Gravel Cycling
Knoydart Peninsula Tracks
The last great wilderness — no road in, no road out, all gravel between
Quick facts
- Distance
- 25 km (16 mi)
- Ascent
- 850 m
- Difficulty
- Expert
- Route type
- Linear
- Archetype
- Highland Epic
- Region
- Knoydart
- Start point
- Inverie (ferry from Mallaig)
- Grid ref
- NM 766 001
- Parking
- PH41 4QS
- Midges
- Very high
- Dogs
- On lead only
- Ferry
- Required
Surface breakdown
- Estate road50%
- Double-track30%
- Stalkers' path20%
About this route
Knoydart is accessible only by a 45-minute ferry from Mallaig or a two-day walk over the hills from the nearest road — making it one of the most genuinely remote places in Britain. The estate tracks that serve the peninsula's deer forest give gravel riders access to some of the rawest Highland scenery imaginable: a broken coast of sea lochs, 900m peaks, and birch-lined river valleys where the only sounds are deer and eagles.
This out-and-back from Inverie crosses the Mam Uidhe pass to reach Barrisdale Bay on Loch Hourn — a sea loch so steep-sided it looks like a Norwegian fjord. The stalkers' path sections beyond Barrisdale are genuine expert territory: loose rock, bog, and gradients that demand technical bike-handling skill. Most riders will push sections. The Old Forge pub at Inverie, Britain's most remote mainland pub, provides an emphatic finish.
Highlights
- Mam Uidhe pass — views north to Loch Quoich and the Five Sisters of Kintail from 550m
- Barrisdale Bay — a perfect arc of raised beach and stone bothy at the head of Loch Hourn
- Loch Hourn from the shore track — sheer slopes rising 900m from the water on both sides
- The Old Forge pub — Guinness World Record for Britain's most remote pub; proper beer and hot food
- Inverie itself — 100 residents, no road, community-owned since 1999, extraordinary resilience
Key waypoints
- 1. Inverie
- 2. Airor
- 3. Mam Uidhe
- 4. Barrisdale Bay
- 5. Loch Hourn shore
Cafés & pubs on route
- · The Old Forge pub, Inverie (Britain's remotest pub)
- · Knoydart Foundation tearoom, Inverie (seasonal)
Named climbs
- Mam Uidhe pass (550m)
- Barrisdale approach climb (380m)
Notable descents
- Barrisdale Bay descent to the shore
- Return descent from Mam Uidhe to Inverie
Route notes
The Western Isles ferry from Mallaig takes bikes; book ahead in summer (Western Isles Holidays ferry, 08:30 and 13:00 departures, not Sundays). Return ferry is 16:00 — time your ride accordingly or stay overnight. The stalkers' path beyond Barrisdale Bothy is hike-a-bike for most riders; turn around at Barrisdale if conditions are poor.
Seasonal conditions
Midges at Knoydart peak late June to mid-August — described by locals as "biblical". May and September are significantly better. The Mam Uidhe pass holds snow well into April. Loch Hourn is stunning in October with autumnal birch colour but ferry service reduces to 2x weekly.
Key hazards
- Ferry schedule is absolute — miss the return ferry and you stay overnight (not always the worst outcome)
- Stalkers' path is impassable in spate conditions
- Zero phone signal beyond Airor — 12km of complete communication blackout
- Red deer stalking on the estate September–February: contact Knoydart Estate before riding
Water sources on route
- Multiple burns throughout
- Barrisdale Bothy stream
- River Inverie at start/finish
Always filter or treat water from natural sources. Carry at least 1L reserve on remote sections.
OS map sheets
Nearest hill
Ladhar Bheinn
1020m · glen-coe-lochaber
View hill
Nearest bothy
Doune Byre
Walk-in: 4 km · knoydart
View bothy
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:17
- Sunset
- 21:21
- Civil dawn
- 04:27
- Civil dusk
- 22:11
NOAA Solar Calculator · 9 May 2026
Common questions
- Do I need to book the Knoydart ferry in advance?
- Yes — the Western Isles Holidays ferry is a small vessel and summer crossings book out weeks ahead. Email or phone; their website also takes online bookings. There is a second operator (Bruce Watt Cruises) running similar times.
- Can I wild camp in Knoydart?
- Yes, Scotland's Land Reform Act gives full camping access. The flat ground near Barrisdale Bothy and the riverbank below Inverie are traditional camping spots. The bothy itself is MBA-maintained and open to all.
- Is this route suitable for a gravel bike?
- Only the first 15km to Mam Uidhe and back is comfortable on a gravel bike. The stalkers' path beyond Barrisdale requires an MTB. Most visitors use a hardtail 29er and accept some pushing.
- Is there accommodation in Knoydart other than camping?
- The Knoydart Foundation runs a bunkhouse in Inverie (book ahead). There are also two small B&Bs and a self-catering cottage. The Old Forge sometimes has rooms. The peninsula is tiny — options fill fast in summer.