An Corran Beach is a small black-sand beach on the Trotternish peninsula of the Isle of Skye, near the village of Staffin, approximately 17 miles north of Portree. This guide covers access and parking, what to see, how long to spend, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
The easiest way to visit An Corran Beach is on an Isle of Skye day tour from Portree that also visits the Fairy Pools, the Old Man of Storr and Dunvegan Castle.
Last updated: May 2026. An Corran has no entry fee, no booking system, and no on-site facilities — details that are sometimes incorrectly stated elsewhere.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Near Staffin Slipway, Staffin, Isle of Skye, IV51 9JT |
| Opening hours | Open at all times (no set hours) |
| Entry price | Free |
| Parking | Free roadside parking parallel to the beach |
| Nearest public transport | Stagecoach bus 57A from Portree; alight at the An Corran turnoff |
| Typical visit length | 1–2 hours |
| Facilities | None (no toilets, no café) |
An Corran Beach opening hours
An Corran Beach is an open coastal site with no set opening or closing times. It can be visited at any time of year. There are no seasonal restrictions on access.
Tide times significantly affect what you can see. The dinosaur footprints are only visible at mid to low tide. Check tide times for Staffin before you visit; the footprints may be submerged at high tide or obscured by seaweed.
Why book the Intensive Isle of Skye Day Tour with Fairy Pools?
- 🧚 The Magical Fairy Pools: Enjoy an extensive 90-minute stop to hike along the foot of the Black Cuillin mountains, discovering a series of crystal-clear, vibrant blue rock pools and cascading waterfalls.
- 🪨 The Old Man of Storr: Marvel at the legendary, towering basalt pinnacle that dominates the Trotternish Peninsula landscape, iconic for its dramatic appearance in numerous cinematic films.
- 🦖 Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls: Witness the powerful Mealt Falls plunge directly off a sheer 55-meter cliff face into the Sound of Raasay, backed by stunning basalt columns that resemble a traditional Scottish kilt.
- 🏰 Dunvegan Castle & Gardens: Explore the ancestral seat of Clan MacLeod, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland, where you can stroll through manicured formal gardens and learn about Highland history.
- 🚐 Small-Group Exploration: Navigate Skye’s steep terrain and single-track roads comfortably in a high-top Mercedes sprinter minibus, ensuring a personalized experience with a professional local driver-guide.
An Corran Beach ticket prices
Entry to An Corran Beach is free. There are no tickets, no booking system, and no charges of any kind.
An Corran Beach is not included in any city pass or visitor scheme. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked and last updated in May 2026.
How to get to An Corran Beach
By car: From Portree, take the A855 north towards Staffin for approximately 17.4 miles. Just past Staffin village, turn right at a small red post box. The road sign reads “To the beach” and Staffin Slipway. After 0.7 miles, you will reach the car park on the left, next to the An Corran information sign.
By bus: Stagecoach bus 57A runs from Portree to Flodigarry and stops at the An Corran turnoff. Check current timetables on the Stagecoach website before travelling, as frequency varies by day and season.
The A855 is a single-track road in places. Use passing places when meeting oncoming traffic. Watch for sheep and other animals crossing the road.
Parking at An Corran Beach
Free roadside parking is available parallel to the beach. There is no charge and no time limit. The car park is small and can fill during peak summer months, particularly at weekends. Arriving before 10am reduces the chance of finding it full.
There are no facilities at the parking area. The nearest toilets and café are in Staffin village, approximately 0.7 miles back along the road.
How long to spend at An Corran Beach
Allow 1 to 2 hours for a typical visit. This gives time to access the beach, explore the rocky shoreline, and search for the dinosaur footprints.
If you plan to walk the full 2.5-mile loop via Staffin Slipway and back through Staffin village, allow 2 to 3 hours. The loop passes chambered cairns and the ruined township of Garafad, and passes through Staffin where refreshments are available.
Accessibility at An Corran Beach
An Corran Beach is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Access to the beach is via a rocky ramp from the roadside. The beach and rocky shoreline are uneven throughout.
There are no accessible facilities at the site. The nearest level ground and facilities are in Staffin village. Visitors with limited mobility may find the viewpoint near the information sign accessible from the roadside parking area without descending to the beach.
What to see at An Corran Beach
The dinosaur footprints
The main reason most visitors come to An Corran is to see Jurassic dinosaur footprints preserved in the flat mudstone shelf on the beach. A local resident discovered the footprints in 2002 after a storm exposed a block of rock. The prints were identified as those of a Megalosaurus — a three-toed carnivorous dinosaur — dating back approximately 168 million years to the Mid-Jurassic period.
The footprints are located on the flat rock shelf to the right of the large boulders, running parallel to the road. They are only visible at mid to low tide and may be covered by seaweed. They are not immediately obvious and require careful searching. Additional prints from other dinosaur species have been found in the wider Staffin area.
