Gairloch View

Self-Catering Holiday Cottages

3 Digg, Staffin, Isle of Skye

Telephone/Fax +44 (0)1470 562718
Email mairino3@aol.com

"Gairloch View" is situated on the North East coast of Skye, in the quiet crofting township of Digg. It nestles beneath the Trotternish Ridge and the Quiraing hills, with views over the North Sound of Raasay to Gairloch and the Torridon mountains.

This is one of Skye's most popular walking areas, a place where some of the most spectacular rock formations of the 20-mile long Trotternish Ridge are within easy access from the road.

All the pictures on this page are from the Quiraing area of the Trotternish Ridge.

There are plenty of other good walks available without going into the hills. From our house it is a short stroll down to the shore, and you can then walk round to Staffin Bay with its sandy beach. A little further on, coastal cliffs take over and you can get wonderful views of these from the Kilt Rock viewpoint, with its famous waterfall and good views of nesting seabirds.

This area of Skye is designated as an area of special scientific interest in regard to its flora and fauna, local geology, fossils and unusual stones. Several dinosaur remains and footprints have been found in the area, you can read about the latest here.  Bird watching is a popular activity and the Quiraing area is renowned for Golden Eagles and many other birds of prey, as well as Ring Ouzels, Golden Plover and other mountain birds. The Sea Eagle also nests on the Trotternish sea-cliffs. 

Sea and loch fishing are available at Staffin, and there are regular boat trips from which you can see a wealth of marine life including plenty of seals on Staffin and Flodigarry islands. Canoeing and windsurfing are available at Whitewave Activities in Kilmuir.

Within a few miles of Staffin are two fascinating museums, the Geological Museum which has displays of the dinosaur bones and other fossils which have caused so much world-wide interest in this area, and the Skye Museum of Island Life, Kilmuir, a place where you could happily spend all day absorbed in the relics of our distinctive past way of life. In the same area are the Flora MacDonald monument, the ruins of Duntulm Castle, and many other archaeological sites including brochs, chambered tombs and standing stones.

Ten minutes drive towards Portree takes you to the Old Man of Storr, a 160 ft basalt pillar dominating the local landscape, and further afield Skye has an endless number of other attractions, including Dunvegan Castle, the Talisker Distillery, the Clan Donald Centre, and numerous fascinating small craft workshops, historic sites and spots of scenic beauty. A short drive west from Staffin will take you to Uig with its picturesque bay, from which a variety of day tours to the Western Isles are available.

In the evening there is often musical entertainment at the Flodigarry Hotel, a short distance from our house, and there is always a first-class meal to be had there. Another good place close by for a meal or a cup of coffee is Columba 1400, Staffin, complete with internet access.  There are several other good places to eat in the area and there is nearly always a ceilidh on somewhere in the island.

This is all too good to keep to ourselves. We want to share it with you. If you're still not convinced, take a look at some of the links below.

Trotternish - The Scenery
Walking in Trotternish
Trotternish Ridge Picture Album
Birds of Trotternish
Plant Life of Trotternish
Skye Museum of Island Life
Staffin Bay Cruises
The Early Church in Skye
Skye Scene Highland Ceilidh
A Short History of Crofting in Skye
Isle of Skye Tour Guide
Walks on Skye

Larger self-catering parties might like to try Càrn Bàn Holiday Home which sleeps up to 8 people.

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