Your Guide to Hiking the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye was hands down my favorite trip to Scotland (so far at least — and we’ve visited Scotland 3 times already!). The whole isle is full of outdoor activities, including scenic hikes, viewpoints, swimming holes, and even a few beaches. Of the many activities you’ll see on the Isle of Skye, the Quiraing is one of the main hikes recommended, and with good reason. We visited the Isle of Skye at the beginning of March and fit this hike into our 3-day itinerary on the Isle of Skye.

What is the Quiraing?

The Quiraing is a geological formation on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, renowned for its dramatic landscape sculpted by landslides millions of years ago. This hike will take you through towering cliffs, jagged peaks, and lush green valleys — all while offering breathtaking views of Scotland’s countryside. Hiking the Quiraing is truly an unforgettable experience, and though I’m not the most outdoorsy person — this was one of my favorite activities we did on the Isle of Skye. While the duration of the hike can vary depending on the route taken and individual pace, a typical hike through the Quiraing should take around 2 to 3 hours to complete.

Hiking distance: 4.2 miles (6.8km)

Hiking length: 2-3 hours

Hiking difficulty: medium

My experience hiking the Quiraing

I mentioned earlier that I’m not much of the outdoorsy/nature type of traveler. I had my reservations about hiking the Quiraing as there wasn’t a ton of info online about it and I was worried about the difficulty. I didn’t feel the Quiraing was a difficult hike, despite its distance. The good thing about the Quiraing, which is unlike hiking Old Man of Storr, is that the pathway is pretty level for most of the hike. There are some inclines to climb, but for the most part, the hike is very doable if you are in relatively good shape. We saw a variety of ages hiking the Quiraing, and some folks even bring their kiddos.

The official distance of the Quiraing Circuit loop is 4.2 miles (6.8km). We didn’t end up doing the full loop (we actually didn’t see the trail for the rest of the loop), so we ended up turning around about 1.5 hours into the hike. Pretty sure we got to stage 4 of the hike per this Isle of Skye guide, and instead of going past the summit, we turned back around. Overall, the hike took us almost 3 hours, which includes all the breaks and photo opps we took during the hike.

There are a few points of the hike that feel like they aren’t a part of the official “trail”, but there is no other way forward, so you end up stepping over loose rocks and mini (very mini) waterfalls. It is nothing major, but I do recommend wearing proper hiking shoes. The picture to the left is a great example of what this looks like! It’s not dangerous per say, but more comfortable to do with sturdy shoes.

How to get there

Like most places in the Isle of Skye, you’ll have to drive to the Quiraing. If you’re staying in Portree, this drive should only be about 20-25 minutes, give or take. The drive is relatively easy, but there is a narrow, uphill portion of the drive the closer you get to the Quiraing. Your starting point for the hike will be the Quiraing parking, which you can find here on Google Maps.

Parking for the Quiraing costs £3 for 3 hours or £5 for 6 hours and you can pay via coins or card. If you’re visiting during the summer months, come to the parking lot early as the lot really isn’t that big and tends to fill up easily (as most places on the Isle of Skye) during the summer.

Helpful tips for your hike

What to wear

What you wear to hike the Quiraing largely depends on what season you are visiting the Isle of Skye during. There are some nonnegotiables, though, regardless of season.

Hiking shoes or sneakers with solid grip — you do NOT want to do this hike in sandals. I have these hiking boots from Sorrel that I love.
Comfortable, lightweight clothing that you can sweat in
Layers — especially if you are hiking during the transitional months. Your hike may start off chilly, but 30 minutes into it you will start to get hot! I wore this Outdoor Voices pullover that was perfect for the chillier weather.
Raincoat — no matter where you go in Scotland, you should prepare for some rain

What to pack

Below I’ve listed a few things you shouldn’t forget on your hike.

Water bottle (don’t forget to fill it) — there aren’t any water stops before, during, or after the hike. Make sure you fill your water bottle before leaving home for this hike!
Sunscreen
Midge spray — this is only needed for the summer months, but trust you won’t want to forget this
Camera — if you don’t already know, the views during this hike are incredible. What a shame it would be if you forgot your camera! If you’re looking for a digital camera, I use the Sony a6000, which is a great beginner-friendly travel camera. You can also find this camera used for under $300, which I recommend doing.
Snacks/Lunch — you’ll be thankful for a snack break about 1 hour into the hike. We had bought a few toffee rice krispie concoctions from a local bakery and found a flat rock to admire the views and eat. If you time it right, you can have a lovely lunch while hiking the Quiraing as well.

Best times to hike the Quiraing

I recommend hiking the Quiraing first thing in the morning. You’ll beat the crowds if you get there early enough, which means you’ll be able to find parking more easily. Additionally, you won’t want to do this hike after doing a bunch of other tiring activities beforehand. The Quiraing is one of the longer hikes on the Isle of Skye, so it’s best to do it when you have the bulk of your energy.

Should you hike the Quiraing or the Old Man of Storr?

The two most popular hikes on the Isle of Skye are Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing. Both hikes are incredible in their own right, and honestly, you should make time for both in your Isle of Skye itinerary.

If you find yourself short on time and want to make time for at least one of these hikes, I would recommend Old Man of Storr over the Quiraing. Personally, I enjoyed hiking the Quiraing more, but Old Man of Storr is so symbolic that it is almost synonymous with the Isle of Skye. I feel like if you do one hike on the Isle of Skye, the Old Man of Storr is a must-do due to that reason alone.

One thing to note about the Old Man of Storr hike is that it is a shorter hike than the Quiraing, but it is a lot steeper. I found the hike to Old Man of Storr a lot more difficult than the Quiraing! If you’re looking for a more relaxed hike, you will probably enjoy the Quiraing more. Still, the Old Man of Storr is a symbol of the Isle of Skye, and if you have limited time on the isle, I recommend prioritizing seeing the Old Man of Storr.