The Small Isles

GETTING THERE

> The road to the Isles by car or train; ferry from Mallaig and Arisaig.

THE SMAll ISlES

They always come as a quartet, Rum, Muck, Eigg and Canna, the Small Isles. Group them together by all means but never forget that each is unique. Rum is a national nature reserve run by Nature Scot; Eigg leads the way in community ownership; Canna, a seat of Gaelic learning once owned by Gaelic scholar John Lorne Campbell the Gaelic scholar and his wife Margaret Fay Shaw, it was donated to the National Trust for Scotland. Muck remains in private ownership now in the care of Colin MacEwen after his father Lawrence, who took over from his older brother Alasdair, died earlier this year. A true Hebridean legend. Muck welcomes day visitors and longer-staying holiday makers; the latest addition to its hospitality is the purpose-built Gallanach Lodge. The island farm produces excellent lamb and fresh seafood catches landed on the island make for memorable meals.

The island’s tea room has built up an incredible reputation for its cooking and baking – it supplies cakes to other establishments across the Highlands and its Choc-Ness Chocolates are attracting an increasing number of suppliers and very satisfi ed customers. The Small Isles have their own dedicated CalMac route and in the last 25 years the islands Muck have seen major harbour infrastructure investment. The welcomes days of the ferry out in the bay with passengers and cargo day visitors being brought ashore by small open ‘fl it boats’ are long gone. and longer- Muck has half-a-dozen beautiful staying sandy beaches on the island and it is made for walking and holiday exploring. On a clear day a climb to the makers sumit of Ben Airean will reward you with views as far as the Outer Hebridean islands of Barra, Eriskay, Vatersay; near neighbour Skye and as far south as Coll and Tiree. Tiny Horse Island, home to Muck’s puffi n colony,

POINTS OF INTEREST

> ANCHORAGES

Gallanach to the north and Port Mor to the south offer safe anchorages for visiting yachts.

> GREEN SHED

Crafts and produce on sale include rugs made with local wool, soaps and jewellery.

> MEAT

Beef and lamb raised on the island is excellent quality; buy or order if you can.

> SEA LIFE

Keep a look out for whales, orca and in the right season, basking sharks.

> BUNK HOUSE

Isle of Muck bunkhouse is at Port Mor; bunks plus two double rooms.

LINKS

> www.isleofmuck.com > www.gallanachlodge.co.uk > www.arisaig.co.uk > www.isleofrum.com > isleofeigg.org > www.theisleofcanna.com

DON’T MISS

> The community centre is the island’s social hub and offers toilets and a shower; kitchen and washing machine plus a library and heritage area plus Wi-Fi and internet access.

can be reached at low tide (always check timetable, weather and sea conditions). Muck is a sporting island with plenty of fi shing, stalking, driven and walked up shooting. Deer are still brought off the hill by ponies. Studying the timetables of CalMac and Arisaig Marine will enable you to island hop around the Small Isles with a stay of a few hours or an overnight or longer stay here or there. Add in the ferry from Mallaig to Skye and on to Rasaay and you have plenty of ways to visit these most northern of the Inner Hebrides.

Cliff s on the Isle of Canna