By: Blonde One

A trip to Scotland might not necessary feature the Port of Mallaig but there are many reasons for you to visit. I recently went there on a school trip and was very pleased with what I found. Despite it being quite a small town it was full of interesting things and was a great base for our explorations. Unfortunately our stay only lasted three nights as we have other destinations to explore (Stirling and the Lake District) but we packed a lot in! We stayed at the fabulous Mission Bunkhouse which was very comfortable. Mallaig is a working fishing port and is a fascinating place to watch the world go by. The local seals are certainly as friendly as the local people!

The famous Harry Potter train stops here too, after it’s been over the equally famous Glenfinnan viaduct, which brings the very important tourists to the town.

  

Malliag was the perfect base to get over to Skye. The ferry leaves just a few steps away from the bunkhouse and caters for vehicles or foot passengers. It’s a short trip but doesn’t disappoint in terms of scenery. The skyline takes in the islands of Skye, Rum and Eigg and gets more dramatic as you get closer to Skye. A short drive north from the ferry takes you into the stunning mountain range of The Cuillins. They looked very inviting!

On our way home from Skye (driving this time) we couldn’t resist a quick stop at Loch Ness. Yes, we did find Nessy, as you can see from the photo!

Just a few minutes drive out of town will take you to the fabulous beaches of Morar. The white sand is as soft as it looks and there are shells aplenty. The water in the inlet was sheltered from the wind and so flat enough for a dip or a paddleboard.

As well as all of this, there are several shops, restaurants and hotels providing all that the visitor could want. A trip to North West Scotland is not complete without a stop off at Mallaig.