The Trotternish Peninsula
Richards Mountain Pages
The Trotternish Peninsula (the Northern bit of Skye) is dominated by the Trotternish Ridge, which effectively splits the peninsula
into two halves (East and West), with only a few ways across.
The main attractions are all geological...
- The Quiraing (pictured above) - an ancient landslide that left odd bits of rock sticking up dramatically
- The Storr (pictured right) - the remains of a volcano forming a cathedral of dramatic rock in gothic shapes (beats anything Gaudi created!)
- The Fairy Glen - filled with enchanting little conical mounds, and said to be inhabited by fairies
There are four peaks that make it to Marilyn status along the Trotternish Ridge (two are Grahams as well), they can be done in a couple of outings,
but with time, and a tent, it is worth traversing it in full over two days (not least because it avoids the boggy bits on either side).
Geology
The Trotternish Ridge, like so much of Skye, is volcanic. Its comprised almost entirely of basalt,
though in places this is made more interesting by voids which have subsequently become filled with a variety of crystals. Kilt rock on the
East Coast is a good example of the classic 'organ pipe' formation of basalt; whilst the Old Man of Storr is the remains of a volcanic plug.
Settlements
There are two main settlements in this area...
- Portree - the capital of Skye, effectively a small town where all the buses meet
- Uig - a port for the Outer Hebrides, and home to a nice youth hostel
Transport
There are several buses a day serving the port of Uig from Portree, and a local bus that runs around the coast. If you're coming from the Outer
Hebrides (the Western Isles), the ferry to Uig meets the bus to Portree.
Maps
You can buy the maps that cover this region, in association with Ordnance Survey, by using the links below:
back to map