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Rainbow over Staffin Bay and Trotternish Ridge/Quiraing, Isle of skye

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Trotternish or Tròndairnis (Scottish Gaelic) is the northernmost peninsula of the Isle of Skye, in Scotland.

One of its more well-known features is the Trotternish Ridge and landslip, a massive landslide that runs almost the full length of the peninsula, some 30 kilometres (19 mi). The landslip contains two of Skye's most famous landmarks: the Old Man of Storr, an isolated rocky pinnacle, and the Quiraing, an area of dramatic and unusual rock formations.

The Quiraing (in Gaelic: 'Cuith-Raing') is a landslip on the eastern face of Meall na Suiramach, the northernmost summit of the Trotternish on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. The whole of the Trotternish Ridge escarpment was formed by a great series of landslips; the Quiraing is the only part of the slip still moving, the road at its base, near Flodigarry, requires repairs each year.

Staffin (Scottish Gaelic: Stafain) is a district with the Gaelic name An Taobh Sear, which translates as 'the East Side', on the northeast coast of the Trotternish peninsula of the island of Skye. It is located on the A855 road about 17 miles (27 km) north of Portree and is overlooked by the Trotternish Ridge with the famous rock formations of The Storr and the Quirang. The district comprises 23 townships made up of, from south to north, Rigg, Tote, Lealt, Lonfearn, Grealin, Breackry, Cul-nan-cnoc, Bhaltos, Raiseburgh, Ellishader, Garafad, Clachan, Garros, Marrishader, Maligar, Stenscholl, Brogaig, Sartle, Glasphein, Digg, Dunan, Flodigarry and Greap.

The Kilmartin River runs northwards through the village. From where it reaches the sea a rocky shore leads east to a slipway at An Corran. Here a local resident found a slab bearing a dinosaur track, probably made by a small ornithopod. Experts subsequently found more dinosaur prints of up to 50 cm, the largest found in Scotland, made by a creature similar to Megalosaurus. At about 160 million years old they are the youngest dinosaur remains to be found in Scotland.

A Mesolithic hunter-gatherer site dating to the 7th millennium BC at An Corran is one of the oldest archaeological sites in Scotland. Its occupation is probably linked to that of the rock shelter at Sand, Applecross on the coast of Wester Ross.

In the modern era this part of Skye retains a strong Gaelic identity with 61 per cent of the local population recorded as speaking the language in 2001. In September 2010,Comunn na Gàidhlig named Staffin as their "Gaelic Community of the Year", in the first year this competition has run.

In 2011 it was reported that Staffin Island may be the last in Scotland where the old tradition of having cattle swim between grazings is still carried out. Crofter Iain MacDonald, who used to swim with the animals, now uses a boat to encourage them to swim from Staffin Island to Skye in early spring and back again in October.
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34 comments

Kama 56 said:

superbe entre lumière et ciel menaçant et cet arc-en-ciel
6 years ago ( translate )

Doug Shepherd replied to Kama 56:

Thank you very much Kama 56, glad that you like it.

Best wishes, Doug
6 years ago

sea-herdorf said:

Die Landschaft auf Skye liebe ich sehr, Doug.
Wunderschön unter dem Regenbogen.
Freundliche Grüße und einen schönen Sonntag
Ercih
6 years ago ( translate )

Doug Shepherd replied to sea-herdorf:

Thank you for your kind comments Erich.

Enjoy your evening also, Doug
6 years ago

Martine said:

Une extraordinaire vue de la campagne avec ce bel arc en ciel.
6 years ago ( translate )

Doug Shepherd replied to Martine:

Many thanks for your visit and generous comments Martine.

Best wishes, Doug
6 years ago

tatranka7 said:

Amazing moment, beautiful composition and place...
6 years ago ( translate )

Doug Shepherd replied to tatranka7:

Thanks very much tatranka7.

Enjoy your evening.
6 years ago ( translate )

Boarischa Krautmo said:

good shot, lovely landscape - and thank you for the additional information!
6 years ago

Doug Shepherd replied to Boarischa Krautmo:

Thanks for your visit and kind comments Boarischa.

Best wishes, Doug
6 years ago

Nouchetdu38 said:

Congratulations for this beautiful photo!!!!*************************
6 years ago

Ste said:

A cracking shot indeed Doug and most certainly liked by me

Best wishes ... Steve
6 years ago

Gudrun said:

Wonderful light with the rainbow the crowning glory!
6 years ago

Rosalyn Hilborne said:

What a great shot to get Doug!! Fabulous :-))
6 years ago

Jaap van 't Veen said:

Awesome with that rainbow.
6 years ago