Gravel Cycling
Knoydart Peninsula Tracks
Inverie to Barrisdale over the Mam Barrisdale — ferry in, hard pass, ferry out
Quick facts
- Distance
- Not published
- Ascent
- Not published
- Difficulty
- Expert
- Route type
- Linear
- Archetype
- Highland Epic
- Region
- Knoydart
- Start point
- Inverie (ferry from Mallaig)
- Grid ref
- NG 766 000
- Parking
- PH41 4QS
- Midges
- Very high
- Dogs
- On lead only
- Ferry
- Required
Surface breakdown
- Estate road50%
- Double-track30%
- Stalkers' path20%
About this route
Knoydart has no road in: you reach Inverie by ferry from Mallaig or on foot across the hills. From the village a rideable track heads east up the valley of the Inverie River. Beyond Loch an Dubh-Lochain it starts to climb, and the final approach to the Mam Barrisdale is steep, eroded path where most riders push. From the pass there are wide views back over Loch Nevis, and the far side drops steeply to Barrisdale Bay on Loch Hourn, where the estate runs a bothy and a small campsite.
Ride it as an out-and-back from Inverie and turn at Barrisdale. The path east along Loch Hourn to Kinloch Hourn is almost entirely unrideable. This page has not been traced, so it publishes no distance or ascent — measure the line on OS Explorer 413 / OL33 and build in time for pushing.
Highlights
- The Inverie River valley — the rideable track east from the village
- Views over Loch Nevis from the Mam Barrisdale
- Barrisdale Bay on Loch Hourn, below Ladhar Bheinn
- The Old Forge in Inverie, often described as the most remote pub in mainland Britain
Key waypoints
- 1. Inverie
- 2. Inverie River
- 3. Loch an Dubh-Lochain
- 4. Mam Barrisdale
- 5. Barrisdale Bay
Cafés & pubs on route
- · The Old Forge pub, Inverie
Named climbs
- Mam Barrisdale (steep, eroded final climb — most riders push)
Notable descents
- Mam Barrisdale to Barrisdale Bay (steep, loose)
Route notes
The Mallaig–Inverie ferry is run by Western Isles Cruises; its 2026–27 timetable has sailings every day, more on weekdays than at weekends, with no service on 25–26 December and 1–2 January. Check the current timetable and book (including space for your bike) on westernislescruises.co.uk before you travel — do not rely on times printed anywhere else. The climb to the Mam Barrisdale is mostly a push; the descent to Barrisdale is steep and loose. Turn back at Barrisdale rather than continuing along Loch Hourn.
Seasonal conditions
Midges can be severe from late June to August; May and September are usually better. Snow can linger high on the pass into spring. The ferry runs all year, but check sailings in winter, when there are fewer at weekends.
Key hazards
- Ferry timings are fixed — miss the last sailing back and you stay overnight. Check the Western Isles Cruises timetable on the day
- Steep, eroded path on the Mam Barrisdale — expect to push, and take care descending
- No phone signal across most of Knoydart
- Deer stalking on the estates — check before riding in the season and follow estate advice
Water sources on route
- Burns throughout (treat before drinking)
- Barrisdale Bay
Always filter or treat water from natural sources. Carry at least 1L reserve on remote sections.
OS map sheets
Nearest hill
Ladhar Bheinn
1020m · kintail
View hill
Nearest bothy
Barrisdale
Walk-in not published · knoydart
View bothy
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:30
- Sunset
- 16:42
- Civil dawn
- 06:50
- Civil dusk
- 17:23
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 October 2026
Common questions
- Who runs the Knoydart ferry?
- Western Isles Cruises runs the Mallaig–Inverie ferry. Its 2026–27 timetable has sailings every day, with a fuller weekday service, and none on 25–26 December or 1–2 January. Check the current timetable and book, including bike space, on its website.
- Can I wild camp in Knoydart?
- Access rights allow responsible wild camping. At Barrisdale Bay the estate runs a bothy and a campsite; the bothy is not free — the estate charges a nightly fee by honesty box and takes no bookings. See the estate's own page for the current rate.
- Is this route suitable for a gravel bike?
- The track up the Inverie River valley is rideable, but the climb to the Mam Barrisdale gets much steeper and rougher, and most riders push. A mountain bike is the sensible choice, and expect to carry or push sections whatever you ride.
- Can I continue from Barrisdale to Kinloch Hourn?
- Not usefully on a bike. The path along Loch Hourn is almost entirely unrideable. Treat Barrisdale as the turning point.
After the ride
Resupply, eat, drink — on the SCOT network.
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