United Kingdom Quiraing (SW #170)
Quiraing (SW #170) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

3.9
PDI
2.2 mi
DISTANCE
703 ft
GAINED
5.9 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
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INTRO

Simon Warren ranks Quiraing as the 9th most epic bike climb in Scotland:  (1) Bealach na Ba, (2) Maovally, (3) The Wall of Talla, (4) The Lecht, (5) Mull of Kintyre, (6) The String, (7) Nick of the Balloch, (8) Ben Lawers, (9) Quiraing, (10) Lowther Hill. 

Visit our Top 10 Most Epic UK and also our Top 10 Most Epic Scottish hill climbs pages for photos, summaries and statistics for their respective top epic hill climbs. 

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CLIMB SUMMARY

panoramic view of road snaking up green mountainside, bright blue skies

Cycling Quiraing, Isle of Skye

Ride 2.2 miles gaining 703’ at 5.9% average grade.

This is an epic and extraordinary climb due to the stunning scenery in the area.  Simon Warren writes of it, “atop the Isle of Skye lies a road so stunning you’ll never want it to end, the grandeur of its final bends simply have no comparison in these isles,” (Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, A Road Cyclist’s Guide to Britain’s Hills, p. 134).

photo collage shows street signs for Quiraing, 15% grade, Sartail

Quiraing is just about the last stop you can reach on the Isle of Skye. Far past the last major town of Portree, our climb begins at the high cliffs overlooking the sea. There are some farms on the lower slopes, but this is a very remote country, and the few farms around are the only real development in the area. This is a very popular tourist destination and I recommend riding the climb early. I started the climb around 7:30 AM and beat the brunt of the RV, motorcycle, car, and bus traffic that began blocking up the road around 10:00 AM. While the climb itself is not very difficult, the landscape is genuinely jaw-dropping. A final switchback takes you to the summit point where there are a number of trails that you can walk to reach the cliffs overlooking the road and bay beyond. This is a bucket list climb by any measure.

bike parked in green hills looking down at jaw dropping views, road below

The views and settings on this climb are so spectacular as to appear fake - but, they are not!

The Quiraing climb could just as easily be in the Dolomite mountains of Italy. But this is Scotalnd making a real claim at being one of the top cycling destinations in the world. I was lucky to have the sun -- mostly -- shining when I rode Quiraing and the entire valley mountainside was lit up.

photo collage of climb's start, hand painted signs for "North," and "Portree," PJAMM Cycliston two-lane roadway surrounded by green pasturelands, quaint country buildings

Climb start: the road is not named, but clearly marked “Quiraing.”

We asked Simon Warren to provide us his Top 10 Hardest and Most Epic Climbs in Scotland, England, Wales, and the UK.  Simon ranked Quiraing #9 Most Epic in Scotland.

photo collage of Staffin Bay

Views of Staffin Bay as we climb.

photo collage includes cows laying down in green pastures, hand painted sign reads "Quiraing," street sign reads "Cemetery parking only, no overnight parking"

QUIRAING

panoramic views of green pasturelands and hillsides with rock formations, including "The Table"

View of “the Table” top center of photo.

Quiraing is a landslip-formed (landslide) area along the northernmost summit of the Trotternish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.  The land in the area is still slipping such that the road requires annual repair. This is a very popular tourist area.

green pastures and incredible rock formations, including "The Table"

photo collage shows green hillsides, craggy rock formations, blue oceans in distance

The Quiraing area has a stunning 4.9 Google Review Rating of 1,039 reviews as of November 2022.

aerial drone view shows entire climb, from trailhead for Quairaing Walk and the car park

Finish at the trailhead for Quiraing Walk and the Car Park.

PJAMM Cyclist stands with bike on green cliffside, waving to aerial drone camera, roadway far below

Overlooking the final ascent to the finish.

That’s a wrap!