Knoydart with Wild Roots: ‘what a gorgeous adventure’

An account of our five day journey through Knoydart in September 2025 by one of the participants, Olivia Sackler

The inaugural journey through Knoydart was certainly one for the books, that everyone will carry with them throughout their lives…join us as we resettle and look back, glasses as rosey as ever.

Day one, our group wove its way along the shores of Loch Morar,

after convening in the coastal village of Mallaig, meeting one another under the kind of sacred golden sunshine that feels like a blessing in Scotland. Hills stretched far into the distance, and some brave souls took a dip in the sparkly, crisp-blue sea loch before we carried on over to Tarbet on the rocky shores of Loch Nevis.

That evening we were introduced to the delicious and nourishing cuisine, courtesy of Stronaba Produce, that would fuel us throughout our journey - food that tasted all the better for being eaten together, outdoors, after miles on our feet. Already, connections began to form in the best of places: in the hills, free from distraction, fully present in our bodies. As the weather turned, cloud cover rolled in, moody and pensive, wet, beautiful, and lovely. The very ingredient that feeds life in the highlands.

Day two began with a boat journey from Tarbet to Camusrory, carrying us deeper into Knoydart’s rugged embrace.

*Boarding our boat at Tarbet to journey north along Loch Nevis*

On the way, our skipper shared stories of the extinct villages scattered along the shoreline, his knowledge generous and grounding. Then magic-a pod of dolphins appeared, leaping and playing in the wake of our boat. We squealed, laughed, and cheered as they escorted us into this remote corner of the Highlands.

Our walk in opened to vast, verdant landscapes that became our base, with the still long late summer light stretching time wide. Some of the group even summited Sgùrr na Ciche, one of Knoydart’s towering and encompassing Munro’s, after setting up camp. It was scrambly and exhilarating, and we were rewarded with sweeping views and shrouded clouds, rainbows, and the kind of tired joy and aliveness that can only come from the mountains.

Those who explored more gently had dinner ready when the Munro-baggers returned in the dark- an unmatched gift evidenced by everyone looking out for each other, from the top of the Munro all the way down to camp.

Day three was shorter in distance but full of depth.

*Wild swimming in a waterfall pool in Glen Carnoch, Knoydart*

Low clouds hung over us as we meandered through glens, peat, and bog, pausing for a bracing plunge into a freshwater pool fed by a tumbling burn. Cold, clear water hugged around tired muscles, leaving us laughing and gasping with delight. We arrived at camp early enough to scout our wild homes for the night.

The group learned the art of wild camping- finding flat ground, reading wind and rain, and appreciating the strength of the gear we carried. Each aspect of the journey is just as meaningful as the next! That evening we gathered by the river, dinner in hand, giggling and sharing stories before tucking in early for the miles ahead, cozy in our tents as rain continued to fall on the roofs of our small but mighty homes for the night.

Day four stretched us further, guiding us deeper into Knoydart’s expansive folds.

*Navigating wild rivers in the remote Glen Carnoch, Knoydart*

We practiced route-finding and map reading, choosing lines across ridges and valleys, moving up, down, and all around. We learned how deer management shapes regeneration, how forests might return, and how the land itself holds the memory of all that has passed before.

The group continued to move together naturally, feeling the pulse of each other and the place. Gushing waterfalls cascaded from every ridge, each one a reminder of the wildness, aliveness, dynamic nature of Knoydart. By the time we waddled into Inverie, damp and legs barking, we were greeted with the sweetest luxuries: warm showers, hearty meals at the Old Forge Inn, and the hum of a village where about 100 people make their home.

Reflections that evening brimmed with gratitude and an exhaustion well-earned.

On our final morning, those with time lingered in Knoydart’s rhythm a little longer.

*Stretching out on the seashore at Inverie before relaxing tired muscles in the sauna.*

Soaking up a sauna, a slow, restorative yoga and stretching session, and a wander along the coastline before the ferry carried us back to Mallaig.

It’s impossible to fully capture what we lived: the way the weather taught us patience, strength, and surrender, the way strangers turn into companions in the hills, the way type-two fun softened into satisfaction and turns hindsight into gold once we reached camp each night.

In Knoydart, we tapped into the wildness of the land and the wildness of ourselves, leaned deeply into the sensory goodness of fresh late summer scents, rugged terrain beneath our feet, rain and sunshine and battering wind on our cheeks. All the while, held in the warmth of community and the care and competency of our brilliant Wild Roots leaders.

Some things can’t be measured. They can only be felt, carried, and remembered. Until next time, Wild Roots.