WILD PILGRIM
Knoydart Peninsula, scotland
THE LAST TRUE WILDERNESS IN THE UK
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Grab your tribe and embark on a totally unique adventure in the wild.
This supportive adventure offers a unique opportunity to explore the wild and remote magic of this truly wild part of Scotland.
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(6 DAYS, 5 NIGHTS)
dates of your choice in the following windows:
April - june / September - October
minimum team size: 6
maximum team size: 12
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£875 PP
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If you're a group smaller than 6 - join our Wild Pilgrim running 11th - 16th June 2023 and share the experience with a bunch of like-minded souls. PS: While we'll be getting pretty remote and wild, there is no experience required, we'll look after you.
INDICATIVE ITINERARY
DAY 1: PREPARE FOR THE WILD!
We meet at 8.00am in Fort William before heading off on our wild adventure. Once we’ve collected our tasty lunch we’ll journey together, via the Glenfinnan Viaduct (of Harry Potter fame), by rail or road to the village of Morar. From here we head off on a stunning walk (10K - Easy/moderate) which will enable us to remember our pilgrim legs.
Once we’ve put some distance between us and the tourist traffic on the main road to Mallaig we will start to feel the wilderness. As the sparkling waters of Loch Morar (a landlocked Loch) come into view we will engage the senses mindfully to ground and connect with the natural surroundings. We will also Initiate the art of journaling, which is your opportunity to capture your experience and reflections. We will find a lunch spot with fine views before we head onwards to the small harbour of Tarbet. Here we hop aboard a Rib (rigid inflatable boat) for an exciting sea journey on Loch Nevis to the knoydart village of Inverie.
On arrival in Inverie we head to the beautiful Long Beach campsite, managed by the Knoydart Foundation. This is where we will set up our camp for the night. After setting up camp and getting settled we will prepare an evening meal and enjoy our first communal experience around a fire. We will consider our hopes and fears for the pilgrimage ahead as we prepare to step into the wild.
We create calm before bed with a choice of Yogi Teas and gratitude before rest.
DAY 2: STEP INTO THE WILD!
We rise early with the sun and greet the day with some gentle stretching and breath work before we have the opportunity for a fresh dip in the healing salt water of Loch Nevis. Fresh Coffee, brewed by our favorite roasters, Girls Who Grind Coffee, will be served along with breakfast.
Once we’ve packed away our camp we commence our pilgrim journey and head slowly through ancient woodland and out along open grassland on an old drovers path towards Barrisdale Bay (13K Moderate). As we pass by the Brocket Memorial we consider the role of land, who owns it and why this matters. On reaching the cool blue waters of Loch An Dubh Lochain (The Black Lake) we will stop and take a mindful moment to cool our feet and journal. We keep our ears and eyes open and hope to spot some grazing highland cattle, golden eagles and more.
From here we start to gain some height. As we hit the mountain pass (450m) we will feel the sea breeze once more and take note of our achievement. This might be a good time for our pre-packed lunch. We now commit to the descent towards the stunning Barrisdale Estate. The sound of the river and the feel of some flat ground is welcome. A perfect spot to refresh and relax. As we ford the river we will make camp beside a small bothy and basic toilet facilities. If we are quiet, deer will come close to investigate and take advantage of the sweet grass. This is where we will set up our camp for the night.
After setting up camp and getting settled we will prepare our first delicious kiln dried Firepot evening meal. We reflect on the day and make plans to live wild. This is a perfect spot for more communal fire time & stargazing. We create calm before bed with a choice of Yogi Teas and gratitude before rest.
DAYS 3 AND 4: LIVE WILD!
By now we have settled into our morning routine of rising early with the sun and greeting the day with some gentle stretching and breath work before we have the opportunity for cold water immersion in the freshwater of the nearby river. Fresh Coffee / yogi tea will be brewed along with our first delicious kiln dried Firepot breakfast.
After packing down our camp we'll continue to explore and immerse ourselves in the ever more wild parts of the peninsula. From here we'll plan our route daily, depending on the weather and needs of the group. We have a number of planned options. We can explore the fabulous north-eastern slopes and high peaks of Ladhar Bheinn where John Muir Trust in knoydart is expanding the native woodland and encouraging the return of native species to this special place. The shore of Loch Hourn and the hills, Lochan and Glens to the east of Barrisdale are also a wild playground to explore. Both will involve no more than 7-10K of walking. If we are feeling energetic and want to commit we can take on a three day route along the River Carnach back to Inverie (25K).
Lunch and dinner will be a choice of Firepot meals. Whatever option we take we will continue to prioritise our wellbeing practices of journaling, mindful connection with self, others and the wild, cold water immersion, wild yoga, fire time and nurturing conversation that supports our personal and group experience. We find a wild place to camp each night under the stars. We create calm before bed with a choice of yogi tea / water and gratitude before rest.
DAY 5: RETURN FROM THE WILD WITH GRATITUDE + CELEBRATION
This is our final day living wild so we rise one more morning with the sun and greet the day with some gentle stretching and breath work before we have the opportunity for cold water immersion in the freshwater of the nearby Lochan. Fresh Coffee / yogi tea will be brewed and breakfast will be served. After packing down our camp we'll journey back towards Inverie.
After our last Firepot lunch meal we will slowly emerge from the wild, in true pilgrim style we'll celebrate and give gratitude for our safe return. Our final evening will see us enjoy some hearty home cooked food & drinks at a local establishment and rest at a snug B&B or Bunkhouse accommodation
DAY 6: GOODBYES
On our final morning together yoga and a wild swim are optional! After breakfast we collect our belongings and head to Inverie harbour for our early morning ferry to Mallaig. From Mallaig we will then transfer back to Fort William by rail or road. We aim to return to Fort William around 11.30am. Here we say our goodbyes.
You'll leave feeling refreshed, reconnected with yourself, others and a truly wild experience.
INCLUSIONS THROUGHOUT
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2 Qualified and Experienced The Living Project Leaders
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Required group safety kit
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The Living Project Comprehensive Insurance
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All accommodation - twin room share/ bunkhouse/ shared 2 Person Tent (provided by The Living Project)
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Magic re-cycled journal + pencil made from recycled newspaper by women's cooperative in India
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Endless Coffee & Yogi Tea
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Water Purification stuff so we can collect water on the go
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Snacks
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INCLUSIONS day-to-day
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Day I: Lunch, Dinner and private transport to trek start (Road/ Rail and Rib)
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Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Accommodation in B&B or Bunkhouse
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Day 6: Breakfast, ferry from Inverie to Malaig and private transport to Fort William
exclusions
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Transport to and from the start/end point in Fort William
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Personal Kit (list provided on booking)
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Drinks with meal on day V
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Personal spending money
some answers to some questions so far...
If you have any others please give us a shout or check our general FAQs
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Where is the Knoydart Peninsula?
The Knoydart Peninsula is regarded as the last true wilderness in the UK. Located on the West Coast of Scotland we reach it by small boat
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How do we get there?
We reckon all adventures begin when we step outside our front door (thanks Bilbo). We meet in Fort William to travel on to The Knoydart together. The overnight train from London to Glasgow, and onto Fort William is an adventure in and of itself and one of our Leaders will be doing this journey to accompany anyone travelling this route. Train travellers starting anywhere will love the journey from Glasgow or Inverness to Fort William as it passes through the stunning Western Highlands of Scotland. You can also fly to Inverness or Glasgow and arrange train/car from there.
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How fit / crazy / wild do we need to be to do it?
We don’t tend to go for epic feats of endurance, that’s not really us. We’re all about moving slow, noticing and exploring a landscape through all our senses. While we’re on the Knoydart peninsula you will need to carry your gear in a ruck-sack and we do wild camp for a night or two and sleep in a bothie one night, so we recommend a healthy level of fitness for your own enjoyment and safety. It will no doubt be a challenge being out in the Wild, but whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned wild camper, it's a magical experience to share with others. We've designed the adventure to suit all-comers and our main priority is supporting guests on their journey. We adapt our plans to meet the needs of the team, and in-line with the weather doing it's thing too.
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What kit will we need?
We provide all group kit, including food, cooking gear, safety kit and tents. To highlight a few basics - you will need a good pair of worn-in walking boots, a decent sleeping bag and mat, a 55-65l ruck-sack, and some waterproofs. Once you're signed up we'll send you a little kit-list.