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time for nature in the heart of The West Highlands

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A Day Trip to The Isle of Rum

The Isle of Rum is a popular day trip with guests at Mingarry Lodges.  Not only a great wildlife destination but also an island with an interesting history and geology.  With the recent reduction in ferry fares there is no better time to visit (a return passenger crossing from Mallaig costs just £8.30).  Mallaig is around a 50 minute drive from Mingarry Lodges and the Cal Mac ferries head out to The Small Isles daily.  The ferry sails to different Islands at different times each day so it is best to pick the right day for Rum in order to maximise time ashore.  On Wednesdays the ferry leaves Mallaig at 10:15 arriving at Rum at 11:35.  You have some four hours to explore the Island before catching the return ferry which departs at 16:20.

On the ferry heading towards The Isle of Rum Great norrthern diver seen off the coast by the car park in Mallaig Boarding the ferry at Mallaig

Check in at Mallaig closes 15 minutes before the ferry sets sail and it is best to arrive in plenty of time as the main car park at Mallaig can get quite busy and you may have to park a short walk away along the promenade.  The MV Loch Nevis is a very comfortable ferry with a very reasonably priced restaurant on the lower deck.  An ideal place to grab a cup of tea and a famous Cal Mac bacon sandwich or have fish and chips on your return journey.  Alternatively, why not buy a take-away fish supper from Jaffy's on the High Street at Mallaig and head up to the harbour viewpoint where there are some well positioned picnic benches.

The restauarant on the MV Loch Nevis ferry The Cuillins Kinloch Castle seen from the approaching ferry

The front of the ferry is a great place for viewing and photographing wildlife.  We've seen common and bottle nose dolphins as well as minke whale and basking sharks in addition to the good array of birds including gannets, guillemots and shearwater.  Look out for red throated divers, skua and white-tailed eagles as you approach Rum.

Welcome to The Isle of Rum, a National Nature Reserve The otter hide, a short walk from the ferry terminal Wood sorrel growing on an old black house wall

Arriving at Rum we headed off to the otter hide, a short walk from the ferry terminal.  The walk passes through some lovely woodland and past a group of old ruined blackhouses.  From the hide we saw oystercatchers, eider ducks, hooded crow, but unfortunately no otters today.  Recent sightings on the wildlife board included great northern diver, red throated diver and hen harrier.  

Communty Centre, post office, shop, cafe, toilets, ranger station... The Rum Ranger's nature table in The Community Centre Golden eagle pellet

There are numerous walks on rum, though most are probably a little too long for the day visit.  The North side trail is a good one which takes around an hour or you can head up to Kinloch Glen waterfall if you want a slightly longer walk.  Today we just took a lazy saunter along the otter trail to the Community Hall watching out for wildlife along the coast.  The Community Hall serves lunches in summer and has some interesting wildlife displays and local information.  There is also a small shop and toilet facilities.

A selection of walks on The Isle of Rum Can you resist taking a photo of a red phone box? Curlew on the beach

If you have time, a visit to Kinloch Castle is highly recommended.  Guided tours run daily between April and October and are timed to fit in with the ferry sailings.  The tour takes around 45 minutes and costs £9 per adult.  The guide gives a really interesting and detailed commentary whilst escorting you around the Castle.  Kinloch Castle was built for Sir George Bullough, a wealthy industrialist from Lancashire in 1897.  A glorified hunting lodge and party venue and monument to Edwardian decadence.  The castle and its contents were passed into the care of the nation in 1957 and has been hardly altered for over 100 years.

Grey lag goose - taking a nap, or is it... Kinloch Castle The Steinway in the galleried hall in Kinloch Castle

If you are lucky the guide might fire up The Orchestrion, one of only three of this model manufactured in Germany by Imhof & Mukle.  Even if you are not treated to the delightful sounds of Monty Python from the '40 piece' orchestra you still have the chance of playing the Steinway grand piano in the galleried lounge.  A rare treat and symbolic of how friendly and different this tour is.

One of the many hunting trophies in Kinloch Castle Bronze Japanese monkey-eating eagle on tree stump Kinloch Castle - Dining room

A really great day out from Mingarry Lodges!

  • View the full imageOn the ferry heading towards The Isle of Rum

    On the ferry heading towards The Isle of Rum

    On the ferry heading towards The Isle of Rum

  • View the full imageGreat norrthern diver seen off the coast by the car park in Mallaig

    Great norrthern diver seen off the coast by the car park in Mallaig

    Great norrthern diver seen off the coast by the car park in Mallaig

  • View the full imageBoarding the ferry at Mallaig

    Boarding the ferry at Mallaig

    Boarding the ferry at Mallaig

  • View the full imageThe restauarant on the MV Loch Nevis ferry

    The restauarant on the MV Loch Nevis ferry

    The restauarant on the MV Loch Nevis ferry

  • View the full imageThe Cuillins

    The Cuillins

    The Cuillins

  • View the full imageKinloch Castle seen from the approaching ferry

    Kinloch Castle seen from the approaching ferry

    Kinloch Castle seen from the approaching ferry

  • View the full imageWelcome to The Isle of Rum, a National Nature Reserve

    Welcome to The Isle of Rum, a National Nature Reserve

    Welcome to The Isle of Rum, a National Nature Reserve

  • View the full imageThe otter hide, a short walk from the ferry terminal

    The otter hide, a short walk from the ferry terminal

    The otter hide, a short walk from the ferry terminal

  • View the full imageWood sorrel growing on an old black house wall

    Wood sorrel growing on an old black house wall

    Wood sorrel growing on an old black house wall

  • View the full imageCommunty Centre, post office, shop, cafe, toilets, ranger station...

    Communty Centre, post office, shop, cafe, toilets, ranger station...

    Communty Centre, post office, shop, cafe, toilets, ranger station...

  • View the full imageThe Rum Ranger's nature table in The Community Centre

    The Rum Ranger's nature table in The Community Centre

    The Rum Ranger's nature table in The Community Centre

  • View the full imageGolden eagle pellet

    Golden eagle pellet

    Golden eagle pellet

  • View the full imageA selection of walks on The Isle of Rum

    A selection of walks on The Isle of Rum

    A selection of walks on The Isle of Rum

  • View the full imageCan you resist taking a photo of a red phone box?

    Can you resist taking a photo of a red phone box?

    Can you resist taking a photo of a red phone box?

  • View the full imageCurlew on the beach

    Curlew on the beach

    Curlew on the beach

  • View the full imageGrey lag goose - taking a nap, or is it...

    Grey lag goose - taking a nap, or is it...

    Grey lag goose - taking a nap, or is it...

  • View the full imageKinloch Castle

    Kinloch Castle

    Kinloch Castle

  • View the full imageThe Steinway in the galleried hall in Kinloch Castle

    The Steinway in the galleried hall in Kinloch Castle

    The Steinway in the galleried hall in Kinloch Castle

  • View the full imageOne of the many hunting trophies in Kinloch Castle

    One of the many hunting trophies in Kinloch Castle

    One of the many hunting trophies in Kinloch Castle

  • View the full imageBronze Japanese monkey-eating eagle on tree stump

    Bronze Japanese monkey-eating eagle on tree stump

    Bronze Japanese monkey-eating eagle on tree stump

  • View the full imageKinloch Castle - Dining room

    Kinloch Castle - Dining room

    Kinloch Castle - Dining room

  • View the full imageOne handed 18th Century cased latern clock

    One handed 18th Century cased latern clock

    One handed 18th Century cased latern clock

  • View the full imageKinloch Castle - The empire room

    Kinloch Castle - The empire room

    Kinloch Castle - The empire room

  • On the ferry heading towards The Isle of Rum
  • Great norrthern diver seen off the coast by the car park in Mallaig
  • Boarding the ferry at Mallaig
  • The restauarant on the MV Loch Nevis ferry
  • The Cuillins
  • Kinloch Castle seen from the approaching ferry
  • Welcome to The Isle of Rum, a National Nature Reserve
  • The otter hide, a short walk from the ferry terminal
  • Wood sorrel growing on an old black house wall
  • Communty Centre, post office, shop, cafe, toilets, ranger station...
  • The Rum Ranger's nature table in The Community Centre
  • Golden eagle pellet
  • A selection of walks on The Isle of Rum
  • Can you resist taking a photo of a red phone box?
  • Curlew on the beach
  • Grey lag goose - taking a nap, or is it...
  • Kinloch Castle
  • The Steinway in the galleried hall in Kinloch Castle
  • One of the many hunting trophies in Kinloch Castle
  • Bronze Japanese monkey-eating eagle on tree stump
  • Kinloch Castle - Dining room
  • One handed 18th Century cased latern clock
  • Kinloch Castle - The empire room
Thu, 21/04/2016 - 11:30

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