WILD PILGRIM
Knoydart Peninsula, scotland
AN INSPIRING JOURNEY IN THE UK'S LAST REMAINING WILDERNESS
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as featured in the guardian
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2025 DATES AVAILABLE TO BOOK NOW!
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SUMMER: 8th-13th June
AUTUMN: 7th-12th September
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Set in the wild 'rough bounds' of the Scottish Highlands - this is a 6 day, 5 night very wild adventure. Saying that, we do spend our final night in a lovely local hotel, taking the time to celebrate together over a special meal.
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This is a journey on foot, which requires a degree of physical fitness and commitment to the journey. We carry everything we need for 4 nights wild camping, as together we move through some of the UK's most stunning landscapes. We make time as we go to swim in rivers and waterfalls, cook and eat together, share stories, cast dreams and step outside of the every day. We plan our routes and activities daily based on the weather and group needs, but you'll find an indicative itinerary below.
From our experience of this landscape and the wild pilgrim journey - it's a powerful and transformative experience - an opportunity to go on a wild adventure to inspire life. Whether you're a solo traveller, friends, family or a couple - everyone is welcome. To maximise your experience, and minimise our impact, we keep team size to a maximum of ten guests, plus our two incredible leaders who will meet you wherever you are with love, guidance and support.
We'd love to share this journey with you.
"A brilliant mix of feeling free & wild and supported & guided."
(Jane - 2023 Wild Pilgrim guest)
INDICATIVE ITINERARY
DAY 1: PREPARE FOR THE WILD
We meet around 8.30 in Fort William. We'll get to know each other, and sort though all the kit we need for our adventure together, making sure that as individuals and a group we have everything we need to keep us safe, warm, dry, fed and watered. Once you sign up for this adventure we'll send you a full kit list, and rest assured we take care of a lot of the basic kit we'll need, like first aid, shelter, and cooking equipment etc.
Ready and prepared we head off on our wild adventure. We'll journey together, via the Glenfinnan Viaduct (of Harry Potter fame), by rail or road to the port town of Mallaig. From here we take the 30 minute boat journey to the small village of Inverie - the only village on the Knoydart Peninsula.
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In Inverie we head to the beautiful Long Beach campsite (literally a beach)!, managed by the Knoydart Foundation. This is where we'll set up our camp for the night. After getting settled we head out for a very special welcome dinner at The Lookout seafood restaurant. This is an opportunity to get to know each other over delicious local seafood (other options are available), and to take in the special community of Inverie itself.
Before it gets dark, we head back to camp for a fire on the beach - an opportunity to consider our hopes and fears for the pilgrimage ahead as we prepare to venture 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. Fresh Coffee, from our favourite roasters, Girls Who Grind Coffee, will be served along with breakfast.
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The below is subject to change based on weather and group needs...
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 (14K Moderate - Hard). On reaching the cool blue waters of Loch An Dubh Lochain (The Black Lake) we stop and take a mindful moment to cool our feet and journal, we might even have a full-body dip! 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'll feel the sea breeze once more and take note of our achievement. This might be a good time for our first Firepot 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 make camp beside a small bothy and basic toilet facilities. If we're quiet, deer will come close to investigate and take advantage of the sweet grass.
After getting settled we'll prepare our first evening meal together. Dinners while out in the wild are a selection of ingredients making up a dinner pack for 2, think Ready Steady Cook! An example meal is courgette, onion, halloumi and risotto rice - this enables us to eat well nutritionally, with fresh food while in the wild, and it's pretty special to cook together outside. After dinner, we reflect on the day with an opportunity for 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've 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 waterfall or river. Fresh coffee / yogi tea will be brewed along with breakfast.
After packing down our camp we'll continue to explore, immersing 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 a remarkable valley to the North East of Ladhar Bheinn and its magical wild swimming spots. This is 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 and our 'dinner packs'. Whatever option we take we will continue to prioritise our practices of journaling, mindful connection with self, others and the wild, cold water immersion, wild movement, 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 nearby.
Fresh coffee / yogi tea will be brewed and we'll make our final breakfast together. After packing down our camp we'll journey back towards Inverie. From here we'll take the boat back to Mallaig, where we'll check into our local accommodation for the night. There will be time to take a shower and prepare for our last evening together - a celebration meal in Mallaig!
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This is a time to look back on our journey in the wild together, to celebrate, and to think about how we can weave this powerful experience into our lives once we get home.
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We'll then get a good night's sleep in a comfy bed in our local accommodation.
DAY 6: MOVING ON
After breakfast at our local accommodation - we'll pack up and head 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.
The Wild Pilgrim journey can be powerful and transformative, it's an adventure which will more than likely continue to bubble into your life long after we get back home...
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Our Wild Pilgrim really is a wild adventure to inspire life!
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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All accommodation - twin room share/ shared 2 person tent (provided by The Living Project)
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Your own personal journal + pencil
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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 transport from Fort William to Inverie (train/vehicle/ferry)
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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, local accommodation & ferry
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Day 6: breakfast, onward travel to Fort William (either by rail or road)
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 days 1 and 5
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Personal spending money
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Celebration dinner on the final evening
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Any other snacks you may want to bring
book now
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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 I 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 we heartily recommend. 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 I need to be to do it?
We’re all about moving slow, noticing and exploring a landscape through all our senses. However this adventure on the Knoydart peninsula does involve physical and mental effort and in different ways for all of us, challenge. You will need to carry your gear (including equipment we provide such as tents/ stoves and food) in a ruck-sack and we do wild camp for 4 nights, 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. Our main priority is supporting guests on their journey, and 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 I 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 65l ruck-sack, and some waterproofs. Once you're signed up we'll send you a little kit-list.