest point, for a view of all the islands. There's no shop, so bring food from Mallaig.

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01 / 08
Where it is

The Isle of Muck, Small Isles; the ferry lands at Port Mòr.

Close byIn the Small Isles.
  1. Sanna BaySanna BayA string of white sand bays and big dunes at the far west of the Ardnamurchan peninsula, reached through the crater of an ancient volcano.Under a mile 1 min by road
  2. West Ardnamurchan Garden Community ShopWest Ardnamurchan Garden Community ShopA community garden's self-service shop on the lighthouse road out of Kilchoan, selling its own vegetables by honesty box.7 miles 15 min by road
  3. Passengers seated by ferry windows overlooking calm water and distant hillsKilchoan to Tobermory FerryThe short CalMac crossing from Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan to Tobermory on Mull, a turn-up-and-go ferry with fine views across the Sound.7 miles 16 min by road
  4. White cottages scattered along a sea loch shore beneath rugged hillsPortuairk8 miles 20 min by road
  5. Ardnamurchan Lighthouse tower with black lantern rising above whitewashed keeper's cottagesThe Stables Cafe, ArdnamurchanThe cafe in the old stable block at Ardnamurchan lighthouse, with coffee, cakes and a view at the end of the road.10 miles 26 min by road
  6. Ardnamurchan PointArdnamurchan PointThe lighthouse at the westernmost end of the Ardnamurchan road, built in 1849, with a visitor centre, a cafe and a climb to the top.10 miles 26 min by road
Directions

Nothing of ours in this part of the map.

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Stay nearby

Places to stay near Muck, and when each is next free.

The house's gabled wing with a decked terrace and two chairs, solar panels along the roof, seen across a grassy slope.Borradill House
  • Sleeps 6
  • In Glenborrodale
  • 17 miles from the Isle of Muck
Free 15–18 NovBorradill Cottage, ArdnamurchanBorradill Cottage
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Glenborrodale
  • 17 miles from the Isle of Muck
Free 29 Nov – 2 DecPlaces to stayEvery stay in the Small IslesAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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Scotland, in print.

We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.

Get Issue 13Read it here
Read on

What we have written about it and more in Small Isles.

From the magazineDocumenting the Small IslesFrom the magazineBehind the lens with Jim Richardson
More in Small Isles
Find out more

For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .