Guided walking trip exploring Trotternish Peninsula, north of Portree on Skye
During this trip we head for the northern-most peninsular of Skye, the Trotternish. This area is rich in scenery and culture with the highest number of Gaelic speakers in Skye. The landscape is unique containing 2 of Skye’s most famous landmarks – the Old Man of Skye, an isolated rocky pinnacle, and the Quirang – dramatic and unusual rock formations. By the end of the week, we’ll have traversed the length of the ridge running the length of the peninsula and we’ll also take in a couple of the Red Cuillin hills as an introduction to the Cullin Ridge – perhaps a target for a return visit to Skye.
HIGHLIGHTS
ROUTES INCLUDE
Please enquire for tailor-made price for groups of up to 8 people.
Arrive: Fraoch Lodge (or as designated) on day before activities begin, preferably between 5 & 7pm if possible so that you have time to settle in and meet the others before dinner.
Day 1: We fully explore the extraordinary landscape of The Quirang at the northern end of the Trotternish ridge. As the glaciers retreated colossal landslips have created a bizarre series of spires and pinnacles to give us a route of unending interest on a complex mountain.
Day 2: We head south along the Trotternish ridge over Beinn Edra. We follow the backbone of Skye’s largest and northern most peninsula: on one side of the escarpment steep descending slopes; on the other, a continuous 15km long twisting line of cliffs providing continuing interest, all with seaward views.
Day 3: Bold Glamaig and its neighbours Beinn Dearg Mor and Beinn Dearg Mheadhonach provide an obvious horseshoe circuit above the famous Sligachan Inn. Though not a particularly long day, it provides the opportunity to take the challenging ascents at your own pace, before we descend down a more gentle ridge for a well-earned drink.
Day 4: From breakfast onwards we all take a day off. There is the chance to explore Skye’s many delights; or take a spectacular coastal walk; or a chance to rest the weary limbs and chill out. In the evening, we’ll head out to a top class local restaurant for a fantastic meal out.
Day 5: We climb to the pinnacles surrounding the much-photographed Old Man of Storr, before continuing up to the high point of the Trotternish ridge, The Storr. From here we head north to complete our traverse of the main Trotternish Ridge before heading down to the coast.
Day 6: Belig and Garbh-bheinn again provide another very worthwhile horseshoe circuit high above the head of Loch Ainort. Looking directly into the heart of the renowned Black Cuillin range, the peaks provide outstanding views across the most rugged of mountain scenery.
Depart: the morning after the walking is complete
A hiking holiday in Scotland is an experience hard to beat. Empty of people maybe, but not of hillwalking interest. This is the very distinctive wilderness of Assynt & NW Sutherland, where the superlatives really start to flow – ‘island mountains’ rising abruptly from a vast loch-pitted tableland. The sense of space is superb. These are the most eye-catching of mountains with fantastic walking.
Hiking holiday in Scotland (Assynt, the Highlands of Scotland)
Arrive: Fraoch Lodge on day of arrival, preferably before 7pm so that you have time to settle in and meet the rest of the group before dinner.
Day 1: We head Northwest for the dramatic looking peak of Quinag. The array of rocky features belies a relatively easy but exhilarating tramp in typical Assynt splendour. We return from the mountain to our accommodation nearby.
Route info: distance – 14km / 8.75 miles; walking time, excluding breaks – 7.5 – 8.5 hours; ascent – 1130m
NB stats shown are for the whole horseshoe walk including all 3 Corbetts of Quinag. We may well be doing a shorter version of this route.
Spectacular Quinag dominates the view from Kylesku.
Day 2: We climb Cul Mor. Standing head and shoulders above its neighbours it’s a formidable peak. From its plinth, its craggy south, west and northern slopes sweep up at great angles to its summit plateau. Fortress like, it dominates the view across the loch strewn wilderness to the Atlantic beyond.
Route info: distance – 13.5km / 8.5 miles; walking time, excluding breaks – 4 – 5.5 hours; ascent – 808m
Day 3: With Ben Mor Coigach you couldn’t ask for more from a hill. It has complex landforms, a nice ridge, and several tops. The biggest advantage of BMC is that you can see Suilven, Stac Pollaidh, Cul Mor and Beg all in one view from here, with the Summer Isles and An Teallach, Beinn Dearg and Fannichs, and Western Isles filling the remaining quarters.
