Located on the Isle of Skye, the road covering the North of the Trotternish Peninsula is quite spectacular, with views of the Outer Hebrides.
And for those interested in history or landscapes, it will lead you to the Skye Museum of Island life, the Duntulm castle, Loch Langaig and Flodaigearraidh.
Below is my guide to help you plan your drive.
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Scotland:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Scotland: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Seal spotting on Loch Linnhe from Fort William
My favorite excursion from Edinburgh: Glenfinnan and Glencoe
My favorite places to stay:
- Edinburgh: see best rated hotels – e.g. Balmoral Hotel
- Glencoe: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Glencoe House Hotel
- Portree: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Cuillin Hills Hotel
- Inverness: see best rated hotels – e.g. Kingsmills Hotel
Off the beaten path on the Isle of Skye
If you want to avoid the big crowds on the Isle of Skye, I recommend driving North on the Trotternish Peninsula. You won’t be alone since the island has been taken over by tourism, but it still is a lot less crowded than other areas.
Loch Langaig (along the road) is one of my favorite places to see on the Isle of Skye (see my list).
I am sharing some of the stops at the top of the peninsula, past Staffin, after the famous locations such as the Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock.
Planning Tips – North Trotternish Peninsula, Skye
Getting to Duntulm Castle ruins and North Skye
- Road A855 between Staffin and Uig
- Along the North coast of the Trotternish Peninsula
- Portree to Duntulm = 1h drive
The GPS coordinates of all locations in this article as well as their identification on practical maps are available on both my Travel Guide eBooks. They facilitate the planning of your road trip in Scotland:
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Visiting North Skye
- Road A855 covering the north of the Trotternish Peninsula is a one lane road but with many passing places.
- Be careful! Sheep roam freely and seem to like jumping on the road in front of you.
- Plan 1 hour to drive between Staffin and Uig.
- Skye Museum of island life opening hours: Mon – Sat: 9.30am – 5pm.
Views of the Trotternish landslip
As you leave Staffin, you can see different perspectives of the Trotternish ridge. This is where the famous viewpoint of Quiraing can be found.
It is quite impressive from the distance.
From here, the road is just a single lane… Look ahead and use the passing places:
Need to rent a car in Scotland?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Prefer a compact car for the single-lane roads
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
Flodaigearraidh and Loch Langaig
I did not know about this place with the crazy name of Flodaigearraidh (who knows how to pronounce it?). But I saw the parking spot and was intrigued. After just 3 minutes of walking I was happy to discover the beautiful little Loch Langaig with the mountains behind. The light was too harsh for good photography, but I can tell you this was one of my favorite places on the Isle of Skye.
From there start the Fingal’s Pinnacles walk (2 to 4 hours) or the 2 days long Trotternish Ridge hike.
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Driving North on the Trotternish Peninsula
As you drive further North, the mountains and Quiraing become distant. The scenery flatens, the sheep roam free and scare you on the road…
And in front of you appear the Scottish Islands of the Outer Hebrides: Harris and Lewis. On a clear day you can clearly see their mountain lines. Ferries depart from the end of this road at Uig (only 2h ferry).
Duntulm Castle
Duntulm castle is actually not much. You could easily miss it as you drive around. The ruins are located near the small village of Duntulm.
The Duntulm castle was built in the 14th and 15th centuries and was the subject of feuds between McLeods and McDonalds. The latest fairly took control during the 17th century.
It was abandoned in 1732 and its stones used as building material for a new residence.
Today not much remains. You can just imagine the 9m tall structure of the Duntulm Castle as it was in a very strategic place.
To get closer, drive path the Duntulm Castle and find the small tracks around the farming land (West of the ruins). It will take you to the beach with good view of the cliff (short but not easy path). However, you cannot get to the ruins themselves as there are risks of falling rocks.
Back on the road
The road then continues with some stunning cliffs:
Skye Museum of Island Life
A little bit further is the Skye Museum of Island life – a small outdoor museum with tatted cottages and old tools. Step back in time to see how islander used to live.
There is a small entrance fee, opening hours are Mon – Sat: 9.30am – 5pm.
The different cottages introduce different aspects of life back then: family home, smithy, weaver’s house…
Plan 1 hour for a tour – more if you like history and want to read all the information.
The Town of Uig
And the road leads to Uig, the town where the ferry departs to Tarbert in the Outer Hebrides islands. The bay where the town lays is quite beautiful, and it would be a great place to stay for a night.
If you still have time, nearby is the beautiful yet not indicated Fairy Glen Skye with mini-mountains and a mini-loch.
Want to see more of the best Scotland has to offer?
- Most beautiful landscapes in Scotland – read article
- Best things to do in Scotland – read article
- Best Scotland destinations – where to go? – read article
- Best Scottish Castles – read article
- Most beautiful lochs in Scotland – read article
- Most scenic drives in Scotland – read article
- The magnificent Isle of Skye – read my best-of guide
- The magnificent Wester Ross region – read article
- The Borders Abbeys including Melrose Abbey and the photogenic Jedburgh Abbey
And keep track of your own trip!
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Your pictures are stunning!!!! Brought back some really lovely memories I have of visiting Skye, I think I left a little part of my heart there!
I have to agree with Una, Skye is truly stunning and I cannot wait to return this year and relive some of my most cherished memories!