The Old Forge

Pub · Highland

The Old Forge

Pub · Highland

5

Inverie, Mallaig PH41 4PL, United Kingdom

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The Old Forge by Chassy (Atlas Obscura User)
The Old Forge by Chassy (Atlas Obscura User)
The Old Forge by Chassy (Atlas Obscura User)
The Old Forge by Chassy (Atlas Obscura User)
The Old Forge by Chassy (Atlas Obscura User)
The Old Forge by Chassy (Atlas Obscura User)
The Old Forge by http://www.weekendnotes.com/the-old-forge-...
The Old Forge by http://www.weekendnotes.com/the-old-forge-...
The Old Forge by jonowick/used with permission
The Old Forge by jonowick/used with permission
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null
The Old Forge by null

Highlights

Nestled in Scotland's breathtaking Knoydart Peninsula, The Old Forge invites adventurers to savor local dishes and craft ales at Britain's most remote pub.  

Featured in Food & Wine
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Inverie, Mallaig PH41 4PL, United Kingdom Get directions

theoldforge.co.uk
@theoldforgeknoydart

$$$$$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

Inverie, Mallaig PH41 4PL, United Kingdom Get directions

+44 1687 462358
theoldforge.co.uk
@theoldforgeknoydart
𝕏
@theoldforgecbs

$$$$$$ · Menu

Features

dine in
takeout
delivery
wifi
payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations
reservations required
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 7, 2025

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@foodandwine

"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

UK's Most Remote Pub Offers Free Beer If You Hike There
View Postcard for The Old Forge
@atlasobscura

"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

The Most Remote Restaurants in the World
View Postcard for The Old Forge
@atlasobscura

"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

19 Pubs Around the World Perfect for a Pint
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@travelleisure

"To get to Great Britain's most remote pub, visitors are going to need a lot more than just a quest for thirst, in fact, they'll likely need hiking boots and a tent as well. That's because the Old Forge Pub, located in the village of Inverie, Scotland is only accessible via a two-day, 18-mile hiking trek or via a small sea ferry, or helicopter. The village of Invernie sits along the peninsula of Knoydart and is part of the 'Rough-Bounds' section of the Scottish Highlands. Invernie is unique to visitors with its lack of streetlights, phone service, and connectable paved roads. Not to mention the only way in without a boat or helicopter is through treacherous paths through mountainous terrain, bogs, lakes with ominous names (like Lake Hell), and at certain times of the year: perpetual rain. Despite a 'steady customer base' the pub was almost forced to close its doors earlier this year. After a community buyout in March, the local spot reopened in April (with the kitchen scheduled to reopen in next year), the BBC reported. The pub is now a community-owned pub after the majority of the 120 residents of the village bought stake to save it from closing. The Old Forge Pub joins an approximate list of 50 other community-owned pubs in the UK, according to The British Guild of Beer Writers. The Old Forge Pub is open daily from 'midday to late' and offers locally brewed beers and an array of spirits. The pub offers live music and options to moor boats, for specifics on either, visitors are encouraged to check the pub's social media @theoldforgeknoydart for the most up-to-date information." - Travel + Leisure Editors

One of Britain's Most Remote Pubs Is Only Accessible by Ferry — Or an 18-mile Hike
View Postcard for The Old Forge
@atlasobscura

"Some people make an effort to go off the beaten track to find a good place to throw back a few beers, but this community-owned pub in Scotland is so far off the beaten path that it’s renowned for being the remotest pub in mainland Britain. You will find The Old Forge in the tiny village of Inverie (population: approximately 100), which is nestled on the northern shore of Loch Nevis on the Knoydart Peninsula. You can’t drive to Knoydart; it isn’t connected to the rest of the Scottish road network. The most accessible and affordable way to reach the pub is by ferry from Mallaig, a 30 to 40-minute trip. Ferries run four times a day, but you can also take a private trip to the pub on one of the local boats if the ferry times don’t adhere to your drinking schedule. You can always walk if you want to turn it into an adventure. 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 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. The pub was closed for part of 2021 because of a dispute between the owner and the locals. This problem was resolved when the local community took ownership of The Old Forge in March 2022, through a not-for-profit community benefit company. Know Before You Go Ferries operate four times a day. It is essential to book in advance through the operator Calmac. If no passengers are booked, the ferry will be cancelled. Bad weather will also affect the timetable." - t tobysandison, Chassy, Oliver Hong, The Minx, John McFadzean, AndyLogue, Rachel

The Old Forge – Scotland - Gastro Obscura
View Postcard for The Old Forge

Jillis Grubben

Google
After a long hike we set up our tent and headed here for a bite and drink. As soon as we walked in, we heard by lively music, with a group playing instruments scattered around the pub. The staff was very friendly, and the food was amazing. Very happy that we visited this place! Definetely recommend it

