The Storr, Trotternish, Isle of Skye, until 17 September 2005

IT IS 1 AM. 1,000 feet up a rocky mountainside a line of pilgrims is making its way down a steep path. Only the low murmur of the walkers, the tapping of their wooden staves on the stone steps, and the small head-lamps that each one carries to light the path, indicate any human movement in the vast, dark mountainous landscape. Behind them a towering pinnacle of rock is caught by spotlight. A thousand feet above, and over to one side, the rock is duplicated as its shadow hits the cloudbase.

Lower down more lights sparkle, from the nearby woodland and from distant hills and islands. Strange sounds echo around the corries, a whisper of deep earthy noises, a catch of Gaelic song and phrase of poetry.

Those at the front, who turn round and see the other 150 people still descending from the night-time light and sound show, realise how subtly the event organisers have made the audience an active part of the spectacle.

nva’s ‘The Storr’ is a mammoth outdoor experience set in one of the most dramatic areas of the Scottish landscape. It does exactly what it says on the packet: “The Storr promises a challenging but unforgettable night. A heightened sensory experience. A night transformation of one of Europe’s greatest geological sites.”

After ‘The Path’, the acclaimed outdoor event in Glen Lyon some years ago, the community of north Skye invited the Glasgow-based arts organisation nva to develop their next project in the dramatic scenery of Trotternish. Over three years later, after detailed planning, fund-raising and local involvement, the Storr takes environmental art to literally a whole new level, with 1,500ft of climbing.

Largely unseen, a host of guides, supporters and technicians, trained up from the local community, keep the event running smoothly. This is an art project which will also leave behind something very tangible: new paths, technology and trained staff, as well as placing the Storr firmly on the international map.

The audience is strongly advised to dress for the wet and cold, and instructed to meet at various pick-up points at 10.30pm. They are then bussed to the site, and given headlamps, numbered tags and a wooden staff if needed. In groups of 25 or so the audience is gently led up to the Storr, along 2 miles of magnificently restored stone and gravel paths. Nothing is said, nothing is explained. It is up to each visitor to see and absorb the landscape, lights and sounds around them.

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Many will be exhilarated and a few dismissive. But no one could come down off the hill and forget about it.

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The first gentle section leads into mature forestry. The path is picked out by tiny reflectors and soon the sense of adventure becomes reality as strange unfocused noises boom out from the trees. Lights are glimpsed, movements in the woods, and sounds from either side. Up ahead rock faces are picked-out by lights. Then the trees open out to the full vista of the Storr landscape, and central is the pinnacle.

Here starts the long climb up. From above come distant sounds and lights, while down below, Gaelic poetry is wafting over the trees. At the resting place below the Storr itself, amazing visions appear from rock faces, sounds bounce of the high cliffs and lights enhance crags and mist, rain and starlight – the weather will create a different experience each night.

There is much more. No doubt each visitor will have their own experience. Some will miss things as they concentrate a little too much on the path. Some will see things that were maybe not there. Some will joke about a ‘life changing experience’, for some it will be a reality. Many will be exhilarated and a few dismissive. But no one could come down off the hill and forget about it.

‘The Storr’ runs each night until 17 September. Numbers are limited to around 150 each night and tickets are selling fast. Book ahead and get yourself over to Skye for the night. You will be inspired. Tickets are available online at www.thebooth.co.uk

Duncan MacInnes is director of the Skye Festival and visited the Storr on its preview night of Saturday 30 July.

© Duncan MacInnes, 2005

Associated Pages

• The Storr preview