Inverie, a small village on the Knoydart Peninsula in Scotland, holds the Guinness World Record for the most remote village in the UK. With no roads leading to it, the only ways to reach the settlement are by ferry from Mallaig or a gruelling 16-mile trek through isolated countryside. The village of roughly 120 people relies entirely on its ferry service for food, post, medicine, and freight.
During the Covid lockdown, the usual 28 weekly sailings were cut to just three, operating on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. A blog on the ferry service's website described how residents would normally form a human chain to unload supplies, but during the pandemic, the skipper and crew had to do it alone while locals watched from a distance.
Inverie is home to The Old Forge, which bills itself as the 'Remotest Pub in Mainland Britain.' The community-owned pub is known for its whisky, real ale, traditional music, and welcoming atmosphere. Tripadvisor reviews praise the food and friendly service, with one customer calling it 'heaven on earth.'
The John Muir Trust, which owns the land, is rewilding parts of Knoydart to restore natural habitats. Native tree species are regenerating, and wildlife such as pine martens, roe deer, otters, and eagles have returned. The village offers accommodation options, but they fill up quickly, so early booking is advised.
The simplest route to Inverie involves a scenic train ride on the West Highland Line from Glasgow to Mallaig, followed by a short ferry trip. Despite the challenges of access, visitors are drawn by the stunning scenery and the chance to experience life in one of Britain's most isolated communities.
