The Rough Bounds
Knoydart · Lochaber · Loch Lomond

The Rough Bounds

Flights, beds, car, train and the Old Forge table are locked in. This is the trip as booked — plus the two things left to sort.

Itinerary v3 · updated 18 Jul 2026 · hike-day Wednesday
Crew  Brad · Alex · Tim Dates  Mon 3 – Fri 7 Aug 2026 Shape  Fly to Edinburgh · drive the loop · boat to Knoydart · train home Beds  Edinburgh → Glencoe → Mallaig → Drymen
Where things stand

Everything big is booked. Two things aren't.

Tim locked in all four nights, Brad locked in flights, the car, the Friday train and the Old Forge table. Knoydart is now a full Wednesday hike day — first boat over from Mallaig at 07:30, up the Corbett above Inverie, Old Forge at 5, last boat back. Clachan dinner (Thu) is booked. Still open: the Mallaig ↔ Inverie boat, Kingshouse dinner (Tue) & somewhere for Mon.

~350mi
Driving · Edinburgh → Glasgow
4
Nights · a different bed each
07:30
Wed first boat · full Knoydart hike day
2
Left to book · boat + Tue dinner
Do these next: ① Book the Mallaig ↔ Inverie boat for Wed 5 Aug — 07:30 out (full hike day; leave Kingshouse ~04:50) and 18:30 back; both need online booking — see the options. ② Send the drafted Kingshouse dinner request (Tue 18:30 × 3) via their contact form — their online table booking doesn't open August yet. ③ Pick somewhere in Edinburgh for Monday night. ✓ Clachan Thu 18:30 is booked.
The full route

The whole loop, one map

Each colour is a day's drive. Dashed blue is Wednesday's boat across Loch Nevis. Tap any pin for the detail — every overnight stop here is booked.

Overnight (booked) Hike Tue drive Wed drive Thu drive Fri drive Knoydart boat
As booked · day by day

Edinburgh → Glencoe → Knoydart → Loch Lomond → home

Confirmation numbers live in the dashed boxes — everything you'd need at a front desk. Each day has its own drive map.

DAY1MON 3 AUGNO CAR
CITY DAY

London → Edinburgh

▸ FLY BA1440 LHR T5 08:55 → EDI 10:20 · Brad 17A · Alex 17C ▸ FLY Tim via Washington–Dulles → EDI, lands 10:35
EDI → Market Street Hotel (tram or taxi, ~30 min) · Arthur's Seat from the door

Sleep · Old Town booked

Market Street Hotel
6 Market Street, EH1 1DE — two minutes above Waverley, rooftop views to the castle. 3 × Cozy rooms, £336 each, pay at the hotel (flexible rate).
Itinerary 5154B26395778 · rooms 3983SG110618 / 619 / 620
booked by Tim · +44 131 322 9229

Hike

Arthur's Seat easy 251m · ~1.5h · straight from the hotel · go at golden hour

Dinner · Edinburgh

Not booked yet — anywhere in the Old Town works Makars Gourmet Mash Bar (hearty, no-book queue), or book The Last Drop / White Hart on the Grassmarket. City rule: no need to eat at the hotel.
All three land by ~10:35 — worth booking for 19:30ish once you're on the ground.
DAY2TUE 4 AUGDRIVE
~92 MI
~2H45

Edinburgh → Glen Coe (Kingshouse)

▸ CAR Enterprise pickup 08:00, Waverley Stn New Street Car Park ▸ DRIVE via Stirling · Callander · Crianlarich · Rannoch Moor
A84/A85/A82 — the drive gets properly Highland after Tyndrum. Lost Valley trailhead is 10 min past the hotel.

The car booked

Ford Kuga or similar · automatic
Unlimited mileage + damage waiver. Drop-off: Glasgow Central, Fri 14:00.
Enterprise conf 1497311184 · £555.61 paid (Brad's Amex)
Pickup +44 131 341 4441 · min. licence + passport in renter's name

Sleep · Rannoch Moor booked

Kingshouse Hotel, Glen Coe
Historic 1750s inn alone on the moor under Buachaille Etive Mòr. 2 × Guest King/Twin (one split to twins), full Scottish breakfast included.
Refs P24N262 + TUS9WVQ · booked by Tim · +44 1855 851 259

Hike

The Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) moderate ~2.5–3h · hidden glen above the Three Sisters · park at Three Sisters viewpoint

Dinner · at the hotel

Not booked yet — reserve at Kingshouse itself, 18:30 × 3 You're sleeping there and it's the only place on the moor: Way Inn bar (climbers' side, casual) or the main restaurant. Their online widget doesn't open Aug dates yet — use the contact form (message drafted) or call. While you're at it, ask about a packed/early breakfast for Wednesday's 04:50 start.
+44 1855 851 259 · kingshousehotel.co.uk/contact-us · refs P24N262 / TUS9WVQ
DAY3WED 5 AUGDRIVE
~88 MI
~2H20
+ BOAT
+ HIKE

Glen Coe → Mallaig → Knoydart (hike day)

▸ DRIVE early start — leave Kingshouse ~04:50 for the first boat ▸ BOAT Mallaig → Inverie 07:30 · back 18:30 — book, see options
Car sleeps at the Marine in Mallaig; you cross Loch Nevis on foot for a full hike day. The Old Forge is ~150m from the Inverie pier.

