Laura-Jane Adventures

A post-exam and coursework adventure with friends and members of Dundee Mountaineering Club (DMC).

The joy of escaping

After a whirlwind final semester at university – filled with lots of events, stressful deadlines, and Pret coffee runs – I was really looking forward to getting away and escaping into the Scottish hills. For me, being outside and taking a moment to stop, breathe, and be grateful for the simpler things makes a big difference on my perspective and my mental health. I’d say hiking in the Scottish hills definitely helps to clear a persons head.

I first got into hiking through doing my Duke of Edinburgh award at high school and since them have dedicated time to it when I can. At the start of this year I went on my first hill walking meet with DMC in January, making this meet in the Isle of Skye my second time out with the group. They are a really great bunch of people and so welcoming.

Thursday’s Hike: Trotternish Ridge

On the first full day in Skye, we completed the longest hike of the trip which was 21km of the Trotternish Ridge, starting at the Southern end of the route and finishing at the Old Man of Storr (pictured above).

Myself and two of the DMC members started at Hinnisdal Bridge and headed east to the summit of Flasvein. We walked South East along the ridge and saw the peak called Sgurr a’ Mhadaidh Ruaidh. Before heading further south to Baca Ruadh, Sgurr a’ Mhalaidh, Hartaval and finally ending the hike at the Old Man of Storr. The Storr is a very popular tourist attraction on the Isle of Skye and the location has been featured in The Game of Thrones and Ridley Scott’s Prometheus (2012) as well as other films. So you can expect to see lots of tourists and fellow hikers on the trail.

For the full and detailed guide of the Trotternish Ridge click here.

Friday’s Hike: The Quiraing

Friday’s hike was The Quiraing and we walked roughly 11km. The Quiraing loop is 6.5km but we added a few more kilometres on by choosing to go further along and rejoin the loop at the other side. This allowed us to get a better few of some of the sights you can see on the walk including ‘The Prison’, ‘The Needle’ and ‘The Table’.

Like The Old Man of Storr, The Quiraing is also famous as a filming location for films such as King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017) – a personal favourite as it features Charlie Hunnam – and Macbeth (2015). The picture above shows the vast landscape and rock formations you can expect to see. It really is breathtaking.

On a very windy day I would not recommend the trail. The path can become quite rough and eroded in places but it is well worth it on a sunny day. Just make sure to take your time. Click here for a guide from Walk Highlands.

Saturday’s Hike: Isle of Raasay

The final hike of our trip was a very relaxed and easy one on the Isle of Raasay. A day where we enjoyed coffee, gin and whiskey at the Isle of Raasay Distillery, as well as a communal meal back at the mountaineering hut in Grenbrittle.

This day we decided to do the Dùn Caan walk but made it a lot shorter than the full trail which is 15.5km. Instead we drove further along the road and started at a small carpark, where we then took a very clear path all the way up to the top of Dùn Caan and then followed the same route back to the car. Making it roughly 6.5km in total. You can find a guide for the full trail here.

I would highly recommend the Isle of Raasay for a very chilled out and secluded escape from how hectic the Isle of Skye can get during peak tourist season. Raasay House Hotel and Activity Centre is a great place for a coffee and cake – tried and tested – whilst the Distillery is also a really nice attraction to visit and and enjoy a tasting of what is on offer.

All in all, this trip was exactly what I needed after finishing my final university deadlines. It gave me a chance to reflect on the semester, remember how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful country, and simply enjoy spending time with interesting people who share similar interests.

I hope this post gave you some inspiration if you are intrigued by visiting the Isle of Skye.

Lots of love,

Laura Jane.