Hiking The Old Man of Storr
When visiting the Isle of Skye, The Old Man of Storr walk is a must. It’s one of those places that gives you different stunning landscapes with every step. As you hike closer, the angle shifts providing new perspectives, colours and shadows.
To top it off, the beauty of Scotland is the ever-changing weather, so you may get sun, followed quickly by dark clouds or some fog, it’s all part of the fun really.
In this post I’m sharing some of my favourite landscape photography that I captured, along with my hiking tips. While there are a few trails, I opted for the classic 2-hour loop trail.
THE OLD MAN OF STORR Legend
So the first question that came to my mind was, what’s the story behind the 160 ft giant rock that sticks out of the ground?
And of course there is the scientific story, which is as simple as a long, long time ago, there was a landslide of epic proportions that left the pinnacle and the surrounding rocks standing in their beautiful formation.
But we want a better story than that right?!
Well, an old Norse legend tells the tale of a giant who lived right there, on Trotternish Ridge. When he passed away he was buried in that spot but the burial was a bit of a hack job and his thumb was left sticking out of the ground.
Up to you to decide which story you prefer - I’m all about a good Norse legend. So while you hike closer, wave hi to the giant and just hope he doesn’t wave back.
As you approach the Old Man, you start to get a better appreciation of its scale. Can you spot the person standing in front of it, wearing the red jacket? If not, take a look again, you’ll start to understand how big it really is.
I was fascinated by these obvious traces of landslides. How the rocks change in scale as they got closer to the bottom. I immediately thought of the rock trolls from Frozen. I realize that I’m a grown woman, but hiking leaves you alone with your random thoughts.
WEATHER AT THE OLD MAN OF STORR
You probably have a good idea already but if it isn’t raining in Scotland it probably just did or is about to. But the most important thing to remember is to expect the weather to change at any moment.
This means if it’s raining and you want some sunshine, wait a few minutes and it may pass. If you finally reach the Old Man and he’s covered by fog, again, wait and you may get lucky. I got all kinds of weather and light conditions on my hike which makes it tricky to plan around but really fun for photographers.
DON’T FORGET TO TURN AROUND
I was definitely out of shape for this hike. So the initial ascent took a lot out of me. But I fooled everyone around me into thinking that I was stopping for photography and the views, which it turns out was pretty accurate.
Some of the best landscapes are looking back at where you came from. You start to get incredible views of Loch Leathan and the Islands of Raasay and Rona.
WHEN YOU THINK YOU’VE GONE FAR ENOUGH, KEEP GOING
I was constantly thinking, ok is this it? But the higher I climbed the better the shots kept getting. The below lakes and islands start to become clearer. The surrounding rock starts to take shape.
“Pop off the path for a different angle, you can’t get lost.”
The MONEY-MAKER VIEW
With every step you get a new view, but my personal favourite spot, as well as the most photographed I’d argue, is on top of some rocks that jut out past the Storr.
I won’t lie, I almost didn’t venture on the rocks because the wind was really powerful and I could have easily lost my footing. But I went slowly and carefully and so glad I did, because the view was absolutely epic.
Again, see if you can spot some of the other hikers, you’ll immediately grasp how large the rock pinnacles are.
GO SAY HI TO THE OLD MAN
If you’ve got the time and energy then pop over to get a closer look at the Old Man. There is a trail that goes up behind the rock formations. There is also a sign that cautions against going there but this is Scotland, so it get’s immediately overlooked.
Some people were actually scaling the Old Man. I guess if you’re into scrambling and climbing it may be your thing but I personally prefer to admire from a distance.
For even more other-worldly views, stand behind the Old Man and look out to your right. There are more interesting rock formations that feel very Lord of the Rings.
When you’re done you can head back down the way you came but there will be a fork in the path about half way and if you stay to the right it should take you on a longer path to the car park. I totally missed this but check the trail guide for reference.
OLD MAN OF STORR Loop Trail
Length
4.5 km
Elevation gain
276 m
Route type
Loop
Things you’ll see on the hike:
Lake views
Interesting rock formations
Maybe a few sheep in the distance
Landslide remnants
Surrounding islands
old man of storr hiking tips
Walk Length
There are several hikes that you can do near the Old Man. It depends on your time and stamina really. The classic circular route is about 4.5 km with an elevation gain of 276 meters.
The first 30 minutes of the hike are just uphill on a gravel path, so it does feel like quite a mission. Once you get closer though it’s nice to walk then stop and admire the changing landscape. If you hike to get a close up view, then back down again, allocate about 2-2.5 hours to really enjoy it.
Hiking Conditions
On a dry day (which is rare in Scotland) the path will be quite easy. The beginning is a gravel route, that used to run through a forest but was recently harvested so now you just see tree stumps. Once you get closer to the Storr the path becomes less obvious and you start to see different tracks made by people. The brilliant thing is you can’t get lost so go enjoy your own path.
If it recently rained or is raining, the later part of the path can be quite slippery and muddy. Good hiking boots are essential. Once you hike past the Old Man you’ll get the most spectacular views, but be careful on windy days because the higher you climb, the wind can get quite powerful. Forget about wearing a hat. Lastly, if you’re hiking during the morning or dusk in the summer, you can expect midges.
Hiking Routes
The classic route is essentially up and back down again. This takes about 2-2.5 hours depending on how slow you go. You can of course continue past the Old Man and do a longer loop trail. This one takes about 4 hours and is for more experienced hikers. Make sure to check the weather conditions since fog and high winds can make this route challenging. You can find the route info on the All Trails app.
If you’re a big hiker you may enjoy some of these others fantastic hikes: Wengen (Switzerland) or the hike to Emerald Lake in Colorado.
Old Man of Storr Parking Guide
The Old Man is located only a 15-minute car ride from Portree, the largest town on the Isle of Skye. Sleeping at Portree and starting the hike early in the morning is a great option to get parking and beat the crowds.
There is a decent-sized car park at the bottom of the Old Man entrance path. We arrived before 10am so were able to get a spot. When we left it was full. Expect it to be tough to find a spot during peak season and peak times. Once the lot is full, people park along the side of the road. Peak time is between 10am-3pm and it costs a couple £ to park.
