Hike to Old Man of Storr

The Old Man of Storr is a geological formation on Isle of Skye, Scotland. It is said to have formed because of a landslip. So basically an ancient landslide which revealed these interesting rock pinnacles. Ancient volcanoes were also involved in the formation.

The first time I visited Old Man of Storr, I only got to stop beside the road and take the photo above and a few more like it. It was amazing because the mist floated quickly and continuously behind the Old Man pinnacle like a low cloud. I also took a video of it. This mist allowed the Old Man to stand out nicely from the background cliffs.

Since my first visit, I'd always wanted to go back and hike up to Old Man of Storr. I was thrilled to be able to do this on our trip last May. We started at a parking area just off A855 north. It is about 6 miles north of Portree. A large forest, a conifer plantation, stands between the car park and The Old Man of Storr so you can't actually see it from there. We walked for a long time up through the forest on a well used path. I'm guessing about two miles up. It's very steep in places and you have to climb up make-shift steps of rock at times. It seemed we'd never reach the top. It must have taken a couple of hours. But when we did finally emerge from the forest, this is the view out over the Sound of Raasay. Toward the north (above) and toward the south (below). Loch Leathan and Loch Fada lie below the forest and the road.

By this time I was tired but we were not yet to Old Man of Storr. Below is our first view of the famous rock formations although it is difficult to pick out the Old Man from the rest of the cliffs at first. The trees at the top were smaller.

 It was cloudy during our hike and we were afraid the entire time that it would start raining. That would be typical of Scotland, but it didn't rain. Whew! The wind blew harder the higher we climbed.

 This whole area is incredibly steep and rocky and also beautiful. Above you can see the scree caused by erosion and the footpath to the right.

 When we climbed higher it was easier to see the details of the individual rock pinnacles. Needle Rock is on the right hand side. Old Man of Storr is slightly right of center.

 Old Man of Storr is 150 - 160 feet tall. In person it seemed much taller and more massive to me than it appears in photos. A person would look almost like an ant beside it. :)

This shows part of the pathway and the spectacular view over the Sound of Raasay. This area is on the east side of the Trotternish Peninsula on Isle of Skye so it looks toward Isle of Raasay and the Mainland.

I hope you enjoyed this virtual hiking trip to Old Man of Storr. :)
Thanks!!
Vonda

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