Campsites in Mallaig, Highlands and Islands

2 bookable campsites within 15 miles of Mallaig Sorted by distance

Why visit Mallaig?

A fishy feast

Mallaig may be small, but it isn’t totally dependent on tourism. This place feels like a living, breathing port, with ferries and trawlers constantly toing and froing around the harbour. 

People have been making a living from the sea here since the 19th century, and the tradition of fishing still lives on at Mallaig Fish Market, just next to the village pier. The menu varies depending on the time of year and what has been brought in that morning, but staples include prawns, langoustines and scallops. Mallaig is a hub for smoked fish too, with the finest kippers, smoked haddock and smoked salmon available from any one of the village’s fine food shops. 

Ferries from Mallaig

Mallaig is a hub for people on the move, with CalMac ferries a defining feature on the local landscape. Sailing over to the spectacular Isle of Skye, the often unexplored Small Isles and the isolated Knoydart Peninsula is all possible if you start off here. Many of these destinations make great day trips from Mallaig but if you fancy a bit of island-hopping check out CalMac’s flexible tickets – it’s basically like Interrail, but for boats. 

The West Highland Line

Mallaig is the last port of call on the West Highland Line, a spectacularly scenic rail route that wends its way south from here to Oban and, eventually, Glasgow. Handily, the train station and the ferry terminal are within a five-minute walk of each other. 

If you’re taking a return journey on the Jacobite Express steam service and only have a few hours to spend in Mallaig, head down to the harbour for a whistle-stop boat tour with Western Isles Cruises – they’re carefully timed to make sure you can get back to the train in good time. 

The best things to do in Mallaig

  • When you arrive, get a feel for the place by walking the Mallaig Circuit, a pleasant circular walk that includes excellent views of Mallaig harbour, Loch Nevis and Knoydart. This walk is rated easy, but allow one to two hours and bring sensible footwear if you fancy completing it.

  • Make unforgettable Mallaig memories with outdoor activities from a company based in the village. Charter-boat fishing, wilderness treks, off-road biking and guided hill walks are all on the cards, depending on the time of year you’re visiting. 

  • Drop by at the Mallaig Heritage Centre to learn more about the Lochaber region’s fascinating past and find out how Mallaig became one of the most important herring ports in all of Europe.

  • Hit by bad weather? Head to the village’s leisure centre to make use of its indoor pool, gym, spa and sauna. Bike hire is also available here.

Unexplored Mallaig

The Knoydart Peninsula

Mallaig is a great launchpad for exploring the isolated Knoydart Peninsula, home to the only settlement on the British mainland not to be connected to the national road network. Inverie can be reached only on foot – and the journey is 17 miles – or by ferry, with two different operators connecting the village with Mallaig harbour daily. If you’re taking the land route, keep an eye out for pine martens, red deer and two herds of feral goats; if you’re taking the ferry, with a bit of luck you may be able to spot the harbour porpoises that thrive in this area.

Explore Loch Morar 

Many people passing through Mallaig don’t stay long enough to explore the local landscape, which is a shame given that one of Scotland’s most spectacular lochs is just around the corner. Just to the east of the village lies Loch Morar, one of the deepest lakes in all of Europe. This former glacial basin is home to a 12-mile-long loch that’s just metres from the sea at times but still free of brine, making it a great place to fish for salmon and brown trout. 

Beachcombing at Bourblach

For a chance to have a whole beach to yourselves, head to Bourblach beach, a spectacular stretch of sand overlooking Morar Bay. The beach itself is about a mile and a half from the road but is much quieter than other local bathing spots like the Silver Sands of Morar a little further down the coast. At low tide, huge expanses of sand are exposed and you can wander around inspecting the marine life left behind. 

Here’s how

The Mallaig area isn’t short of places to set up camp, and Pitchup makes it easy to narrow down your search to just what you're looking for. Is having a pitch with an electric hook-up a must? Keen on family-friendly places to camp where the kids will feel right a home? Perhaps you'd like a Mallaig glamping spot, or somewhere to stay in your caravan or motorhome? Use the tick-box filters on this page to browse by themes, facilities and nearby leisure options – or you can explore some of our most popular offerings below:

Of course, the north-west Highlands has lots of pretty coastal spots, so if you’re putting together an itinerary of the west coast you may want to check out sites on offer in nearby Arisaig, Ullapool and Gairloch



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