May 2018
Old Man of Storr,
Isle of Skye
Distance: 5 miles Time: 2 hours Type: There and back
The Storr is a 719-metre hill toward the southern end of the Trotternish ridge on the Isle of Skye. The Old Man is the famous collection of rock columns below its summit: one of the most popular and visited spots on the island and pure heaven for photographers. Its rugged terrain has appeared in several films, most notably Prometheus, and evokes a bygone age.
Route:
The busy car park sits on the A855, the main road which runs along the eastern side of the island. From there, the path climbs moderately up to a gate. There are multiple paths in the area and you can choose whether to wind through and around the rocks or whether to climb directly up behind the Needle for the best views. That path continues up to the top of the Trotternish ridge and up to the summit of the Storr, from where you can continue along the ridge edge and return by a path further south.
The visibility was quite poor when we visited and, although the cloud and mist was very atmospheric, we weren't able to see the great views. We spent out time exploring the rock formations up close before making our return by the same path.