The Needle
The tallest pinnacle of the Quiraing in the north of Skye, a jagged tower of rock close to forty metres high.
The Needle is the tallest of the rock pinnacles of the Quiraing, at the northern end of the Trotternish ridge in the north of Skye, a jagged tower close to forty metres high rising out of the scree.
Visited and photographed by Simon Hird
If the Storr has its Old Man, the Quiraing has the Needle.
The whole Quiraing was formed by a massive landslip, which left high cliffs, hidden plateaus and pinnacles of rock, and the Needle is best seen from the Quiraing walk itself, where its tall, spiky shape becomes clear. The circuit is about 6.8 kilometres from the car park at the top of the single-track road between Staffin and Uig, and takes around two hours without stops. The path passes below the Needle and the Prison, a rock that looks from some angles like the walls of an old fortress, on the way to the Table, a flat grassy plateau hidden among the rocks, where cattle were once kept out of sight of raiders.
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The Quiraing car park is at the highest point of the single-track road between Staffin and Uig, 2.5 miles from Staffin.
Parking is £3 for up to three hours or £5 for up to six. The walk is about 6.8 km.
- Parking
- £3 up to 3 hours, £5 up to 6 hours.
- The walk
- About 6.8 km, around 2 hours without stops.
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Add your reviewThe Quiraing, north Trotternish, Isle of Skye.
Loch ShiantaA small loch near Staffin fed by Tobar Loch Shianta, once the most celebrated healing well on Skye.Under a mile 2 min by road
Loch LangaigA small loch by the A855 at Flodigarry, where a quiet path leaves the road for the Quiraing.1 mile 3 min by road
The Hungry GullA family-run brunch café in Staffin's community hall, with local art on the walls and the Quiraing up the road.3 miles 4 min by road
Columba 1400A youth leadership charity's centre at Staffin, whose café pays for its work, with the Trotternish ridge behind and the sea in front.3 miles 5 min by road
Dinosaur Prints at Staffin & DuntulmDinosaur footprints in the tidal rocks at An Corran and Duntulm, and the museum in Staffin that keeps the finds.3 miles 5 min by road
The QuiraingThe great landslip at the north end of the Trotternish ridge, with the Needle, the Prison and the Table.3 miles 6 min by road
Places to stay near the Needle, and when each is next free.
Monkstadt 1745- To stay
- In Linicro
- 5 miles from the Needle
The Cowshed Boutique Bunkhouse- Sleeps 1
- In Uig
- 6 miles from the Needle
Half of One- Sleeps 8
- In Culnacnoc
- 6 miles from the Needle
Skeabost House Hotel- A hotel
- In Skeabost Bridge
- 13 miles from the Needle
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What we have written about it, the collections it is in and more on Skye.
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