Hiking the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye

The Old Man of Storr is a large pinnacle of rock that stands high and can be seen for miles around. The most popular hike on Skye, the iconic pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr stands guard over the Sanctuary, a whole array of fantastic rock formations beneath the towering cliffs. As part of the Trotternish Ridge the Old Man was created by a massive ancient landside, leaving one of the most photographed landscapes in the world. This hike climbs on a good path to give everyone the chance to explore this remarkable place.

OUR HIKE TO THE OLD MAN OF STORR ON SKYE

We toured the Isle of Skye during early April, and it was still snowing! Hiking to the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye is a must do hike, whatever the weather.

It was very cold but with plenty of layers on we were off. There was snow on the ground and as we climbed it got progressively deeper! To get up to the Old Man of Storr, it is a constant climb. At first, the trail is wide and well made.

Halfway up, the trail becomes a dirt, rocky trail. In the snow it was slippery and quite hard going. We didn’t have the trail to ourselves, but because of the snow it wasn’t too busy.

It is not a difficult hike, but it is a slow and steady slog to the top. Your reward is coming eye to eye with the Old Man of Storr. Even in the snow, we were determined to hike around the Old Man. We took the right hand fork in the trail, passing between the Needle and the Old Man, and on into the Sanctuary.

We were completely alone in this area of fallen rocks, encircled by amazing rock formations. It was beautiful. It was the perfect spot for a picnic, if a little cold!

As we came up the other side of the Old Man the snow was deep but we were soon on the descent, with more amazing views.

There are some stunning views of the Old Man (from all angles) as you hike this circular route, as well as spectacular views out to sea.

HIKING THE OLD MAN OF STORR

The circular hike around the Old Man is 4.5 km (7km). This hike takes you right around the Old Man giving you amazing views of this spectacular landscape. Allow approximately 2 hours for this hike. The path is well made although steep  in places. The area immediately around the Old Man is a high rock fall area and should only be entered in the right conditions. This hike is suitable for anyone who is relatively fit. Our children were 9, 11 and 14 at the time of hiking and had no issues.

The Old Man of Storr is located on the north of Skye in the area known as the Trotternish Peninsula. The start of the walk is by the main road from Portree to Staffin. The carpark is located right by the main road 6.8miles from Portree which will take about 10 minutes to drive. The carpark is not that big so fills up quickly in summer, but there is an extended lay-by to the main road that continues from the carpark entrance.

From the car park take the path which heads through the gate and uphill. The path twists up through a recently felled area, before climbing more steeply and becoming rockier. Keep plodding uphill until you reach a gate with an intimidating warning sign! Go through the gate and continue uphill, getting ever closer to the Old Man of Storr.

Close to the Old Man the path forks left and right to make a loop around the Old Man. We took the right hand fork, passing between the Needle (a jagged tower with two holes cut through it, also known as the Cathedral) and the Old Man. Pick your way around fallen rocks beneath the towers (we were trudging through fairly deep snow at this point).

Continue on around the Old Man into the Sanctuary, a hidden valley encircled by amazing formations. A warning sign highlights the danger of rock falls but was beautiful in the snow. This area is best avoided after heavy rain.

Continue to circle the Old Man, before beginning your descent.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE HIKING THE OLD MAN OF STORR

The Old Man of Storr is the Isle of Skye’s most popular location. Expect it to be busy, particularly during the summer holidays. The best times to visit are early in the morning and late in the day. We visited during the easter holidays, in the early afternoon, and although there were plenty of people about, it was possible to park and they weren’t hoards of people hiking. In fact we had parts of the circular loop to ourselves.

The Old Man of Storr is located on the Trotternish Loop, approximately 7 miles north of Portree. There is a carpark on the A855 and additional parking along the roadside.

Allow about 2 hours for your visit. This is enough time to enjoy the hike around the Old Man, enjoy the stunning views, take lots of photographs and return to your car. It is a constantly uphill climb up to the Old Man of Storr, but anyone of average fitness should manage it.