The Trotternish Peninsula is the largest, and most northerly, of Skye's outstretched fingers. Along its length runs the finest long distance walk in Scotland, a ridge offering casual undulating hills to the west, and sharp, strangely contorted geological forms to the east. This is the dominating backbone of Trotternish, and beneath its eastern cliffs lie two remarkable and unforgettable formations.

The Storr is the high point of the ridge, and where a classic hill walk splinters in all directions, strange rock forms and landslips descending to the Eastern flanks. This is the Sanctuary, its weird pinnacled shapes and brooding intensity in mist giving the seclusion a loneliness that many photographers have failed to capture on film.

The Quirang is further to the north, when viewed from the Staffin to Uig road it appears as one of the strangest eroded formations in the country, but above all as a haunting environment full of geological intrigue. As with the entire ridge, it is a result of horizontal lava flows cooling, the weight of the basalt formed being too much for the supporting rock structure, resulting in spectacular collapse. The land slips here are the largest in Britain.

A trip around the coastline of Trotternish is a trip through time itself. From the standing stones at Eyre, the road past Hugh's Castle, thought to be the last medieval castle built on Skye, is the oldest road on the Island. The road leads to the port of Uig, jumping off point for the outer isles, and home of Skye's well regarded brewery.

Following the coast road through long established villages, sheltering people whose stories are carved into the landscape, leads the traveller past the museum of Island life to the ruins of Duntulm Castle. This is the land of yesteryear, Gaelic is regularly spoken, and traditional crofthouses offer traditional hospitality.

Around the corner lies Staffin, a long established township with one of the most beautiful bays on Skye. From here the coastline starts to reveal dramatic, exciting and dangerous formations, the Kilt rock of black basalt, and tempestuous watercourses leading to Lealt Falls and Mealt Falls, where the water is frequently blown uphill by powerful winds.

This is now the land of dinosaurs, you can stand in their footprints! Take a rip to the fossil museum, or discover your own on the coast by the picturesque Storr Lochs, lovely in winter, and affording a view of the Storr that is unrivaled at sun-up.

As you follow the road south to Portree, you will be aware that the brooding magnificence of the ridge has not left your side all day, this impressive array of mountain scenery lit from all angles during your drive, is truly unforgettable.