Joel Varty
From up near the summit of the Quiraing, the whole landslip spread out below toward the sea
Series: Scotland Hiking Expedition

Day Five: Northern Skye, the Quiraing, and Reflections on Life

Travelphotography

Day Five of the Scotland trip. Hiking the Quiraing on northern Skye, walking under the spiking rock formations of the Trotternish landslip.

I'm struggling to put into words the hike we went on today. We are on the Isle of Skye, an already beautiful place, and just on the drive forward we saw this cool spire of rock, signalling to us the kind of experience we were in for.

The spire we saw on the drive in, with the cloud just clearing off the top of it
The spire we saw on the drive in, with the cloud just clearing off the top of it

We hiked a location called the Quiraing, part of the great Trotternish landslip that runs up the north end of Skye, and the photos simply cannot do it justice (though I've tried). I captured as many landscapes here as I could, trying to show the narrow path overhanging steep dropoffs, switchback trails, and above all, the incredible vistas.

From up near the summit, the whole landslip spread out below us, sea on the right
From up near the summit, the whole landslip spread out below us, sea on the right
The path hugging the cliff on the left, then the switchbacks dropping down into the green with the sea beyond
The path hugging the cliff on the left, then the switchbacks dropping down into the green with the sea beyond
The flat top of the Quiraing escarpment running off into the distance, a little lochan tucked into the valley below
The flat top of the Quiraing escarpment running off into the distance, a little lochan tucked into the valley below
Looking down between two of the spiking rocks toward the loch and the village beyond
Looking down between two of the spiking rocks toward the loch and the village beyond
Near the summit, with the lochs of Trotternish stretching out behind me
Near the summit, with the lochs of Trotternish stretching out behind me
Our group heading up the trail, which gives you some sense of the scale of the place
Our group heading up the trail, which gives you some sense of the scale of the place

I tried to capture shots that show something of the scale of where we're looking at.

Me on the trail with the great flat wall of the Quiraing behind me
Me on the trail with the great flat wall of the Quiraing behind me

About four to five miles, three to four hours, somewhere around 1,200 feet of climb. Second night at Skeabost House.

A sheep and her lamb on the slopes, with the loch and the road far below
A sheep and her lamb on the slopes, with the loch and the road far below

Later in the evening we enjoyed another deeply moving lecture from David Wright about his career as a National Geographic photographer, especially his stories filming in the wild.

The sitting room at Skeabost, all stained glass and tartan and crushed velvet
The sitting room at Skeabost, all stained glass and tartan and crushed velvet
Me in the games room before the talk got started
Me in the games room before the talk got started
David Wright with some of his National Geographic work on the screen behind him
David Wright with some of his National Geographic work on the screen behind him

As we stood near the summit, I spent a moment with my eyes closed and thought of myself as a young man, as a 16 or 17 year old, and how it would have felt to be fearless and filled with joy at this incredible location. I felt the decades and years slip away somehow, and I feel that young man is still there, feeling joy and experiencing things for the first time.

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