Knoydart weekend - 4-6 July 2025

After a long period of settled weather, the weekend of IMC’s visit to Knoydart was greeted by weather warnings on the West Coast of Scotland!

The usual route to Inverie is by ferry from Mallaig, unless you wish to walk across Knoydart, and was wisely taken by all members in view of the 'Biblical' amount of rain that fell! On Friday night Tim’s birthday was celebrated in the Old Forge Inn.

Further rainy weather on Saturday allowed a slow start, and paddleboard repairs, before exploring Inverie and enjoying a pub lunch in the Old Forge. For Tim and Emma, the afternoon activity was a sauna and swim with Katie and Kieran, at the point where the river flowed into the sea on the beach.

Sunday allowed a range of hikes to take place. Martyn Kieran, & Mairi decided that Ladhar Beinn was to be climbed. A clockwise route was chosen to take advantage of an improving forecast. Early drizzle yielded to a lifting cloud base as the team made good time on the ascent. It was good to see lots of tree planting of native species and so the restoration of the native woodland. Unfortunately the rising cloud base got stuck, leaving the actual top shrouded in cloud. Following the ridge, views across Knoydart, Loch Hourn and the surrounding hills were revealed on the descent. Knoydart does indeed look magnificent. A trying descent had traps of bog, bracken and hidden waterways. It was good to reach the track which took the team back to the Bunk House. Dinner and drinks in the pub were well deserved that evening!

Emma spent Sunday morning paddleboarding along the coastline as a foot injury was preventing her from tackling the hills. 

Tim’s objective on Sunday was the two Munros of Luinne Bheinn & Meall Buidhe along with their subsidiary tops. Hiking up to Mam Barrisdale in rain that varied from mizzle to solid rain, and realising the essential Cornish Pasty had been left in the fridge, led to some questions about his life choices, as he waded up the path to the pass. At the pass Tim was regaled with a tale of an epic ordeal by a group who had tried to walk in on Friday in the rain, and only just reached Barrisdale Bay.

Ascending Luinne Bheinn in cloud, Tim followed the fence line little further east than planned and had to loop back onto Luinne Bheinn's broad and knobbly ridge, to take in the summits of both mountain and top. On the descent the cloud brightened, but the wind didn’t blow the clouds away. Brief gaps allowed short views of the rough bounds of Knoydart and the undulating rocky ridge along to Meall Buidhe. Meeting a pair of walkers on Meall Buidhe's subsidiary top, Tim was advised of a pathless descent through bracken from Gleann Meadail and instead picked a route down into the Coire na Cloiche rather than reascending An t-uiriollach. This was a long and steep descent, but looking at the alternative, probably the better call, and gave Tim good path all the way back down into Inverie and the waiting arms of the Old Forge Inn!

Maz wrote:

 Knoydart July 2025

Far away there is a place
Across the briney sea
Where mountains meet the coastline
In bonnie Inverie

Where walkers flock from near and far
To climb up to the sky
Where the pace of life is tranquil
Like that of years gone by.

The early ferry was laden
As the wind set in to blow,
The rain poured down, the waves rose up,
and the dark clouds settled low.

Sheltering in the cabin,
Was the first crew from IMC
Richard, Martyn, Kieran,
Mairi and Jill D.

But the ferry's not the only way
'I’m walking in' said Tim
But the forecast made him change his mind,
It really was quite grim.

The evening ferry was cancelled
But then it was back on.
As Tim, Emma and Katy
Were joined by Maz and Bron.

'Just 5 mins to the bunkhouse'
But 5 minutes was a farse
and a grumpy Maz got vocal...
Ye can stick your 5 minutes +*#*#!

That night we gathered in the pub
To celebrate Tim's big day
The articulate cards were on the deck
and we set about to play.

Tim with Maz and Katy
Put up a stoic fight
But the others pipped them at the post
Much to Emma's (And Kieran and Bron's) delight.

The dormitory was cosy
And put our friendships to the test
As snoring echoed round the room
And we fumbled to get dressed.

We set off in the morning
Running a wee bit late
With Jill's imaginary friend
taking our numbers up to eight.

With the wind and rain relentless
A coastal walk was preferred
We set off in high spirits
Though many would have deferred.

There was bracken, caves and baby birds,
Bogs and crossing the sea,
orchids, flowers and the Celtic cross
Meeting Katy and stopping for tea.

Back home Emma had fixed her SUP
And we all tucked into grub
Then off for a Scottish Hoolie
With live music at the pub.

The Sunday skies were clearer
And the summits were in sight (nearly)
So, four groups of eager walkers
Set out at first light - or a wee bit after.

Mairi with Martyn and Kieran
Oer Ladher Beinn did hike
While Katy took a shorter route
as she cut in on her bike.

Tim wondered lonely in the clouds
Oer Luinne Beinn and neighbouring peak
While Richard and Jill went Corbetting
More rare flowers for to seek.

Emma went out on her SUP
and faced the choppy swell
And Bronwen and Maz took the ferry home
And bade them all farewell.

After a day of climbs in lighter air
and bogs and more bogs still,
They gathered in the good Old Forge
To eat and drink their fill.

Then back to life on Monday
Across a calmer sea.
With happy thoughts of Knoydart
And majestic Inverie.

Written by Maz Wyllie