📌 Trotternish, Isle of Skye
★★★
This easy coastal loop at Flodigarry – once home to Jacobite heroine Flora MacDonald – visits one of Scotland’s best spots for finding fossils. 66+ million year-old ammonites (snail-shelled creatures) and belemnites (squid-like organisms) can be seen embedded in soft, grey-black sedimentary rock which is gradually spilling down from the Trotternish landslip onto the rocky beach here, with new sections continually being exposed by rain and wave action. Most of the fossils are tiny – larger ones can be seen at Bearreraig Bay – but they are incredibly numerous; if you can’t see any, you’re in the wrong place! There are also good views of Eilean Flodigarry a mile out to sea – and beyond to mainland Scotland on a clear day.
📷 Chronological photo guide
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at minor road junction at Kildorais, Flodigarry, Skye
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NG 465715
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.661728,-6.252178
🚌 Bus stops on A855 at Flodigarry turnoff
🚗 Space for a few cars at junction – don’t block access / turning
📝 Key info
▶ 1 km / <1 mi | ▲ 50 m | ⌛ 45 min
Features: 🐌 Flodigarry fossils & coastline
⬤ Easy | Clear paths (rare boggy patches) except for shoreline section which is across boulders – slippery if wet.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – path north towards Flodigarry Hotel – keep right to reach shoreline below hotel – leave shore at ruined building (path beyond kissing gate) – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Butterflies, horseflies & hairy caterpillars. Cuckoos heard.
Weather: Cloudy & breezy with temperature in mid teens.
May 2022
