The Quiraing is a large natural landslip and hiking area located on the Trotternish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport or parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This natural landmark is a popular stop on Isle of Skye tours, such as this day trip from Inverness that also visits Eilean Donan Castle.
The information in this guide was updated in May 2026, confirming that while the landscape remains free to access, the Highland Council car park has implemented new payment meters following recent vandalism.
Quick facts
| Feature | Details |
| Opening hours | Open twenty-four hours a day, year-round. |
| Ticket prices | Free entry for the landscape. |
| Address | Trotternish Ridge, Staffin, Isle of Skye, IV51 9LB. |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Paid on-site visitor car park. |
| Typical time needed to visit | 2 to 3 hours. |
The Quiraing opening hours
The Quiraing opening hours ensure the landscape and hiking trails are open to the public twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Visitors can access the footpaths and the main viewpoints throughout the year. Seasonal variations do not restrict physical access to the mountain ridge, but daylight hours severely limit safe hiking times during the Scottish winter.
Because it is an open natural environment rather than a gated attraction, there are no closing times. However, visitors are strongly advised to complete their hike before sunset, as the steep, unguarded drops become highly dangerous in the dark.
The Quiraing ticket prices
There is no cost to access the natural landscape, as The Quiraing is free for all visitors. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
How to get to The Quiraing
The most reliable way to reach the site is by driving a private vehicle or booking a guided coach tour from Portree. Getting to The Quiraing involves navigating a high-elevation, single-track road connecting the villages of Staffin on the east coast and Uig on the west coast. It is approximately a forty-minute drive from Portree.
There is no direct public transport network serving the mountain pass. Local buses operating on the Isle of Skye run along the lower coastal roads but do not climb the steep hairpin bends to the trailhead. Driving the single-track road requires extreme caution and a clear understanding of using passing places.
Parking at The Quiraing
Parking at The Quiraing is concentrated in a dedicated car park located at the highest point of the mountain pass. This facility is managed by the Highland Council, and parking charges apply between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Visitors must pay £3 for up to three hours or £5 for up to six hours using the payment machines or the RingGo digital application.
Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the lot frequently reaches maximum capacity by mid-morning during the summer. Visitors must avoid parking on the fragile grass verges or blocking the narrow passing places if the main lot is full.
How long to spend at The Quiraing
A typical visit to the attraction lasts between two and three hours. This timeframe provides ample opportunity to hike the main path to the most famous rock formations, take photographs, and return to the car park.
Those who wish to complete the full 6.8-kilometre circular loop trail should allocate up to four hours to account for the steep, uneven terrain. Visitors who only want to photograph the landscape from the viewpoint next to the car park will only need twenty minutes.
Why book the Isle of Skye Explorer day tour from Inverness?
- Full-day Highlands adventure: Travel from Inverness through dramatic mountain scenery, lochs and coastal landscapes on a comprehensive Isle of Skye day trip.
- Eilean Donan Castle photo stop: Pause at one of Scotland’s most photographed castles, set where three sea lochs meet.
- Explore Portree: Enjoy free time in Skye’s colourful harbour town, with cafés, shops and coastal views.
- Natural highlights of Skye: See landmarks such as Kilt Rock and sweeping sea cliffs, with multiple scenic stops built into the route.
- Driver-guide and transport included: Learn about Highland history and folklore while travelling comfortably by coach from central Inverness.
Accessibility at The Quiraing
The hiking trails present severe challenges for wheelchair users and visitors with restricted mobility. Accessibility at The Quiraing is highly limited because the paths consist of rough gravel, steep rocky steps, and narrow tracks cut into the side of scree slopes.
The terrain becomes incredibly slippery and muddy following rain, making it unsuitable for mobility aids or pushchairs. However, visitors with mobility requirements can still enjoy expansive, unobstructed views of the rock formations directly from the paved area adjacent to the main car park. There are no public toilet facilities available at this remote location.
What to see at The Quiraing
The primary attraction is the immense landscape formed by a massive, ongoing geological landslip. The eastern face of the Meall na Suiramach mountain has collapsed, creating a network of high cliffs, hidden plateaus, and jagged rock pinnacles. The scale of the landscape is vast, offering sweeping views out across the sea toward the Scottish mainland on clear days.
