Loch Leathan to Flodigarry via The Storr, Beinn Mheadhonach and Loch Langaig

This is a long, committing ridge-and-loch traverse across the Trotternish peninsula on Skye, linking the dramatic landslip country around The Storr with the quieter, rougher ground north toward Flodigarry. At roughly 29 km / 18 miles with around 1,600 m / 5,250 ft of ascent, it asks for stamina, steady navigation, and enough time to deal with rapidly changing Highland weather. Although the overall rating may sit around medium for strong hillwalkers, the length, cumulative climbing, boggy sections, and exposed ridge terrain can make it feel considerably harder in poor visibility or wind. The route begins near the Old Man of Storr car park on the A855, just north of Portree, and finishes near Flodigarry at the northern end of the Trotternish Ridge corridor. (isleofskye.com)

The start is best understood as being near the Old Man of Storr Car Park, Torvaig, Isle of Skye, on the A855, about 11 km / 6.8 miles north of Portree. If arriving by car, this is the usual access point for The Storr, with formal parking beside the road. If using public transport, Stagecoach route 57A serves the Old Man of Storr stop from Portree and also connects onward toward Flodigarry, which is useful for a linear walk. Bus services on Trotternish are limited, so timings need to be checked carefully before setting out. (isleofskye.com)

The opening section climbs away from the road on the well-made Storr path, gaining height quickly above Loch Leathan. This first ascent is one of the most straightforward underfoot, but it is still steep enough to warm the legs early. As the path rises, the views open over the Sound of Raasay and back toward Portree, while the famous rock pinnacles of the Storr landslip begin to dominate the skyline. The Old Man itself is the best-known landmark, but the wider scene is just as striking: broken cliffs, tilted blocks, and dark volcanic escarpments that give the whole area its unmistakable shape. (en.wikipedia.org)

Terrain and route character

Beyond the busiest Storr section, the walk becomes much wilder. The route trends onto higher, rougher ground around Beinn Mheadhonach and then continues through a mixture of ridge walking, peat, wet hollows, and loch-side terrain toward Loch Langaig before the final push and descent toward Flodigarry. Expect intermittent path traces rather than a continuously engineered trail. In dry weather, progress can be steady; after rain, the ground can become soft, slippery, and energy-sapping. This is the kind of route where pace often drops well below what the distance alone suggests. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

Navigation matters most once clear of the obvious Storr path. In mist, the Trotternish plateau and ridge country can feel broad, repetitive, and confusing, with multiple sheep tracks and wet ground obscuring the main line. HiiKER is especially useful here for checking position around lochans, bealachs, and the less distinct transitions between ridge and descent lines. Even on a fair day, it helps to keep an eye on escape options because weather can close in quickly from the sea.

Landmarks, geology, and atmosphere

The defining feature of this walk is the Trotternish landslip landscape. The Storr and the wider escarpment are part of one of Britain’s most remarkable large-scale slope failures, where heavy volcanic lava layers slumped over weaker Jurassic sedimentary rocks. That process created the cliffs, pinnacles, terraces, and dammed lochans that make this route so memorable. Loch Leathan and other nearby waters sit within this disrupted terrain, and farther north the route continues through the same immense broken architecture of rock and slope. (geoguide.scottishgeologytrust.org)

Beinn Mheadhonach adds a more open hill character to the day. Rather than a single iconic feature, it offers broad upland perspectives over the Trotternish Ridge, the sea to the east, and the interior moorland of northern Skye. Loch Langaig is another significant waypoint, bringing a change in mood: after the exposed heights, the loch basin can feel remote and quiet, with the surrounding slopes showing the same fractured geology on a gentler scale. The transition from dramatic rock scenery to lonely moor and loch is one of the strongest qualities of the route. (walkhighlands.co.uk)

The region is also geologically important well beyond its scenery. Trotternish is one