15 Best Things to Do in Morar
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Morar village is small. It has limited hotel and dining options, but don’t let that put you off. To find the best things to do in Morar you just need to look a little deeper.
Close by are pretty beaches, a lake with a monster, castles and islands that feel a world away from the mainland.
All the suggestions below are based on my experience. I have travelled many times to the area around Morar as well as Fort William, the Small Isles and Isle of Skye.
Mix and match from the below suggestions to create an amazing itinerary.
Map of Things to Do Near Morar
15 Top Things to Do in Morar
There is a lot to see and do in the area around Morar. Things to do here are mainly outdoors so you are a bit dependent on the weather. The good thing is that the weather changes quickly.
If it rains in the morning it might be sunny by the afternoon.
1. Silver Sands of Morar and the Other Beaches in the Area
Close to Morar village is one of the prettiest beaches in the area – Silver Sands of Morar beach.
This “beach” is actually a series of beaches which run along both sides of the Morar river. The side closest to Arisaig is the best side to visit.
It is often busy close to the road and the parking area. It gets quieter as you walk further towards the sea.
However, this is not the only beach to explore in the area. Along the road to Arisaig are Camusdarach and Traigh beach.
There are also several smaller beaches. To find these beaches read my Arisaig Beach Guide.
2. Loch Morar
A short walk from the village is Loch Morar, Scotland’s deepest lake.
At its deepest it is 310 metres. Nobody has ever dived to the bottom and scientists have little knowledge of the loch bed.
Loch Morar is supposed to be home to a monster called Morag.
Morag was first “spotted” back in 1887. She is said to be a serpent-like creature, 9 metres in length with scaly skin and three humps on her back.
To view the loch take one of the many hikes in the area.
Between May and September a ferry runs once a day between Tarbet and Mallaig. With a bit of planning you can walk to Tarbet along Loch Morar and get the ferry and bus back to the Morar village.
3. Our Lady of Perpetual Succour & St Cumin’s Church
The church was completed in 1889 and is built using local grey stone. The interior is simple with pretty stained-glass windows.
It was built by the Lovat family. Lord Lovat owned a lot of land in the area and wanted to stop his tenants from moving away.
He believed that if there was a more convenient and beautiful place for them to worship they might stay.
Sadly, Lord Lovat died before he could start building the church but his wife made sure his wishes were fulfilled.
There is ample parking and the church is open to anyone wanting to look inside.
4. Morar Cross
The first cross was put up in 1889 after Morar church opened. The cross has been changed a few times since and the iron cross that stands there today is from 1965.
Next to Morar train station (towards the loch) is a small parking area. A series of steps leads to the top of a hill where the cross is. It is a steep but short walk taking about 5 minutes.
From the cross you have panoramic views out over Morar beach and the village.
In the other direction is Loch Morar. However, the views towards Loch Morar are largely obstructed by bushes and trees.
5. Go Kayaking or Paddleboarding
The sound of Arisaig and the beaches around Morar are excellent places for kayaking. There are calm and clear waters making it perfect for beginners.
If you own a kayak you can start from Traigh Beach, Silver Sands or the nearby campsite beaches. Or join a guided trip from one of these companies:
- Arisaig Sea Kayaking Centre: Offer day trips for all skill levels exploring the bays around Arisaig.
- Rockhopper Sea Kayaking: Offer both half and full-day kayaking trips in the area.
8. Horse Riding on the Beach
One of the most unique ways to experience Silver Sands of Morar is on the back of a horse.
With Silversands Trekking you can book one- or two-hour horse rides.
9. Traigh Golf Course
Traigh Golf Course is next to Traigh beach. It has views of the beach and the Small Isles.
The 9-hole course is a 10-minute drive from Arisaig. It welcomes non-members and offers club rentals.
Although it can be difficult to park by Traigh beach during the summer, the golf course has it is own parking area.
Things to do near Morar (Day Trips)
6. Small Isles
The Small Isles is the group of islands you can see from the beaches in the area.
There are four islands – Muck, Eigg, Rum and Canna.
All the islands look and feel different from one another.
Muck
Muck is the smallest island. It has a pretty beach with views out towards Rum and Eigg.
Eigg
Eigg is the most popular island and it has the most to offer in terms of cafes, hotels and activities such as bike rental.
One of the most popular things to do is to climb An Sgurr, the mountain that looks like a shark fin.
Rum
After Kinloch Castle closed in 2015 few people go to Rum on a day trip. It is doable by Calmac ferry but it is a long day.
A couple of the trips from Arisaig Marine to Canna stop at Rum for an hour. This is enough time to walk up to the castle but consider staying the night to climb one of the many hills on the island.
Canna
Most people come to Canna for the puffins. From June to August puffin viewing trips are arranged from Arisaig (see below).
If you want to see puffins and one of the islands then visit Canna.
Muck also has puffins but you need to walk through an area with nesting sea birds to get to the puffins. It can be very intimidating since they will dive-bomb you to protect their nests.
How to get to the Small Isles:
- From Arisaig, Sheerwater MV provides day trips to the Small Isles during the summer months.
- Calmac operates ferries from Mallaig to the various islands. However, it is more difficult to arrange a day trip by ferry.
You cannot bring a car to any of the islands.
7. Wildlife and Puffin Cruises
On a wildlife cruise you have a high chance of seeing seals. Other wildlife such as dolphins, whales and otters can be spotted but you have to be very lucky.
Wildlife cruises operate from Mallaig and Arisaig. There are no cruises operating from Morar.