Hikers following the main path will first encounter The Prison, a prominent pyramidal rocky peak. When viewed from the correct angle, this formation resembles the fortified walls and corner towers of an ancient medieval keep. The path winds closely past this structure, allowing visitors to appreciate the sheer vertical drop of its rocky sides.
Further along the trail is The Needle, a jagged, 120-foot-high rock pillar standing solitary amidst a steep slope of loose scree. This prominent landmark is a highly photographed feature on the Isle of Skye. Reaching the very base of The Needle requires a demanding scramble up loose rock, which is only recommended for highly experienced walkers.
Hidden deep within the cliff formations is The Table, an elevated, flat grassy plateau that slipped down from the summit. Local folklore suggests this hidden pasture was historically used by islanders to conceal their sheep and cattle from Viking raiders. Accessing The Table requires navigating a steep, challenging gully that is often obscured from the main path.
The vegetation across the landscape is limited to hardy grasses, mosses, and low-lying alpine plants that can survive the harsh, exposed conditions. The shifting weather patterns on the ridge mean the appearance of the rock formations changes constantly throughout the day, making it a highly popular location for landscape photography.
Practical visitor tips
| Category | Practical visitor tip |
| Timing | Arrive before 8:30 AM or after 4:00 PM during the summer months to secure a parking space and avoid the worst crowds. |
| Crowds | Walk at least twenty minutes past the initial viewpoint to escape the large volume of visitors who do not hike the full trail. |
| Layout | Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots, as the narrow dirt paths become treacherous and heavily waterlogged after rain. |
| Entry process | Download the RingGo parking application and pay for your space before losing mobile phone reception on the mountain road. |
| On-site logistics | Use the public restrooms in the nearby villages of Staffin or Uig before driving up, as the site lacks any facilities. |
Frequently asked questions about The Quiraing
| Question | Answer |
| Is The Quiraing suitable for children? | Yes, the initial sections of the path are suitable for older children, but close supervision is vital near the sheer cliff drops. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for The Quiraing? | No, advance booking is not required because the natural landscape is free and open to everyone. |
| Is The Quiraing open on Sundays? | Yes, the mountain pass and the hiking trails are open twenty-four hours a day on Sundays. |
| Are bags allowed at The Quiraing? | Yes, visitors should bring a backpack with waterproof clothing, snacks, and plenty of drinking water for the hike. |
| Are dogs allowed at The Quiraing? | Yes, pet dogs are permitted but they must be kept on a short lead due to grazing sheep and dangerous cliff edges. |
Things to do near The Quiraing
- The Old Man of Storr: A prominent rocky pinnacle standing high on the Trotternish Ridge, accessible via a steep, paved hiking trail.
- Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls: A coastal viewpoint where a waterfall plunges over pleated basalt cliffs directly into the sea below.
- Staffin Dinosaur Museum: A small, local museum displaying authentic dinosaur footprints and fossils discovered along the nearby coastline.
- Fairy Glen: A distinctive miniature landscape of conical green hills and small lochs located near the village of Uig.
- Rubha nam Brathairean (Brother’s Point): A less-visited coastal headland offering clear views and a short hike past historic ruins.
What to visit tomorrow
- Fairy Pools: A series of cold water pools and waterfalls situated at the foot of the Black Cuillin mountains.
- Neist Point: A prominent coastal headland on the westernmost tip of the island, known for its sheer cliffs and lighthouse.
- Coral Beach: A white shore made of crushed, sun-bleached algae, offering a coastal walk near Dunvegan Castle.
- Loch Coruisk: A large freshwater loch completely surrounded by the jagged Cuillin mountains, accessed via a boat trip from Elgol.
- Sligachan Waterfalls: A highly accessible series of cascades set beneath an old stone bridge with mountain peaks in the background.
More Scotland travel
Other Scotland travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Guides to Scottish Highlands castles: Eilean Donan Castle, Dunrobin Castle, Inverness Castle and Urquhart Castle.
- What you need to know before visiting Attadale Gardens and Strome Castle.
- Practical visitor guide to Lealt Falls on the Isle of Skye.
- The logistics of stopping at the Loch Tulla Viewpoint.
- Guides to Scottish Highlands waterfalls: Plodda Falls in Glen Affric, Falls of Shin near Lairg, Rogie Falls near Contin.
