The Old Forge
Pub · Highland ·
Britain's most remote pub serving local fish, game & real ale
Britain's most remote pub serving local fish, game & real ale
"On the Knoydart peninsula we sipped beers at The Old Forge, Britain’s most remote pub, reachable only by a tough multiday hike or a ferry from Mallaig, where locally made ale and outdoor tables on the banks of Loch Nevis make the journey worthwhile." - Alexander Barlow
"The Old Forge Pub is the most remote pub on the United Kingdom mainland, located in the ultra-rural village of Inverie on the Knoydart peninsula in northwest Scotland. It offers a unique experience with a free pint of Trale Ale for those who complete the challenging two-day hike to reach it, saying the secret word 'Wiggle' to the bartender." - Jelisa Castrodale
"Some people make an effort to go off the beaten path to find a good place to throw a few back, but this pub in Scotland is not only off the beaten path, it doesn’t even have a road. The Old Forge in Scotland is the proud title holder of ″Most remote bar in the world″ according to the Guinness book of World Records, and it’s fair to say they earned it. The easiest and most affordable way to reach the pub is by a ferry affectionately called ″Brucie″ by the Pub staff. Brucie only runs twice a day, but you can also get a private trip over to the pub from one of the local boats if the ferry times don’t adhere to your drinking schedule. A dryer option of getting to the pub is by car, but it’s important to keep in mind that there is literally no road that will take you to the actual location. You’ll have to park in Mallaig and hoof it to the pub in Knoydart - a car ride that will get you remotely close to the pub can take up to four hours through the Scottish countryside. The website even suggests that you stop by the coffee shops and local landmarks on your way there, because if you’re going to take that long of a drive to get to a bar, you might as well make a day of it. Perhaps journeying to the pub by steam train is more your style? You can take the Glenfinnan Viaduct that was made famous by the Harry Potter movies. The train won’t take you to a school of magic, but perhaps a few drinks will make you feel wizardly, and there’s a good chance you’ll manage to summon up a hangover if you have a few more. If you really want to turn it into an adventure, you can always walk. The best paths to the pub on foot are through Glendessary forest, Glen Meadall, or Kinlochhourn. They say that getting to the pub on foot is by far one of the most rewarding ways to get there, as there’s nothing like a thick steak and a dark beer after a weary day’s hike." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
"Some people make an effort to go off the beaten path to find a good place to throw a few back, but this pub in Scotland is not only off the beaten path, it doesn’t even have a road. The Old Forge in Scotland is the proud title holder of ″Most remote bar in the world″ according to the Guinness book of World Records, and it’s fair to say they earned it. The easiest and most affordable way to reach the pub is by a ferry affectionately called ″Brucie″ by the Pub staff. Brucie only runs twice a day, but you can also get a private trip over to the pub from one of the local boats if the ferry times don’t adhere to your drinking schedule. A dryer option of getting to the pub is by car, but it’s important to keep in mind that there is literally no road that will take you to the actual location. You’ll have to park in Mallaig and hoof it to the pub in Knoydart - a car ride that will get you remotely close to the pub can take up to four hours through the Scottish countryside. The website even suggests that you stop by the coffee shops and local landmarks on your way there, because if you’re going to take that long of a drive to get to a bar, you might as well make a day of it. Perhaps journeying to the pub by steam train is more your style? You can take the Glenfinnan Viaduct that was made famous by the Harry Potter movies. The train won’t take you to a school of magic, but perhaps a few drinks will make you feel wizardly, and there’s a good chance you’ll manage to summon up a hangover if you have a few more. If you really want to turn it into an adventure, you can always walk. The best paths to the pub on foot are through Glendessary forest, Glen Meadall, or Kinlochhourn. They say that getting to the pub on foot is by far one of the most rewarding ways to get there, as there’s nothing like a thick steak and a dark beer after a weary day’s hike." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
"Getting to this pub is an adventure: I reached Inverie only by a two-day, 18-mile hike (there's a tougher three-day alternative) or by ferry or helicopter; the Knoydart village has no streetlights, phone service, or paved roads and the trails cross mountainous terrain, bogs and the ominously named Lake Hell. Despite the remoteness, the welcome and views are outstanding—TripAdvisor reviewers called it "absolutely worth the trip" and "the warmest welcome and the best view by a country mile"—and it is now community-owned after residents bought stakes to save it from closure earlier this year; it reopened in April following the March buyout and the kitchen is scheduled to reopen next year. The pub is open daily "midday to late," offers locally brewed beers, a range of spirits, live music and boat mooring, and I was directed to their social channel @theoldforgeknoydart for up-to-date information." - Jamie Aranoff Jamie Aranoff Jamie Aranoff is an assistant editor for Travel + Leisure, specializing in all things travel news. Prior to joining T+L, she worked for ABC News on the network assignment desk. Jamie is a chronic over-packer and a firm advocate for the window seat. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines