The Old Man of Storr

The Old Man of Storr is a prominent rock pinnacle standing apart from the main cliffline of the Storr, part of the Trotternish landslip, the longest landslip feature in Britain, which has left a jumble of towers and pinnacles scattered below the escarpment. It’s the single most photographed rock formation on Skye, and the path up to it is correspondingly busy for almost the whole year.

From the Storr car park on the A855, the route climbs through forestry plantation before breaking out onto open hillside, with the path growing steeper, rockier and more eroded as it nears the pinnacle. The Highland Council runs the site with NatureScot and local partners, which is why the car park is paid and the lower path is surfaced. Signs at the car park warn of rockfall risk on the upper section, a real hazard rather than a formality, and the ground underfoot deteriorates in wet weather. The full round trip covers about 5km and 340m of ascent, and most walkers take around two hours, though the constant photography stops mean plenty of people take longer.

Beyond the Old Man, the path continues towards other pinnacles and, for those wanting more height, on to the summit of the Storr at 719m, a longer and rougher undertaking on ground without a clear path throughout. For most visitors, though, the appeal is the lower section: dramatic scenery for a moderate amount of effort, which is exactly why it’s as crowded as it is. It doesn’t suit anyone hoping for solitude, particularly in summer, when the car park often fills before mid-morning.