Tomas Matulaitis

Google
Warning, long read. But worth it 😅 I have a card game called Top Munro and one of the winning cards is Ladhar Beinn as it has the closest distance to the pub. Finally the day has come and we ventured to Knoydart for a weekend getaway. The weather was perfect and so was our stay. The pub is a winner not only in the card game but also comes really high on my list of fav pubs as: 1. It is perfectly located - you come out of the boat and straight to the pub. 3-5min walk. Campsite is only 1 km away, so even if you had too many pints the way down to the tent won't take long 👌🏻 Venturing out from Ladhar the pub is ACTUALLY on your way back to the tent and trust me, it is such a relief to see it after a long day out in the hills. 2. Local beer. Knoydart has its own brewery and you get to enjoy a pint of local ale straight from the cask! In addition to that, there was some IPA from Eigg which was really good. Oatmeal stout from Inveralmond brewery is also an unexpected little gem for a stout lover. 3. Food. Since Auld Smiddy Inn in Pitlochry underwent renovations (and change of owners?) changed their menu I am on the hunt to find the best fish and chips (to my taste). I must say the Old Forge comes high on my list. Friday night we needed a good dinner before the Saturday's hike up the Ladhar, so I (obviously) went for fish and chips. And mmmm it was delicious! Chips were salty enough, crispy and freshly cooked. The fish was really good! Not too greasy, it had a taste of its own (often they're tasteless to me), coleslaw was really good too. Fish and chips may be a simple dish but nailing all the ingredients down is seldom that happens. For my taste it comes to strong 9/10! On Saturday night we managed to descend from the mountain straight to the pub and ordered just chips to go with a pint and oh boy they were delicious! 😋 We inhaled those chips. Both Friday and Sunday had us enjoying the halloumi burger which was really good. In fact it was so good that we knew what we are going for on Sunday. The sauce in the burger felt really fresh and good, not like so many burgers that feel heavy (majo-based). And I had flat white which was just about the right creamy kick of caffeine that was so much needed after an intense weekend. 4. Atmosphere and live music. The pub feels really homely and live music is always a winner to me. I really appreciate it when we get to enjoy some live music played by locals. 5. Staff. Reading other reviews one may form a mixed impression, but I can certainly say that the staff is really good. You can sit at the bar for a wee blether, you can sit at the table and you will get your fresh pint going. As mentioned, I had really good flat white on Sunday - made with love 😋 when it comes to food and serving time - it all depends on situation and the pub can get quite busy when the ferry arrives and bunch of people comes so obviously the orders will take some time to arrive. But we found no issues and while we had to rush to catch the boat, we had a nice chat with the lady and she advised us, gave takeaway boxes - all good. I actually so much appreciate that they do such a good job. It left me with a very nice impression. Coming to such a nice and remote place one just has no right to complain, rush and be grumpy. Knoydart has definitely got a place in my heart and we will be back here for sure!

Ben Hawthorn

Google
Did the walk to get here, it was epic and worth it! We were going to come in after last orders for food in the evening, but called ahead and they said it was absolutely no problem and just ordered im advance over the phone! Will be back!

Kris

Google
An incredibly unique place, and what a job the locals have done with refurbishing it and bringing it back to the social hub that a pub in a community this remote needs to be. We did everything in this pub, from eating locally sourced food, to drinking pints, to playing boardgames, to listening to the band play traditional Scottish music on the sunday. Inverie is a special place, and this is the heart of it.

Kevin McGee

Google
Great spot in wild Knoydart. Britain's most remote pub. Community owned along with a big chunk of the peninsular they are trying to run as sustainably as possible. Lovely staff, decent food and great spot for a beer, inside or out. Main bar a bit more visitors eating (maybe best to book for dinner) or playing the board games or musical instruments lying around, wee bar bit more locals with darts/pool but all welcoming.

Michael Gray

Google
Always a privilege coming to a place which is so much better than it needs to be. Gentle convivial atmosphere in a genuine community pub - on a Friday night it felt like everyone was there - friendly staff, great local beer, and well cooked food. The view ain't too bad either! The previous nightmare owner shenanigans now more just a funny story thankfully.

Freddy Energizer

Google
A side trail on the cape wrath trail to get to the most remote pub. It was hard work weather was not on our side. We were aiming for the free beer if you can get here. But that is now one of the myths debunked. But fish and chips and life music helped us warm up and dry out.

Dave Cann

Google
Lovely to revisit The Old Forge 10 years on from the last time I was here. Recently refurbished to a high standard. We timed our visit perfectly with food available for the first time since the community buy-out. Excellent fish and chips, good beer selection and great service.

Sophie S.

Yelp
A quaint pub and one of the most remote in the UK, and worth a visit for that reason. But if it's still owned by the same owner whose disliked by the locals when you go, don't expect too much warmth or friendly.

Morgan And Kyrsten J.

Yelp
We took the ferry from Mallaig and were blessed with a gorgeous sunny day. The area the pub is in has a beautiful beach, with tables and beach chairs set up to relax in. We met the owner and he was very nice, let us take a picture behind the bar. It was late afternoon, and there was a mix of visitors and locals. Great place to enjoy a drink, a good conversation, and a perfect view.

Des C.

Yelp
One of the most unusual finds in this most remote Pub in Britain. Food, beer and selection if whiskies was great. The owner and his staff of one were excellent hosts.