Sleep · Mallaig booked

The Marine (Marine Hotel)
Station Road, opposite the harbour — you can see the ferry from the door. Park there at dawn, check in after the 19:00 boat back (check-in until 23:45). Non-refundable, all paid.
Brad double WTB1AAE021 · £153 paid
Alex double WTB1AADFF2 · £153 · Tim single WTB1AADFB7 · £81
+44 1687 462 217

The day on Knoydart · 08:00–17:00

Sgùrr Coire Choinnichean steep 796m Corbett straight above Inverie · ~5–6h return · knockout Loch Nevis views

Gentler swap: the coast track toward Sandaig (~3–4h). Either way you're back with hours to spare for a shower-less pint before the 17:00 table.

Dinner · The Old Forge

Booked ✓ — Wed 5 Aug, 17:00, table for 3 Britain's remotest mainland pub, community-owned. Table held 15 min; slot is 1.5h, so you're done ~18:30 — exactly when the last ferry leaves. Settle up by 18:15 or book a private boat back (next section).
Confirmed by Yara · eat@theoldforge.co.uk · +44 1687 462 358
DAY4THU 6 AUGDRIVE
~150 MI
~3H30

Mallaig → Glen Nevis → Drymen

▸ DRIVE back past Glencoe, down Loch Lomond's west shore ▸ HIKE Steall Falls en route — the Glen Nevis detour
Longest driving day — break it with the Nevis Gorge. Loch Lomond, Luss and the A811 bring you into Drymen by evening.

Hike

Nevis Gorge & Steall Falls easy–mod ~1.5–2h · dramatic gorge, 120m waterfall, wire bridge if you're brave · 25-min detour up Glen Nevis

Sleep · Drymen booked

The Clachan Inn
2 The Square, Drymen — licensed 1734, said to be Scotland's oldest pub. 2 × twin rooms (their last availability), $178.21 each, paid.
Itineraries R6457132421 (Tim) + R6457139842 (Alex)
guestreservations.com · +44 1360 660 824

Dinner · at the inn

Booked ✓ — Thu 6 Aug, 18:30, table for 3 Dinner downstairs at Scotland's oldest pub, booked via ResDiary (restaurant area). Confirmation email to Brad.
The Clachan Inn · +44 1360 660 824
DAY5FRI 7 AUGDRIVE
~25 MI
~50 MIN
+ TRAIN

Drymen → Glasgow → London

▸ CAR drop by 14:00 · Enterprise, 40 Oswald St (Glasgow Central) ▸ TRAIN Avanti 14:34 Glasgow Central → 19:12 London Euston
Optional Conic Hill leg-stretch from Balmaha first (15 min from Drymen) — leave Balmaha by 12:30 to make the drop comfortably.

Optional last hike

Conic Hill, Balmaha easy 361m · ~2h round trip · the whole of Loch Lomond at your feet · start by 09:30

The train home booked

Avanti West Coast · 4h38 direct
3 × Advance Single, Standard Premium. Carriage H, seats 24 (window), 25 + 31 (aisle). Specified train only — no refunds, don't miss it.
Etickets TTBXV82LF7X / F7Z / F73 · Trainline txn 705022124810 · $595.13 paid

Why Glasgow, again

The Edinburgh Fringe opens today and that city goes mad — you exit through Glasgow instead, and keep all of Saturday free in London before Sunday flights (Alex LHR→DFW, Tim LHR→IAH).

To book · Wednesday's crossing

Mallaig ↔ Knoydart: the boat options

No road in — it's a crossing of Loch Nevis on foot. You want the first boat over for a full hike day, and the last scheduled boat back leaves Inverie at 18:30 sharp — right as dinner ends. Three ways to play it.

Recommended
Option 1 · scheduled ferry

Western Isles Cruises

The regular Knoydart ferry — 84-seat wooden boat with a bar aboard. Out on the 07:30 (Inverie 08:00) for the full hike day, back on the 18:30 (Mallaig 19:00). Pub is 150m from the pier: order promptly at 5, ask for the bill by 18:10, stroll down. Cheap, simple, atmospheric.

Must pre-book — last boat of the day requires online booking; arrive 15 min early; weather-dependent, check the day before.

westernislescruises.co.uk · 01687 462 233
info@westernislescruises.co.uk
Option 2 · private charter

Calanna Charter (Inverie)

Knoydart's own charter boat — a 12-passenger Lochin 33 skippered by local farmer Iain Wilson. Book a private evening pickup (~19:30–20:00) and dinner stops being a race: linger for a second pint, cross back at golden hour.

