Escape the crowds at the Quiraing on this fine circuit exploring fascinating lochs, cliffs and pinnacles.
An excellent path for the outward walk uphill; the return walk crosses some pathless moorland and steep grass slopes
Bus number 57 from Portree. Ask to get off at foot of Loch Langaig footpath - 0.5km north from the roadside picnic area by the loch at Dunans.
Start of Loch Langaig/Harsco footpath, Flodigarry.
Start at the Loch Langaig footpath sign (for Maoladh Mòr via Quiraing) on the A855 north of Staffin (before Flodigarry), there is a parking layby just 50 metres further north of the sign. Early in the twentieth century this path was the route to diatomite workings at the lochs above. Almost immediately from the road the path passes round the north shore of Loch Langaig before climbing the hill beyond and passing above Loch Hasco. Cross the stile and continue up the steep path.
High up to the right are the impressive cliffs of Leac nan Fionn, or Fingal's tomb. Fingal was a giant warrior in Scottish mythology, derived from the Irish legends of Finn, builder of the Giant's Causeway. His tomb is a strange table-shaped hill which is prominent in views from Staffin; the cliffs around it relent only at the southern end. Once the brow of the hill is reached and just before the path dips, look up at the skyline to the right, where a lower saddle is crossed by a drystone wall. To the right of the saddle is a great prow of rock forming the last buttress of Fingal's tomb, whereas to the left are a series of small pinnacles. Leave the path here and head up towards the saddle. There are traces of a path up the grass and heather slope to this wall - head up to it (continuing on the main path leads to the Quiraing). The wall is easily passed to the right directly below the impressive buttress; the views back towards the Quiraing are very dramatic.
Cross the stony ground just beyond and pass over a grassy saddle. You are now in a slightly boggy hollow between Leac nan Fionn on the right and other knobbly hills to the left. It is well worth detouring from here up to the right to visit the top of Leac nan Fionn; a path winds up between two sections of cliff. At the top, the ground falls away immediately in front into an impressive gully; turn left here to visit the grassy top of Leac nan Fionn. There are impressive views across the landslipped ground below the Quiraing, and over Staffin bay. The sides of Leac nan Fionn are vertical in many places and it is best to return back down the way you came to the grassy col.
Turn right at the col follow a faint path down to a boggy basin (ignoring a sheep path Leac nan Fionn to the right) with the high cliffs of Sròn Vourlinn straight ahead. Continue round the base of the slopes on the right, which keeps you away from the boggy ground. Aim for the gap and old fence posts and drystone wall in the gap facing the sea. The wall can be crossed at a low point.
Fingal's pinnacles are now prominent at the bottom of the slope below. Begin the descent from the lowest point of the drystone wall. Grassy ramps soon lead down towards the pinnacles, sloping first to the right before heading back left. The pinnacles are scenically similar to the Storr Sanctuary, though on a slightly smaller scale and much less visited. Pass to the right of the stubby main pinnacle, and just to the left of the prominent finger of rock. Beyond, a sheep path begins to descend and crosses a steep slope above an attractive little lochan. From here, the route continues to slope downhill across the heather slope on the right, making for the southernmost of the three cols in view. The ground is steep and tussocky and pathless. Keep heading slightly downhill to the right and eventually the outward route is rejoined. Turn left along it to reach Loch Langaig and return to the start.
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