Beinn Airein – Muck's High Point and a Ring of Islands
A few hours, from Mallaig and back.
Beinn Airein is the highest point on Muck, a grassy hill of 451 feet with the sea on every side and Rum, Eigg and the mainland hills all in view from the top.
It's an easy climb, and the walk to it crosses the whole island. In winter it can't be a day trip, because the ferry stops at Muck for twenty minutes, so it needs a night or more on the island. From April, with longer days and the summer boats from Mallaig and Arisaig, it can be done in a day.
Across the island by its one road to the white sand of Gallanach, then up a grassy hill to a survey pillar and a view right round the Small Isles.
Pick your dates, and who is coming, and every stop will say whether it is open that day, and what it is like with children, a dog or a wheelchair.
- How
- A few hours
- When
- All year for anyone staying on Muck. In winter, from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, the ferry sails on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and stops for twenty minutes, so it needs a night or more on the island. From April it works as a day trip. From November to January start by 11.30am.
- Distance
- About 4 miles
- Starts and ends
- Mallaig
- Good for
- Walks, Islands
- Time
- Two and a half to three hours: 7 km, a little over 4 miles, from the pier and back by Gallanach, with about 170 metres of climb, on Walkhighlands' figures.
- Distance
- About 4.3 miles on foot.
- The path
- The island road, then a grassy hill with cliffs on its west side.
- Where to start
- Start on foot at the pier at Port Mòr. Leave the car in Mallaig: the West Bay car park is charged and five minutes from the ferry, and the East Bay car park is free and 10 to 15 minutes' walk.
- When to go
- All year for anyone staying on Muck. In winter, from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, the ferry sails on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and stops for twenty minutes, so it needs a night or more on the island. From April it works as a day trip. From November to January start by 11.30am.
- Dogs
- On a lead: sheep and cattle graze the island.
- Children
- An easy grassy hill. Keep children back from the cliff edge on the west side.
- Toilets
- Public toilets in the community hall near the pier, open day and night.
- Before you set out
- In winter the ferry stops at Muck for twenty minutes, so stay a night or more. Gallanach Lodge runs shooting in the season and one of its drives is called the Benn: ask on the island before going up in autumn and winter.
Book before you go
0 of 1 booked
- Book
The ferry to Muck
Book the CalMac ferry from Mallaig to Muck with the Mallaig port office on 01687 310240, option 2, by 4pm on the working day before you sail, out and back, and be at the pier 20 minutes before the boat. On the winter timetable, from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, it sails on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but not on 25 December or 1 January, nor on 4 November, 1 December, 6 January, 2 February and 3 March, when the boat is away for maintenance. Look at CalMac's service status page before you leave home. Settle where you're staying on the island before you book the boat.
The day
Isle of Muck
An attraction
Muck is reached as a foot passenger on CalMac's ferry from Mallaig. Leave the car on the mainland, as a vehicle needs an island permit. On the winter timetable, from 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027, the boat leaves Mallaig at 10.15am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and reaches Muck at 12.35pm, or at 1.15pm on a Saturday. It sails again twenty minutes later, so Muck can't be done as a day trip in winter. Plan on a night or more, coming on one boat and leaving on a later one. Book the boat with the Mallaig port office on 01687 310240, option 2, by 4pm on the working day before you sail. Gales cancel sailings in winter, so keep a day in hand. The walk starts at the pier at Port Mòr. Muck is a small, green island, easy to get about on foot, and Beinn Airein is its highest point at 451 feet, about 137 metres. Gallanach Lodge, on the island, calls it a relatively easy walk to the top, and a harder one from the west side, where the hill falls away in cliffs. Walkhighlands gives the walk by way of Gallanach as 7 km, a little over four miles, with about 170 metres of climb, and allows two and a half to three hours. The island's one road takes you from the pier across to the beach at Gallanach Bay, and from there it's grass all the way up. A survey pillar stands on the top. On a clear day the view runs right round, with Rum and Eigg close by, the mountains of Skye and the mainland to the north, and often the big ferry from Oban far out on its way to Barra. A map of the island's walks is available at the craft shop beside the tearoom. Sheep and cattle graze the island, so keep dogs on a lead, and stay back from the cliff edge on the west side. Gallanach Lodge runs game shooting on Muck in the season, and one of its drives is called the Benn, so in autumn and winter ask at the lodge or in the village before you go up. From November to January the sun is down before 5pm, and before 4pm in December, so start by 11.30am. The Small Isles' visitor website lists a bunkhouse, B&Bs, holiday cottages and Gallanach Lodge as the places to stay on Muck. The lodge, on Gallanach Bay, charges £185 a person a night for dinner, bed and breakfast, and takes enquiries on 07712 045560. Ask about winter before you book the boat. There's no shop on Muck, so bring your food with you. The tearoom is five minutes' walk from the pier, but ask whether it's open before counting on it in winter. The community hall near the pier has public toilets and a shower, and is open day and night. From April a day trip works. Arisaig Marine's boat sails to Muck from Arisaig between April and September, and on CalMac's 2026 summer timetable the Saturday boat gave about five hours ashore. The 2027 summer timetables are still to come.
If it rains
The hill is open grass with no shelter, and the view is the point of it, so keep it for a clear day. In rain the road across to Gallanach Bay is an easy walk on its own. Wind is what stops the ferry: check CalMac's service status before you travel.
For further reading, before you go.