Staffin, Trotternish Peninsula, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Kilt Rock is one of Skye's most striking landmarks — basalt columns like organ pipes above the sea. But the Trotternish Peninsula is fully exposed to Atlantic weather. CoastMetric tells you when conditions are right for the cliff walk.
About Kilt Rock & Staffin
CoastMetric is a real-time conditions app for Kilt Rock, Staffin and the dramatic Trotternish coastline on the Isle of Skye's northern peninsula. The dramatic basalt sea cliffs of Kilt Rock — with their pleated volcanic columns resembling a kilt — are one of Scotland's most distinctive geological features.
Kilt Rock and the Trotternish coastal cliffs are fully exposed to Atlantic weather. There is no shelter on the clifftop path and conditions can change from sunshine to storm within minutes. The cliff edges are unguarded in many places and cliff falls occur. Mobile signal is absent in many areas — carry an emergency whistle.
Walking Routes
Check the live Visit Score before you set out — conditions here change fast.
The official viewpoint platform and a short clifftop walk — dramatic basalt columns and Mealt Falls. Minimal walking required. Can be extremely busy in summer; visit early morning or late evening.
The Quiraing is 8km north of Kilt Rock — a separate walk on the same day. One of Skye's finest landscapes with the Needle, Prison and Table. Requires mountain walking equipment in any season.
Plan Your Visit
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Key Features
A 65m sea cliff of vertical basalt columns above the Minch — the pleated appearance resembles a tartan kilt. The Mealt Falls waterfall drops directly off the clifftop beside it.
Jurassic dinosaur footprints preserved in the mudstone on the Staffin shore — visible at low tide. The Staffin Dinosaur Museum houses local fossil specimens.
A vast landslip on the Trotternish Ridge — a labyrinthine landscape of pinnacles, cliffs and hidden plateaux that continues to move by centimetres each year. One of Scotland's most distinctive landscapes.
Live Data
All data is fetched from authoritative UK sources and recalculated every few minutes.
Safety Information
The official Kilt Rock viewpoint car park has a viewing platform — the best and safest viewpoint. Do not go beyond the barrier. The Mealt Falls waterfall drops 55m directly into the sea beside Kilt Rock — dramatic in any rain. The walk north to Staffin Bay crosses open boggy moorland — waterproof boots required year-round. The Quiraing (further north) is one of Skye's finest landscape features — a separate day walk.
All data, scores and recommendations are for informational purposes only. The Visit Score is an algorithmic estimate — not a substitute for your own judgement, local knowledge or official guidance.
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