Mallaig

Mallaig is a village with about 790 inhabitants ( 2004 estimate ) on the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Highland. The place is an important fishing and ferry port.

Mallaig was founded in 1840 by Lord Lovat as a pure fishing port. His rapidly growing importance in the 20th century owes the place is first and foremost the connection to the British railway network in 1901 by the West Highland Railway was extended from Fort William to Mallaig to. The landed in Mallaig fish could be transported quickly and cost effectively in this way. The local fishermen are now specializes in fishing for shrimp and lobsters. In early times, especially the herring fishery was at the center.

1932 reversed the first car ferry from Mallaig to Skye. Today, there are ferry services to the islands of Skye, Rum, Canna, Eigg, Muck and South Uist and to Knoydart peninsula, which stresses the importance Mallaigs has greatly increased as a ferry port.

Mallaig is also known as the terminus of the Jacobite Steam Train, which runs daily during the summer months from Fort William to Mallaig. More diesel-powered trains run throughout the year on this track. In Mallaig also ends the tourists busy scenic road Road to the Isles, which runs largely parallel to the rail line Fort William - Mallaig.

The village is now heavily influenced by tourism. In the village center there are several pubs, restaurants and shops as tourist infrastructure. Many passengers of the Jacobite Steam Trains that holds in place for quarter hours, take the time to visit.