Old Man of Storr - Scotland - Our Planet Images

The Old Man of Storr is one of the most dramatic places in Scotland.

The Storr is a mountain on the Trotternish peninsula of the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The Old Man of Storr is the iconic rock jutting into the air which is visible from miles away. The Old Man of Storr is located near the road from Portree to Uig. It is just 6.8 miles north of Portree and 27 miles from Uig. The eastern side of the Storr Mountain is steep and rocky with views of the Sound of Raasay and the western side is gentler with grassy slopes.

The Old Man of Storr Trail

The Old Man of Storr Trail is the most famous hike and probably the busiest attraction on the Isle of Skye. The 3.4 mile out and back trail is considered a moderately challenging hike with sections that are steep, rocky and uneven steps. The elevation gain from the car park area to the Storr Lookout point is around 400 meters (1,300 feet). The lower section of the trail, near the car park, is smooth but it gets rockier as the elevation get higher. The hike up to the lookout point is the steepest with the most uneven steps but the views are worth the effort.

I always hesitate to estimate how long a hike should take because I normally spend more time at every place that I visit than a normal tourist. My philosophy is that this is a place that I will only see once in my lifetime so I want to take my time and absorb as much as I can. I make more stops on the trail than normal visitors and I spend more time at the lookout point than most other people.

The Old Man

The main feature of the hike is of course, “The Old Man”. The Old Man is a 55 meter (180 feet) high pinnacle of basalt rock which is all that remains of an old volcanic plug. Most unusual rock formations change appearances from different viewpoints so I have included a few photos from different locations.

Cathedral Rock

The Old Man gets all of the attention but the Cathedral Rock is another unusual rock formation that is worth stopping to check out. It may not be as impressive at the Old Man but it is still noteworthy.

Lakes on the trail

The trail may be named after the Old Man of Storr but the hike is about more than an unusual rock formation. There are some small pond along the trail and one large lake that add to the beauty of the hike.

Loch Leathan is the largest lake that can be seen from the trail and the view of the lake from a higher elevation is spectacular.

Coastal View (Sound of Raasay)

The road from Portree to the carpark for the Old Man of Storr trail follows the coastline of the Sound of Raasay. The views of the sound from the coastal drive and from the hiking trail are really special.

View from the Storr Lookout Point

Everyone comes to see the Old Man of Storr rock formation and some people will hike to the base of the formation and return to the car park but the best views of the hike are from the Storr Lookout Point. Continuing past the Old Man of Storr for less than half a mile to the Storr Lookout Point is where the real beauty of the landscape can be seen. The views from the lookout point are a true “wow” moment that I will never forget.

Stunning Landscapes

The Scottish Highlands are beautiful in general so it is expected that the Old Man or Storr hike has many views with stunning landscapes. Hiking along the Old Man of Storr Trail is one of those places where you get stunning landscapes with almost every step. I found myself stopping frequently to take a 360 degree look around because the scenery was so beautiful. My closing photos are of the stunning landscapes that can be seen on the Old Man of Storr trail.

The Dust on My Shoes

Going to the Scottish Highlands had been near the top of my travel destinations for many years and seeing the Old man of Storr was my number one site to see. The photos that I had seen of the Old Man of Storr were what gave me inspiration to go on the hike but experiencing the beauty of this area was truly amazing! Seeing the Old Man of Storr formation was cool but the stunning landscapes were worthy of the Scottish Highlands reputation.

A lot of places claim to have quickly changing weather but the Scottish Highlands is the fastest changing weather that I have experienced. When we started the trail it was overcast and cool, then it cleared and warmed up, it clouded up again and got cool with a little mist, then cleared again and warmed up. When we returned to the trail head it was cloudy and cool. Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions all in one day.

So many times in my travels, I go to see a spectacular site but I am additionally rewarded with nearby places that are equally memorable as the spectacular site. I will always remember seeing the Old Man of Storr but I will equally remember the stunning landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.