From Mallaig wildlife trips run throughout the day and are popular with people taking the Jacobite steam train.
Try to avoid the hours in the middle of the day when all the tourist from the train are in town.
One of the best activities in Arisaig is a puffin cruise. From June to July puffin trips visit Muck or Canna.
However, be aware that neither of the islands allow you to get up and close with the puffins. They can only be viewed from a distance.
8. Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Harry Potter films have made the Jacobite steam train and the Glenfinnan Viaduct famous.
Most people come to see the steam train cross the viaduct.
During the summer months, each day, the train makes two return trips between Fort William and Mallaig.
It is best to see the train cross on its way to Mallaig. It reaches the viaduct about 30-45 minutes after it departs Fort William.
The pay and display car park has been expanded in recent years but arrive early to find a parking space.
The viewpoint also gets crowded so by arriving early you will get a good view. It is a 15-20-minute walk from the car park to the best Glenfinnan viaduct viewpoint.
Insider tip: Close by is one of my favourite hotels in Scotland, the Glenfinnan House hotel. Have lunch in their cosy pub or a whisky in front of the fire. It is open from 1st of May.
9. Climb Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis, at 1,345 metres, is the highest mountain in the UK.
There are many routes to the top of Ben Nevis. In general the paths on the southern side are easier than the ones on the northern side.
The most used route to the top is the Mountain Track which starts at the Ben Nevis visitors centre.
Experienced hikers should think about doing the ridge walk starting from Torlundy (shown in the photo above).
More information about all the different routes can be found in the Cicerone guide to Ben Nevis and Glencoe.
Anyone who has not done much hiking before should consider joining a guided tour.
More experienced walkers don’t need a guide during the summer months.
It is important to note that despite its modest height on a global level, Ben Nevis can be treacherous with rapidly changing weather conditions.
Book a guided climb of Ben Nevis
10. Glenfinnan Monument
Close to the viaduct is the 18 metre tall Glenfinnan monument. It was built to commemorate the 1745 Jacobite uprising.
It is free to walk around the monument but to enter it you need to book tickets in advance online.
Close by is a pay and display car park with a visitors centre.
The visitors centre contains a museum about the Jacobite uprising and is open from 9.30 to 16.30 every day.
11. Inverie and Knoydart
Inverie is a small village on the Knoydart peninsula only accessible by boat.
The area has lots of outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and cycling. It is a popular destination for day-trippers but you can also stay overnight.
Year-round ferry services from Mallaig are operated by MV Western Isles.
12. Tea at Inverlochy Castle
Inverlochy Castle is a luxury hotel outside Fort William. It is expensive but a wonderful place to stay overnight.
Alternatively, reserve a table for lunch, dinner or afternoon team. For a more budget-friendly experience consider dropping by in the afternoon.
When guests are out they often allow visitors to have scones or a drink in front of the fireplace.
Check price and availability at Inverlochy Castle
12. Jacobite Steam Train
The Jacobite steam train is also known as the Hogwarts Express from Harry Potter.
During the summer the train runs twice a day between Fort William and Mallaig.
Tickets can be booked online at West Coast Railways. Since taking the train is popular both with steam train and Harry Potter fans tickets sell out quickly.
First Class tickets are nearly impossible to book.
For Standard Class tickets book as soon as they become available. If it is sold out, check back later.
Sometimes additional tickets become available as people cancel reservations or new carriages are added.
A limited number of tickets can be purchased on the day of the journey. To increase your chance of getting one of these arrive earlier than the recommended one-hour before the train departs.
For everything you need to know to plan a trip read my Guide to taking the Jacobite steam train
13. Armadale at Isle of Skye
The best way to travel to Skye is on the Aramdale ferry from Mallaig.
Close to the ferry terminal in Skye visit Armadale Castle and the Torabhaig Distillery.
The castle is a 20-minute walk from the ferry terminal and buses run to the distillery. However, it is easiest to travel by car.
Having a car means you can explore other sites such as Eilean Donan Castle (see below) or Camas Dairach beach at Aird of Sleat.
Further north on Skye is the village of Portree with its pastel-coloured houses, the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr.
Driving to the sites further north on Skye takes about 2-2.5 hours so it is too far for a day trip. Consider staying overnight since there is much to do on Skye.
One of the best places to stay is Skeabost House Hotel.
To plan your trip read my post on how to take the Mallaig to Isle of Skye ferry
15. Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan is one of the most picturesque castles in Scotland.
The first structure was built here around the 13th Century to protect the area against the Vikings.
In the following centuries it saw a lot of fighting between the different clans. That lasted until the first Jacobite uprising.
After a 3 day long battle the defenders of the castle surrendered to the English government forces.
Inside the castle the government forces found over 300 barrels of gunpowder.
It was then used to blow up the castle and until 1911 it remained a ruin. At that time the new owner used the next 20 years to restore it to its former glory and how it looks today.
From Morar it takes 1 hour 45 minutes to drive to the castle. The journey includes taking the ferry to Skye so stop at Armadale Castle and the Torabhaig Distillery on the way.
Check the castles website for opening hours and fees.
To pan your day out read my post on the Armdale to Mallaig ferry
Final Thoughts on Morar
Many people drive right past the area around Arisaig and Morar but they don’t realize what they are missing.
Morar village itself might not be the prettiest but there are many amazing things to do in the area.
You have fantastic beaches and day trips to some of the most iconic sights and scenery in Scotland.
LOOKING FOR MORE ON ARISAIG AND MORAR?
Silver Sands of Morar Beach Guide