Route info: distance – 10.5km / 6.5 miles; walking time, excluding breaks – 5 – 7 hours; ascent – 870m
Day 4: From breakfast onwards this is a day off. It’s a chance to explore Ullapool a little more, or go for a gentle walk along the shore. The day is rounded of with us all going out to dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 5: Suilven – the area’s most depicted mountain – its western prow stands defiant ahead of this fin of a mountain. The approach is a wonderful gander leading to an enthralling ascent of this incredible peak.
Route info: distance – 19.5km / 12.25 miles; walking time, excluding breaks – 7 – 9 hours; ascent – 834m
Spectacular views abound in Assynt even though the mountains are not the grandest in height.
Day 6: We head up to Stac Pollaidh before heading back to Fraoch Lodge. This modest but striking mountain gives a superb viewpoint to view the week’s routes.
Route info: distance – 4.5km / 2.75 miles; walking time, excluding breaks – 2 – 4 hours; ascent – 510m
Depart: morning after walking finishes.
What more could you ask for from a hiking holiday in Scotland?
We have achieved Gold Star Awards from the world’s most highly respected green accreditation scheme, Green Tourism, and were awarded Highly Commended in their Green Star Awards 2013 for both Scot Mountain Holidays and Fraoch Lodge. We offer a Green Travel Discount of £15 to any guests who travel to us by public transport. Our primary aim is to minimise the carbon footprint of our holidays, and to this end we donate 1% of the price of our tours to the RSPB’s Abernethy Reforestation project.
It is a holistic approach we have to the care of the environment. Andy your adventure guide has a passion for the natural world – whether it’s the flora, fauna or fungi. He has a background in geology and a lifelong interest in natural history, as well as being a keen gardener. He knows a Golden Plover from a Dotterel, a Green Shank and a Dunlin. He also makes no apologies to being very excitable upon spying a Golden Eagle!
For further information, please don’t hesitate to check out our Environmental Responsibility page, or contact us directly at info@scotmountainholidays.com.
On this trip there is plenty of walking in the Highlands. There is a fine balance between seeing the sites made popular on Instagram while also getting off the beaten track for some more unusual experiences.
Enjoy hiking on the Isle of Skye and in the Cairngorms National Park. See Loch Ness, visit Eilean Donan Castle and take in a whole whisky experience.
Hiking on the Isle of Skye and the Cairngorms National Park.
GROUP DETAILS
Min number 4
Max number 8
Many parts of the Scottish Highlands are spectacular, but few compare to the awesome mountain scenery of the Glencoe Area. This dramatic glaciated landscape of high peaks deep glens has drawn mountaineers and hillwalkers for centuries. Here we do some of the more “off the beaten track” peaks.
Bag some Munros in Glencoe this summer under the expert guidance or a qualified, local guide.
The dramatic history of Glencoe, the rivalry of the opposing clans of Macdonald and Campbell, is not as evident to the naked eye as it once was, but the scenery is still imposing and rivals Skye in beauty. When you gaze up at the mountains surrounding you here, it brings home to you how hardy the native Scots must have been to derive a living from the land. To think that people used to walk this terrain with their cattle in kilts/plaid while we need gortex and sturdy hiking boots!
At the end of the day, we’ll also have a cosy, comfortable cottage to retreat to and a hot shower. There’ll be homemade cake on the table and a hot brew to keep you going until the evening meal.
It’s still a simple formula for our trips – walk, eat sleep, not so different from the Highlanders of old, with a few modern comforts thrown in.
PROPOSED ACCOMMODATION: in twin or double rooms in a holiday property in the Glencoe area. Your guide and his/her team will provide all meals at the accommodation and eat with you in the evenings.
GROUP SIZE: 2 – 8 people
PRICE GUIDE: please enquire, depending on group size and available accommodation
Why does everyone want to go to Skye?
Why choose Scotland for your walking holiday?
Scot Mountain Holidays (Ltd),
Fraoch Lodge, Deshar Road,
Boat of Garten,
PH24 3BN
All content © Copyright Scot Mountain Holidays 2024
Responsive web design by Summit Web Solutions