Pair it with the 07:30 WIC ferry out, or charter both directions (e.g. a ~08:30 morning drop for an extra hour of sleep). Price on enquiry — split three ways it's usually reasonable.

calannaboat@knoydart.org
01687 462 844 · 07766 082 757
Option 3 · fast rib

WIC Private RIB hire

Western Isles Cruises also runs a fast RIB for private hires "at a time of your choosing" — same idea as Calanna but from the Mallaig side, and quicker across. Ask about an evening return when you book the ferry.

Best as a backup quote against Calanna — one phone call covers both this and Option 1.

westernislescruises.co.uk/private-hire · 01687 462 233
Mallaig deptInverie arrInverie deptMallaig arrNotes · Mon–Fri, May–Sept
07:3008:0008:0008:30← your boat OUT · book online (first boat) · leave Kingshouse ~04:50
10:1511:0011:0011:45backup out — arrive 11:00, shorter hike window
14:1515:0016:1517:00afternoon sailing (return via Tarbet)
18:0018:3018:3019:00← your boat BACK · book online (last boat)
The call to make: book WIC 07:30 out + 18:30 back for all three (one booking — first and last boats both require online booking, arrive 15 min early). If the 04:50 alarm loses the vote, get a Calanna/RIB quote for a ~08:30 private drop instead; and if you'd rather not watch the clock over dinner, add a ~19:45 private pickup and release the 18:30 seats. Either way, book this week — early August sailings fill, and the boat is the trip's single point of failure.
To book · tables

Dinner, night by night

House rule for this trip: outside Edinburgh, eat where you sleep — every stay was picked with a proper pub or kitchen downstairs.

  1. Tue · Kingshouse Hotel, Glen Coe needs booking
    18:30 × 3, Way Inn or restaurant. Online widget doesn't open Aug yet — send the drafted message via their contact form or call +44 1855 851 259. Ask about an early/packed breakfast for Wednesday too.
  2. Mon · Edinburgh (anywhere) needs booking
    City exception — Makars Mash Bar, or The Last Drop / White Hart on the Grassmarket. Book ~19:30 once you land.
  3. Wed · The Old Forge, Inverie booked ✓
    17:00, table for 3, confirmed by Yara. Flag allergies ahead · table held 15 min · 1.5h slot.
  4. Thu · The Clachan Inn, Drymen booked ✓
    18:30, table for 3, booked via ResDiary (Brad). You're sleeping upstairs.
  5. Fri · on the train
    Stock up at Glasgow Central before the 14:34, or hold out and eat in London — you're at Euston by 19:12.

Who's got what

BradBook the Knoydart boat — 07:30 out + 18:30 back (± Calanna quote). Clachan dinner ✓. Share train etickets to the group chat.
TimSend the Kingshouse dinner request (contact form or phone — he holds refs P24N262/TUS9WVQ) + ask about early breakfast Wed.
AlexPick + book Monday's Edinburgh dinner; he's got the Komoot hike list for backup walks.
AllCheck in online for BA1440 24h out (Sun morning). Headlamps + rain kit — Wednesday starts at 04:50.
The paper trail

Every booking, one table

Refs and amounts pulled from the confirmations in the trip folder.

WhatWhenRefCost
BA1440 LHR→EDI (Brad 17A; Alex 17C booked separately)Mon 3 Aug 08:55Z9XH9G£142.55 (Brad)booked
Tim inbound via Washington–Dulles → EDIMon 3 Aug, lands 10:35United—booked
Market Street Hotel, Edinburgh · 3 Cozy roomsMon 3 Aug5154B26395778£336 × 3 · pay at hotelbooked
Enterprise · Ford Kuga · Waverley → Glasgow CentralTue 08:00 → Fri 14:001497311184£555.61 paidbooked
Kingshouse Hotel, Glen Coe · 2 King/Twin + breakfastTue 4 AugP24N262 · TUS9WVQ~$400 × 2booked
The Marine, Mallaig · 2 doubles + 1 singleWed 5 AugWTB1AAE021 · AADFF2 · AADFB7£153+£153+£81 paidbooked
The Old Forge · dinner × 3Wed 5 Aug 17:00email conf (Yara)—booked
The Clachan Inn, Drymen · 2 twinsThu 6 AugR6457132421 · R6457139842$178.21 × 2 paidbooked
Avanti · Glasgow Central → Euston · H24/25/31Fri 7 Aug 14:34TTBXV82LF7X/Z/73$595.13 paidbooked
The Clachan Inn · dinner × 3 (booked by Brad, ResDiary)Thu 6 Aug 18:30email conf → Brad—booked
Knoydart boat · 07:30 out / 18:30 back × 3Wed 5 AugWIC / Calannaferry fare on bookingto book
Dinners · Kingshouse (Tue 18:30, form drafted) · Edinburgh (Mon)Tue / Moncontact form / phone—to book