The end of the line, or the ferry port for Skye?
Mallaig at the end of the West Highland Railway Line, is little more than a village built around the harbour and terminal for the Armadale Ferry. It has a basic selection of shops, including many aimed at the tourist as well as cafes and restaurants.
In 1840, Lord Lovat wanted to clear part of his land for sheep grazing. He divided up the farm of Mallaigvaig into seventeen parcels of land and encouraged his tenants to move to the western part of the peninsula and and take up fishing rather than crofting
Fishing was a hazardous business. Everything revolved around the shoals of herring, which could not be depended upon to turn up where they were expected. The local boats were too small to follow the fish further afield, so if the herring did not appear in Loch Hourn or Loch Nevis in July, hard times would follow. In good years there were two daily steamers taking fish to Oban to be transferred on by the newly opened railway.
The arrival of the railway in 1901 really put Mallaig in the map as a steamer pier was built along with a new fishing harbour.
Steamer services began to run to Skye and Stornoway. The population grew anticipating the increase in trade the railway would bring. It was a lot closer to the lucrative fishing grounds around Barra than either Oban or Kyle of Lochalsh.
Fish was loaded directly into railway wagons on the quay. Boatyards, kippering sheds and accommodation for migrant herring gutters were built by the pier. The village began to grow and spread.
In the 1960s, it was busiest herring fishing port in Europe. By the 1970s, fish stokes were declining and a four year ban on herring fishing was imposed. The Mallaig fleet was forced to turn to alternative catches, such as mackerel and whitefish. There is still some fishing, but it is mainly prawns and shellfish. The remains of slipways used in ship building can still be seen.
On the harbour near the ferry terminal is a memorial to the Men of Mallaig lost at sea.
The Mallaig Heritage Centre next to station covers the history of the area.
Mallaig at the end of the West Highland Railway Line, is little more than a village built around the harbour and terminal for the Armadale Ferry. It has a basic selection of shops, including many aimed at the tourist as well as cafes and restaurants.
In 1840, Lord Lovat wanted to clear part of his land for sheep grazing. He divided up the farm of Mallaigvaig into seventeen parcels of land and encouraged his tenants to move to the western part of the peninsula and and take up fishing rather than crofting
Fishing was a hazardous business. Everything revolved around the shoals of herring, which could not be depended upon to turn up where they were expected. The local boats were too small to follow the fish further afield, so if the herring did not appear in Loch Hourn or Loch Nevis in July, hard times would follow. In good years there were two daily steamers taking fish to Oban to be transferred on by the newly opened railway.
The arrival of the railway in 1901 really put Mallaig in the map as a steamer pier was built along with a new fishing harbour.
Steamer services began to run to Skye and Stornoway. The population grew anticipating the increase in trade the railway would bring. It was a lot closer to the lucrative fishing grounds around Barra than either Oban or Kyle of Lochalsh.
Fish was loaded directly into railway wagons on the quay. Boatyards, kippering sheds and accommodation for migrant herring gutters were built by the pier. The village began to grow and spread.
In the 1960s, it was busiest herring fishing port in Europe. By the 1970s, fish stokes were declining and a four year ban on herring fishing was imposed. The Mallaig fleet was forced to turn to alternative catches, such as mackerel and whitefish. There is still some fishing, but it is mainly prawns and shellfish. The remains of slipways used in ship building can still be seen.
On the harbour near the ferry terminal is a memorial to the Men of Mallaig lost at sea.
The Mallaig Heritage Centre next to station covers the history of the area.