aggiegirl

For anyone who has visited both The Storr or Quiraing, if you had time for only one, which would you pick? They both look awesome and I probably won’t have time to do both.

ANUJ

Personally, the Quiraing. In its entirety, its a tougher and longer hike (we didnt go much farther than the ridge, so you dont have to "do it all") than Storr - see the walkhighlands site https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/trotternish.shtml to assess what might work better for you.

janisj

Do you meant hiking or just 'seeing'? If you have time for one you can easily view both driving around the Peninsula. If you mean hiking - I've only done the Old Man of Storr -- and it is the shorter and easier of the two.

Fra_Diavolo

I've done both. The Old Man of Storr has some interesting landforms nearby. If you go, look for a path branching off to the left fairly near the top, where it gets steep enough to encourage a rest. The path will bring you around the back for a much less steep climb.

Now the Quiraing -- actually we missed it and climbed several hundred feet above it. Nice view. There are some spectacular vistas and complete silence. We saw eagles soaring near the ridges. The day we went it we were almost alone. The Old Man was much more crowded.

aggiegirl

Thanks for the replies. I do plan to hike. I have a full agenda that day with Urquhart, Eilean Donan and Dunsvegan castles to visit. Luckily the days are long in June so I can save the outdoor stuff for late in the day.

janisj

Just quick -- that's a long day but you can save some time. For Eilean Donan -- a 10 or 15 minute photo op stop for the setting/scenery is enough.

Are you driving over from Inverness? If so, just the drive Inverness > Urquhart > Eilean Donan > Dunvegan takes close to 4 hours. Then with maybe an hour at Urquhart, a few minutes @ Eilean Donan and couple of hours at Dunvegan you've got a 7+ hour day without any time for the Trotternish.

aggiegirl

Yes, I’m coming from Inverness. I’ll be at Urquhart when it opens at 9:30. For Eilean Donan, I plan an hour. If it is less, that’s fine. One hour for Dunsvegan. I think I can fit in the Storr and be arriving in Inverness around 10 pm. Nutty, yes, but I’m going to try! If I have to cut something, I’ll cut Dunsvegan.

janisj

Oh -- you are planning to do this and RETURN to Inverness that evening? I assumed you were staying over on Skye.

The problem with Eilean Donan is there's no real middle ground. Its either a quick photo stop or its closer to two hours to cross the bridge and tour the castle. Well there is another option - pay to walk across the bridge but not to enter the castle. You might be able to do that in an hour. But on a massive day like you are planning I personally think that's not time well spent.

In any case, your plan is REALLY aggressive. I'd go so far as to call it nearly impossible.

Inverness > Uquhart > Eilean Donan > Dunvegan (note the spelling) > The Old Man of Storr and back to Inverness is easily 7.5 hours butt in seat/hands clutching the wheel . . . without a single stop. I've driven every inch of all those roads several times and I would not attempt that in one day. Adding a meal(s), hike and 3 or 4 hours visiting/touring castles and you have close to a 14 hour day. You can't rush on those roads -- and if this is during the summer there will be lots of traffic so drive times could be even longer.

aggiegirl

You make a good point about summer road congestion, I will play it by ear. I’m set on touring the Eilean Dnan castle. I can sacrifice Dunvegan if necessary.

janisj

OK -- honestly visiting one castle or another isn't your biggest issue. Eliminating the detour to Dunvegan still leaves you with a minimum of 6.5 hours driving, and with morning commute traffic in Inverness and holiday traffic on Skye I wouldn't be surprised if it took an hour longer. Maybe more. Driving the narrow highland/island roads can be exhausting - seven+ hours of that would test anyone.

Sure hope it isn't raining sideways.

Another problem - you might not be able to stop at the Old Man because the car park is totally inadequate.

hetismij2

Do not even think of attempting either hike unless the weather is really good and you have checked the local forecasts before setting off.
Honestly that day out sounds like a hellish day, with a lot of driving and site seeing and a hike? How will you keep awake to get back to Inverness?
No matter what a route planner says driving in Scotland is slow, slower than route planners predict, can be frustrating and you need your wits about you at all times.

aggiegirl

I will not hike if weather is crummy. I’ll totally be playing it by ear and will adapt as needed based on external conditions as well as my own energy. I have driven throughout Ireland and UK many times so I know about slow roads. I’m just setting out with optimism and will do as much as I can.

Fra_Diavolo

Seems to me you have more than a day's worth of activities on Skye -- why not spend a night or two there? Is there a reason you're staying in Inverness?

janisj

Or Plockton or Kyle of Lochalsh - finding accommodations on Skye at this late date could be difficult. Driving back to Inverness means you'll be in the car more than you will be out of it. (Not sure where you are coming from to get to Inverness in the first place - but it often isn't the best place to stay unless one is tied to public transport which you obviously aren't )

aggiegirl

I was trying to avoid packing up and moving around too much, that’s why I’m returning to Inverness. In retrospect I would change but I can’t at this point. Pickings were slim back when I first booked and now would now be worse. I’m on a tight budget thanks to my airfare and rental car being obscenely expensive. I don’t like summer travel but have been unable to take time off from work until June.

My trip actually begins in Alnwick for three nights, then moves to Stonehaven for two before heading to Inverness.