The Paddler ezine Issue 51 Winter 2020 | Page 110

ThePADDLER 110 We turned around and made our way back along the coastline and now both the wind and the tide were favourable so we made good progress. As we got past Inverie, the water levels were so low that it gave us the opportunity to stand tall with our big sticks and with the tide pushing us gently along, we soon reached the gently sloping sandy shores of Long Beach. This low-key Ranger-managed campsite offers one of the best views in Scotland. Facilities include a state- of-the-art Natsol compost toilet, a fresh drinking water supply, a turf-roofed log cabin shelter (complete with a selection of camping kit e.g sleeping mats/bags which are there for people to borrow), a dry stone communal BBQ and several fire pits. Bundles of firewood are available to buy for use in the firepits. This firewood is purchased from the Knoydart Forest Trust.  requirements, to promote the health of the herd, reforestation of Knoydart and to restore balance to the ecosystem. In addition, they have developed a bunkhouse and a shop to generate much needed income to reinvest in land management activities. At the time of writing this article, campsite fees are just £5 for the first person in a tent and £4 for each person thereafter. There is no need to book in advance. You can either pop into the Foundation Shop (on the main street in Inverie) to pay, or alternatively pay the Ranger in the morning. There is also an honesty box located at the entrance to the log cabin. Long Beach offers the benefits of wild camping with the luxury of running water and an indoor toilet. Not quite a porcelain throne but definitely more eco-friendly and in keeping with the surroundings. After pitching Terje within a few metres of the sandy beach, it was time to head back to The Old Forge for an evening of warmth, hospitality and Guinness . With no roads in or out, an 18 mile hike over Munros or a seven-mile sea crossing from Mallaig are the usual way to reach the most remote pub on mainland Great Britain. It started off as a smithy’s forge and then was used as a worker’s social club. Later it became a pub offering excellent local fish and game, real ales and live music. It has all the benefits of being remote but having modern amenities and we made tactical use of their wifi to check the weather forecast for the coming days.  This year is the Knoydart Foundation’s 20th birthday. In recent history, Knoydart was neglected and its community lived with uncertainty due to a series of absentee land owners. As a result, members of the Knoydart Community set up a charitable organisation: ‘The Knoydart Foundation’ (KFT) and after extensive fundraising, were able to buy out around 17,000 acres of the Knoydart Peninsula in 1999. Since then, the foundation has repaired and completed works to improve the efficiency of their community-owned hydropower scheme, which provides green power to 70 households, businesses and workshops in and around Inverie. They have renovated antiquated water supplies, sewage systems and housing, and have built six properties which provide affordable rental homes for community members. The foundation established a ranger service, which includes Long Beach Campsite, Knoydart carbon cycle hire, public and private guided walks and land rover tours, and volunteering opportunities for residents, visitors, schools and scout groups. They set up deer management procedures to meet with legal hospitality and Guinness It was time to head back to the Old Forge for an evening of warmth,