📌 Trotternish, Isle of Skye
★★★★★
🛠️ Summit path may have some periods of closure during spring / summer 2024 due to path improvement work (checked April 2024)
The Quiraing rock formation is one of the most spectacular parts of the huge, active Trotternish landslip which is still gradually deforming the landscape (and roads!) around here. Heading along the quieter ridge top lets you peer into the heart of this stone city from above, before returning via the tourist path below it. To fully appreciate the scale of the cliffs and spires, adventurous hikers can ascend the steep gully underneath the famous Needle, with narrow paths taking you into complex terrain at the heart of the maze. Nothing makes you feel smaller than being hemmed in by these volcanic, vertical walls. There is finally a decent car park, too – better late than never! Spaces may still be at a premium however, so on a sunny summer day, arrive early (or late in the afternoon) to secure a space, or use the Fingal’s Tomb car park instead and walk from there. Paths annoyingly busy? Escape south towards Bioda Buidhe.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Quiraing from the start 
The “classic view” looking south along the Trotternish Ridge from the ascent 
Quiraing 
Heart of the Quiraing from above – this area is reachable later in the walk 
Looking east towards Staffin 
The Table 
Fingal’s Tomb (centre-right) 
Debris at the northern tip of the circuit 
Heading back south on the “tourist” path 
The Needle & other rock formations 
The Needle 
At the heart of the Quiraing – accessed by a loose gully detour 
Looking back down the loose gully 
Quiraing cliffs 
Head east on the south side of the road pass for the very best view of the entire Quiraing
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at the top of the Quiraing pass, minor road 3 mi west of Staffin, Skye
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NG 440679
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 57.628124,-6.290518
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park (charge, gets full)
📝 Key info
▶ 8 km / 5 mi | ▲ 390 m | ⌛ 3.5-4 hr
Features: △ Meall na Suiramach (543 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn); ⛰️ Quiraing landslip, including The Table, The Needle, The Prison etc.
⬤⬤ Moderate to Tough | Clear paths with steep ascent / descent to gain and leave the ridge. Occasionally boggy on ridge, and briefly pathless to reach true summit. Steep ascent of loose gully on narrow paths to access the heart of the Quiraing (optional). Unexpected short scramble to cross a wet gully on the main path near the end may catch out the unwary.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit with detour into the Quiraing: start – Maoladh Mor – Meall na Suiramach via clifftop and short detour – gap in cliffs at Fir Bhreugach – cairn at base of The Needle – detour to heart of the Quiraing from here – return to Needle – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep.
Weather: Dry and cloudy with occasional bright spells. Very strong southerly wind funnelling between the pinnacles on the lower return path.
August 2015
