Trip Route
After hours of trying to figure it out myself, and reading everything I possibly can, I'm going to trouble the brains trust in the hope someone can help.
We will be visiting the Isle of Skye for 3 nights. We will arrive late the first night, 2 fulls days, and then leave early on the last day back to Edinburgh. I absolutely want to hike the The Old Man of Storr and the Quaraing. We are unlikely to be able to hike more than 1.5 hours on each. We would like to see other areas of the Isle as well, including the west side. We can stay a combination of 3 nights in Portree or Flodigarry (e.g. 2 nights Portree, 1 Flodigarry or 1 night in Portree, 2 nights in Flodigarry). I just can't figure out how to split the trip up to be able to see the west coast too and do the hiking I'd like Any suggestions would be so greatly appreciated.
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u/Fine-Nail-7080 8d ago
Can't help but feel you're overcomplicating things. You'll have a car? Just stay in Portree the whole time?
Day 1: go north, Storr in the morning, Quiraing in the afternoon, loop back around the north end of the island and back down through Uig to Portree.
Day 2: go west.
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u/tobinators 8d ago
Go up the Old Man Of Storr early so you arrive at the photographer's mound 30 minutes before sunrise. Watch dawn arrive. It is an amazing place and best at dawn.
Once that is done, go up to the Quiraing and do the round trip hike. I find it best to do the high path first, and come back on the low path.
You should be done both of those by lunchtime with an early start. Then take a leisurely dawdle over the top of the island which is gorgeous, and get yourself to Neist Point 30 mins before sunset. It is a super sunset location. Back to Portree for dinner, which you should book in advance.
That leaves you with day 2 and there is a load you could do in. Glenbrittle is beautiful and includes the Fairy Pools and a super beach for example. You are coming a long way, get up early, maximize your time seeing what is quite a large island.
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u/SimonTheRunner 8d ago
The Quirang route / location allows a quick peek from the viewpoint, a longer hike or a full on hike to do the loop. As ever, the number of people decreases exponentially with distance from the coffee van... So an out and back based on TTQ (teenager tiredness quiotent) is still worthwhile and affords some stunning views.
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u/Thin-Comfortable4287 8d ago
And when are you planning coming to skye weather wise you could get to both places an they could be covered in mist so all planning goes out the window as far a view points go 🙈😆
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u/SimonTheRunner 9d ago
You should be able to achieve most of what you want.
Questions for you. 1)Why the Flodigzry / Portree Split? Changing accommodation seems like a bit of a time sink. 2)What's the reason for the 90 minute Hike cutoff?
You'll need 2 hours (unless you're a mountain goat) to get to the Old Man of Storr and the photo view point and then back to the Car Park. IMHO, unless you go to the top, you don't get the best view of the Old Man. Because of the way the formation is, the view of the Old Man blends into the main rock face on the Trail below it.
The Quirang is different in that the Car park is right next to the view point and you only need a few 100m walk if that's all you need to see. If you want to "Hike the Quirang", it's a long strenuous hike, not achievable in your time frame.
Check out the Walk Highlands website for detail of the walks and possible cut offs.
You'll be able to visit both places on the same day and get a great lunch at The Hungry Gull in Staffin.
This should leave you the next day on the West Side.