The beach and shoreline
The beach is a small cove of volcanic black sand, enclosed by overhanging basalt cliffs to the south. At low tide it may be possible to walk from An Corran to the larger Staffin Bay. At high tide, reaching Staffin Bay requires a difficult scramble over rocks, which is not recommended.
The rocky shoreline beyond the beach, leading towards Staffin Slipway, is also worth exploring for additional fossil finds.
Views and wildlife
The beach has open views east across the Sound of Raasay towards the Torridon Hills on the mainland. To the west, the rock formations of the Quiraing are visible above Staffin Bay. The uninhabited Staffin Island lies just offshore.
Seals and dolphins are regularly spotted in the water. Seabirds are common along the cliff faces.
Staffin Slipway
At the far end of the bay is Staffin Slipway (Òb nan Ròn — Bay of Seals), originally built in the early 1900s and rebuilt in 2000. The slipway is a popular spot for fishing, particularly for pollock and mackerel. 90-minute boat tours from the slipway run between April and October — check locally for current operators and availability.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Check tide times before you go | The dinosaur footprints are only visible at mid to low tide. Plan your visit around low tide for the best chance of finding them. |
| Wear sturdy, non-slip footwear | The rocks on the beach and shoreline become very slippery in wet weather and in winter. Suitable footwear is essential. |
| Bring your own food and water | There are no facilities at the beach. The nearest café is The Hungry Gull in Staffin village, open April to October. |
| Arrive early in summer | The small car park fills quickly during peak season. Arriving before 10am reduces the risk of finding no space. |
| Allow extra time to find the footprints | The prints are not signposted on the beach and can be hard to spot. Look on the flat rock shelf to the right of the large boulders. Seaweed may need to be moved aside. |
Frequently asked questions about An Corran Beach
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is An Corran Beach suitable for children? | Yes. The beach is family-friendly. The dinosaur footprints are a particular draw. Take care on the rocky shoreline, which is uneven. |
| Do you need to book to visit An Corran Beach? | No. The beach is open access with no tickets, no booking, and no entry fee. |
| Is An Corran Beach open all year? | Yes. The site is accessible at all times and in all seasons, though conditions are more challenging in winter. |
| Are dogs allowed at An Corran Beach? | Dogs are permitted at the beach. Keep dogs under control near grazing animals, which may be present near the road. |
| Can you see the dinosaur footprints at any time? | No. The footprints are only visible at mid to low tide. They may be partially or fully covered at high tide and can be obscured by seaweed. |
Things to do near An Corran Beach
- Staffin Dinosaur Museum (Ellishadder, ~2 miles) — A small community museum housing dinosaur bones, footprints, and fossils from the Trotternish area, founded in 1976. Open April to October, 10am–5pm; adults £5, children free.
- Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls (~3 miles south on the A855) — A clifftop viewpoint overlooking a 90-metre basalt sea cliff with a waterfall that drops directly into the sea.
- The Quiraing (~6 miles west) — A dramatic geological landslip on the Trotternish Ridge offering walking trails and panoramic views. Free access; parking at the Quiraing car park off the Staffin–Uig road.
- Brothers Point / Rubha nam Brathairean (~3 miles) — A headland walk on the Trotternish coast with sea views and opportunities to spot wildlife. Allow around 2 hours for the return walk.
- Lealt Gorge and Falls (~5 miles south) — A short walk to a viewpoint above a dramatic gorge and waterfall on the A855. Free access with roadside parking.
What to visit tomorrow: similar natural beaches within two hours
- Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye (~1 hour 15 minutes) — A remote black-sand beach on the west coast of Skye, reached by a 1-mile walk from a small car park near Carbost. Surrounded by high cliffs.
- Camasunary Beach, Isle of Skye (~1 hour 30 minutes) — A remote shingle and sand beach in the shadow of the Black Cuillin, reached on foot from Elgol or Sligachan. No vehicle access to the beach itself.
- Coral Beach (Claigan), Isle of Skye (~1 hour 15 minutes) — A pale beach made from bleached coralline algae near Dunvegan, reached by a 1.5km walk from the Claigan car park.
- Luskentyre Beach, Harris (~2 hours via ferry from Uig) — A large tidal shell-sand beach on the west coast of Harris, one of the most photographed beaches in Scotland. Free access with car park.
- Gairloch Beach, Ross-shire (~1 hour 45 minutes) — A sheltered sandy beach on the northwest mainland coast, with parking and basic facilities in the village of Gairloch.
More Scotland travel
Other Scotland travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to expect on an Isle of Skye day tour from Inverness.
- The best way to see Rannoch Moor in Scotland.
- What you’ll see on a day tour from Edinburgh to Loch Ness.
- The best places to see seals in Scotland.
- Guides to Perthshire’s top attractions: Blair Castle, Deanston Distillery, Dunkeld Cathedral, the Pitlochry Salmon Ladder and Queen’s View at Loch Tummel.
