Knoydart

Coordinates: 57°04′N 5°40′W / 57.07°N 5.66°W / 57.07; -5.66

Knoydart ⁱ/ˈnɔɪdərt, ˈnɔɪdɑːrt/ (Scottish Gaelic: Cnòideart) is a peninsula in Lochaber, Highland, on the west coast of Scotland.

Natural environment

Knoydart is sandwiched between Lochs Nevis and Hourn — often translated as Loch Heaven and Loch Hell respectively.

The northern part of what is traditionally known as na Garbh-Chrìochan or "the Rough Bounds", because of its harsh terrain and remoteness, Knoydart is also referred to as "Britain's last wilderness". Only accessible by boat, or by a 16-mile (26 km) walk through rough country, its seven miles (11 km) of tarred road are not connected to the UK road system.

Designated as a National Scenic Area, Knoydart is popular with hill walkers, mountaineers, sailors and wildlife enthusiasts. It includes the Munros of Ladhar Bheinn (1020 m), Luinne Bheinn (939 m), Meall Buidhe (946 m) and Sgurr na Cìche (1040 m).

History

Knoydart formed part of the kingdom of Somerled (died 1164), before passing to the Macruari branch of his descendants - the eventual heiress of whom married John of Islay (died circa 1386). The Macdonald family that held Knoydart from the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century is generally believed to have descended from Allan Macdonald, 2nd of Clanranald (died circa 1429). However, in the early 17th century, Macdonell of Glengarry succeeded in wresting control of Knoydart from Clanranald, receiving official confirmation of his ownership from the king in 1613. Prior to the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion the population numbered nearly a thousand and in spite of much emigration, mainly to Canada, remained at that level in 1841.