Trotternish

Trotternish is the northernmost peninsula of the Isle of Skye, stretching for about 30 kilometres from Portree to Rubha Hunish. Its dramatic landscape is shaped by the Trotternish escarpment, a ridge of basalt rock that runs nearly the full length of the peninsula. The escarpment features striking rock formations such as the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing, both visible from the main road. The highest point on the peninsula is the summit of The Storr at 719 metres, overlooking the famous Old Man. The north-eastern part of Trotternish, around the Quiraing, is protected as a National Scenic Area due to its exceptional scenery. The entire escarpment is also a Special Area of Conservation, safeguarding its unique geology and habitats. The peninsula holds deep historical and archaeological significance. Dinosaur footprints have been discovered at An Corran, alongside a Mesolithic hunter-gatherer site dating back to the 7th millennium BC. The ruins of Duntulm Castle, built between the 14th and 15th centuries, stand at the northern tip of the peninsula, once serving as the seat of Clan MacDonald of Sleat. Nearby, Flodigarry was home to Flora MacDonald, known for her role in Prince Charles Edward Stuart’s escape after Culloden. The area also played a part in Samuel Johnson and James Boswell’s tour of the Western Isles in 1773, when they met MacDonald at Kingsburgh. Visitors to Trotternish find a landscape of rugged beauty and rich history. The Quiraing’s towering rock pinnacles and the Old Man of Storr’s distinctive pillar draw walkers and photographers. The Kilt Rock’s cliffs display striking patterns in the basalt, while shoreline sites like An Corran and Brother’s Point reveal ancient dinosaur tracks. The Staffin Museum in Ellishadder displays fossils and footprints from the peninsula’s Jurassic past. Along the coast, the Gaelic-speaking communities of Staffin and Kilmuir preserve the area’s cultural heritage, with primary schools offering Gaelic-medium education. The peninsula’s three main settlements—Portree, Uig, and Staffin—provide services and access to the wider Isle of Skye.