Photographs, route description and map of the Pinnacles of the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye

Map and Access Route

for The Quiraing

THE QUIRAING - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

DISTANCE: 4.5 miles / 7km
TIME: 3 HRS
WAYMARKED: N0
MAP: OS 23

Few treasure hunts reveal a prize so intriguing as the Quiming’s secret inner sanctum. Reaching heavcnwards this
grassy plateau could be the playing ﬁeld of the gods. Only they surely could provide such a hiding place.
Now, though, some have discovered the secret and each New Year's Day the local men haul themselves up the hill to stage a
traditional game of shinty here. Fun for everyone except the poor soul assigned to retrieve the lost balls.
The ﬁrst challenge at this extraordinary geological site is ﬁnding The Needle - the pinnacle guarding the
narrow entrance to The Table.
The second is climbing the steep scree-covered slope to The Needle, then you enter a claustrophobic rock amphitheatre dwarfed on all sides by vcrtiginous
spires and verdant walls. lt is a bizarre tranquil cathedral.
Continue on the path behind The Needle and you reach The Table, ﬂat and grassy. The Table is actually part of the
gigantic Flodigarry landslip caused by the basalt lava beds slipping over dolerite sills in underlying jurassic sediments.
The view down onto The Table from above should not be missed - especially by anyone arrogant enough in doubt of thc creative power of nature.

HOW TO GET THERE:
From Portree follow the A855 north below the long Trotternish escarpment and past pinnacle of The Old Man of Storr to Stafﬁn.
At Brogaig follow the minor road to Ung to the car park at its highest point.

ACCOMMODATION:
Skye teams with tourist facilities, but on the east coast the Glenview Inn [ D1670 562268 ] (also
with campsite ), the Flodigarry Country House Hotel [ OM70 552203 ] and the Dun Flodigarry Backpackers' Hostel (D1670 552212 ) come recommended.

WHERE TO EAT: The Glenview Inn is praised. At Uig try the Pub at the Pier, or the Duntulm Castle Hotel in Duntulm.

OTHER THINGS To Do: Kilt Rock and the waterfall are seen from road south of Staffin.
Fossilised dinosaur footprints in Slafﬁn Bay. At Flodigarry is Flora Macdonalds cottage.
The Storr, Walemish Point west of Uig and Dunvegan Castle and Neist Point in the west are all worth a visit.

Tourist Information:

Portree ( 01478 612137 ), Broadford ( OM71 B22361 ).

Access Route:

A path from the car park on the Staffin to Uig road leads north-east beside the escarpment to arrive at The Prison,
the first rocky peak on the right.
Up and left is the impressive pinnacle of The Needle.
2. Ascend the steep slope and pass to the left of The Needle.
3. Return to the main path, turn left, and ascend to gain the ridge west of Leac nan Fionn and a stile.
4. Turn left and carefully follow the path above the escarpment south towards Meall na Suiramach, then south-west to the car park.

Experienced mountain bikers will love this exposed, technical ride by the dramatic rock pedestals that crown this part of Skye.
The route is best done at quiet times of the day as the narrow paths are busy with walkers in summer.
From the car park in Brogaig climb west up towards the Trotternish escarpment. A cemetery is passed on this tough
road ascent, which takes about 40 minutes. After hairpin bends you will reach the car park where the Flodigarry path is followed.
An information board details how the name Quiraing is derived from the Old Norse Kvi Rand, which means something folded.
It is an apt description for this largest mass movement slide in Britain, where heavy lava ﬂows overlying sedimentary rocks forced
them to shear and slide downhill.
As you pedal towards the 1.5-mile rock feature the ground becomes steeper on the right. Arguably the trickiest part of the route is
in the gullies ahead where you will need to manhandle your bike.
Follow the path easily to a big cairn. Go right, on a poorer, boggier, path towards Loch Hasco. With the loch in sight descend on to
a lower path with difﬁculty on a short unrideable section. Better riding leads to the main road for the return.