Superlative Skye

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

We will book a cottage near Uig to sleep our party and take the whole team with us to provide the same family welcome which we would from our Cairngorms base.

“the social aspect”  –  “the camaraderie, food and conversation”   –
“the company of the hosts”  –  “so warm and welcoming”  –  
 “a profound sense of belonging”  –  “the welcome of Rebecca’s home cooked meal”  –  “Andy’s skills as a guide, naturalist and leader”  –  “stewardship, sustainability and a small footprint”  –  “in harmony with the land”  –  “a slice of rural Scottish life”

Scot Mountain Holidays is the ONLY adventure tour operator in Highlands of Scotland with a combined home and guest lodge. We strive to be more than just an tour. We aim to provide you with a ‘home away from home’ on your adventures. We thought of no better way of doing this than to welcome you into our own home.

lentil loaf with a red pepper sauce

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.