After our long but epic day visiting both Dunvegan Castle and Neist Point, we were very comfortable just chilling in our cottage.
As the afternoon was passing us by, we decided that we really ought to call by The Quiraing as it was only a few miles up the road from where we were staying, and it would be a main location ticked off our list.
We made our way up there to find a large car park which looked new, and thanks to arriving later in the day, very few cars there.
Crossing the road from the car park quickly gets you to the trail and to the view familiar to those into photography who will observe lots of Quiraing shots on sites like Instagram.
After a couple of shots with the famous tree, I wasn’t fully pleased with my compositions. But the scene in front of us was so awesome, it didn’t matter.
Kathryn took this photo of me taking some shots.
The Quiraing (Scottish Gaelic: A’ Chuith-Raing) is a landslip on the eastern face of Meall na Suiramach, the northernmost summit of the Trotternish on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.
The whole of the Trotternish Ridge escarpment was formed by a great series of landslips; the Quiraing is the only part of the slip still moving.
The name Quiraing comes from Old Norse Kví Rand, which means ‘Round Fold’. Within the fold is The Table, an elevated plateau hidden amongst the pillars. It is said that the fold was used to conceal cattle from Viking raiders.
The path leading to the needle was ahead of us and I took a quick shot here.
Unfortunately we were too late to embark on a walk to the needle and beyond, but this is something to add to the list if we come to Skye again.
We had some really pleasant golden hour light. The first hilltop from the car park saw two engagement couples dressed up having their photos taken.
When they had left, Kathryn suggested I get a shot of the rocky hilltop with her in the shot for a sense of scale.
As she walked over to the spot, I ignored her good advice, and moved left to get a shot of her opposite.
When she got back, she said I shouldn’t have moved (she did tell me!) as the idea was to get her arms and hands such that they were in the background of the view and sky not the rocks! Ah, I get it now, but the moment had passed.
Below was Kathryn’s shot of me in the same place.
I grabbed another shot without anyone in view, and we packed up and headed back to the car.
The Quiraing is a jaw-dropping spectacle and highly recommended for a visit. It’s a location which has featured in films BFG and Macbeth.
Onwards and upwards..