Old Man of Storr Walk

The Old Man of Storr Walk in the Scottish Highlands may look short, manipulating you into thinking you’ll tackle it without a problem, but there are some steep sections and rocky parts higher up. Look for sign warnings for rockfall! It’s essential to avoid this hike during intense rains as loosening rocks could be detrimental and dangerous. Another thing to note is that this walk can get crowded, so aim to arrive early.

However, despite the technicalities mentioned above, a good portion of the walk takes place along an easy-to-navigate hillpath. And you don’t have to work too hard to reap the benefits! It’s hard not to drop your jaw at the Old Man of Storr, just one epic element in a range of unique rock formations. So feel time stand still as you marvel at this incredible natural wonder. At the start of the walk, you’ll also encounter views stretching from the Isle of Raasay to the mainland. The Old Man of Storr Walk is one worth doing if you have a couple of hours to spare!

While you can see the Old Man of Storr en route to Portree, it’s much better to bask in its supernatural formation by foot, granting a chance for an up-close look. So, to start, you’ll head to the path at the gate towards the back of the car park.

Follow this wide path as it ascends, keeping right when the trail forms a fork (but both paths meet later). Finally, you’ll reach a lovely view of the Isle of Raasay and Applecross, granting you the chance to pause and revel in the scenery. Continuing, you’ll head through two gates before arriving at moorland, where the cliffs of the Storr emerge in the backdrop. However, it’s hard to distinguish which one is the Old Man. But don’t worry—you’ll get there soon enough!

As you gain in elevation, keep an eye out for a path veering left, and take that left path. From here, you’ll begin to ascend as the path snakes right to take you to the left of the Old Man. The first person to climb the Old Man was Don Whillans in 1955! However, the rock is super unstable, so you may want to leave the climbing to the experts. After this section, you’ll reach the part that could be detrimental during heavy rains, thanks to the potential of rockfalls. The path will take you down and behind the Old Man. Watch out for some fallen rocks scattered on the path.

Now, you’ve reached the Sanctuary, where soaring cliffs will have you feeling like you stepped into another universe. You’ll also see Needle Rock (aka Cathedral) behind the Old Man. As you get closer, you’ll see the window close to the top! But right before you reach Needle Rock, you’ll take a right to start descending. You’ll notice multiple paths branching out, making it worrying to stray, but all eventually meet up and will take you back to the car. However, for now, you’ll continue your descent, walking beneath the Old Man on its east side. When you get back to the main path, you’ll retrace your steps back to your car, or there’s an alternate route you can take!

After the felled area, you can go right at the fork to take on a similar descent, but you’ll pass a lochan before rejoining the other path to head back to your car.

Trail highlights

Old Man of Storr

Located on the Isle of Skye, the Old Man of Storr is a massive rock that intimidates and attracts several visitors. A large landslide created The Old Man eons ago, but a magical landscape has formed as a result! And if you’re wondering how this iconic landmark earned its name, legend says that the Old Man of Storr was a giant that inhabited the Trotternish Ridge (it’s located in the northern Skye’s Trotternish area).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to walk the Old Man of Storr?

It takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to walk the Old Man of Storr.

Can I take my kids on this walk?

While this is up to your discretion, we advise bringing older children on this walk with some hiking experiences under their belt, as there are some steep and rocky sections.