The Storr

Mountain peak · Highland

The Storr

Mountain peak · Highland

2

Portree IV51 9HX, United Kingdom

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The Storr by null
The Storr by daviestad (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Frank Winkler/Pixabay (Public Domain)
The Storr by Max Pixel/Public Domain
The Storr by Pacifickat22 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Max Pixel/Public Domain
The Storr by daviestad (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Pacifickat22 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Kerry Wolfe (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Pxhere/Public Domain
The Storr by Pacifickat22 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Kerry Wolfe (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Mike H (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Kerry Wolfe (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Matt Thornhill/public domain
The Storr by Collector of Experiences (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Frank Winkler/Pixabay (Public Domain)
The Storr by Matt Thornhill/public domain
The Storr by Pacifickat22 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by rigby87 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Kerry Wolfe (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Mike H (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Pacifickat22 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Pacifickat22 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by rigby87 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Storr by Pxhere/Public Domain
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null
The Storr by null

Highlights

Steep rocky landslip with grassy slopes and iconic rock pinnacle  

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Portree IV51 9HX, United Kingdom Get directions

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Portree IV51 9HX, United Kingdom Get directions

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Last updated

Oct 8, 2025

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@atlasobscura

The 10 Best Places of 2018

"The Old Man of Storr juts out of the undulating terrain like an igneous shard of mythological proportions. A tentpole of the rugged vistas that characterize the Isle of Skye, this point of interest in the Scottish Highlands is a site of folkloric mysticism and natural grandeur. Situated atop Trotternish Ridge—a peninsula in the northeastern region of the Isle of Skye, created as the result of a colossal landslip—the Old Man of Storr is a 160-foot pinnacle rock formation named after its likeness to, well, an old man. The Storr, which refers to the group of looming outcrops that include and surround the Old Man, is a title derived from the Norse word for “Great Man.” Legend has it that the Old Man of Storr was a giant who resided on the Trotternish Ridge. When he was laid to rest upon his death, his thumb—the “Old Man”—remained partially above ground. The Old Man of Storr towers over the Sound of Rasaay at an elevation of more than 2,300 feet, and a hike up the grassy mounds toward the group of curious pinnacle rocks that surround the Old Man provides magnificent, panoramic views of the water and the surrounding mainland. The raw, bucolic landscape of the Storr and the encompassing hiking circuit known as the Quiraing, have landed the Old Man several movie features, including The Wicker Man (1973), Prometheus (2012), and Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/10-best-places-of-2018
View Postcard for The Storr
@atlasobscura

17 of the World's Most Beautifully Broken Places

"The Old Man of Storr juts out of the undulating terrain like an igneous shard of mythological proportions. A tentpole of the rugged vistas that characterize the Isle of Skye, this point of interest in the Scottish Highlands is a site of folkloric mysticism and natural grandeur. Situated atop Trotternish Ridge—a peninsula in the northeastern region of the Isle of Skye, created as the result of a colossal landslip—the Old Man of Storr is a 160-foot pinnacle rock formation named after its likeness to, well, an old man. The Storr, which refers to the group of looming outcrops that include and surround the Old Man, is a title derived from the Norse word for “Great Man.” Legend has it that the Old Man of Storr was a giant who resided on the Trotternish Ridge. When he was laid to rest upon his death, his thumb—the “Old Man”—remained partially above ground. The Old Man of Storr towers over the Sound of Rasaay at an elevation of more than 2,300 feet, and a hike up the grassy mounds toward the group of curious pinnacle rocks that surround the Old Man provides magnificent, panoramic views of the water and the surrounding mainland. The raw, bucolic landscape of the Storr and the encompassing hiking circuit known as the Quiraing, have landed the Old Man several movie features, including The Wicker Man (1973), Prometheus (2012), and Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/beautiful-erosion
View Postcard for The Storr

Aja Brandman

Google
Beautiful hike up to the base. Very lucky with perfect weather; I can imagine this being very slippery when raining. It does get noticeably colder and windy (very windy!) up at the top. Took about 45 min to get to the top, and that was with some stops to take photos. I would say this is an intermediate hike, coming from someone who is fairly active.

Gina Mitchell

Google
I recently did this hike with my dad and absolutely loved it, even though it was quite challenging. The trail is mostly an uphill climb with lots of steps, and it took us around 3 hours return with plenty of photo stops and breaks. It’s tough in places, but very doable if you pace yourself and rest when you need to. There are different routes you can take to reach the main viewpoint, from about halfway up, with some easier and some more difficult options. We went right around the back and did a little rock scrambling, which made it extra challenging but really fun. :) The views at the top were some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. We started in cloudy, misty weather and weren’t sure we’d see anything, but by the time we got up there it had cleared into a perfect day - absolutely breathtaking scenery. Practical stuff: there’s a small coffee shop and toilets at the bottom (but the toilets close around 5pm). Parking fills up quickly, though we found a spot just across the road at a similar price to the main car park. The path isn’t really accessible for wheelchairs, but there are still nice views from the base. Bring plenty of water, insect repellent, snacks, and sunscreen, as there’s no shade along the way. Sturdy shoes are a must - the steps and rocks can be slippery when wet. Overall, a tough but rewarding hike that I’d highly recommend to anyone keen for a challenge with unforgettable views! :) :)

Michal Brichacek

Google
One of the most beautiful hikes you can do. A must do on Skye. Not the easiest hike, and stairs are a plenty. Doable in running shoes, but hiking shoes are a good idea. Be warned that parking can be difficult if you show up later in the day - arrive early! Bathroom facilities available on site, but they were not good.

lyndsay russell

Google
Amazing experience and views. It was like being in a fantasy movie. It will definitely rain so make sure you have a good jacket and wear decent footwear. We went up when it was wet and windy and saw so many people get soaked and slip on the stone steps.

Jo B

Google
Such a cool hike! We went when the weather was awful, but so worth it. Even with the hair and fog, the views were so cool and you have to expect that weather when on the Isle of Skye. Well worth the walk in! Make sure you bring good shoes and waterproof clothes!

Firas Monajjed

Google
A wonderful spot for a short hike (under two hours) with breathtaking views from the top. The scenery is truly worth it! Just a tip — bring some insect repellent or a net to keep the midges at bay so you can fully enjoy the experience.

JB R

Google
A fairly short hike with a very accessible trail, though quite steep. The view from the furthest point is definitely worth the extra walking.

Bernard Savage

Google
Great hike but be warned; the carpark will be overflowing by 10 am and there could be quite a stream of tourists on the trails. Whether you take the blue or yellow trail the ascent and descent will take a couple of hours and be sure you have decent walking shoes. The views are spectacular and there are hiking circuits at the top if you have the time. It will be difficult to get the "classic" shots of the Storr in peak tourist time because of the number of people on the trails. But if my mid sixties legs can do it - so can you!
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Tanis L.

Yelp
After driving past the entrance to the physical feature named the Old Man of Storr and seeing how backed up traffic was, I opted for a different approach to observing the landmark. On the night of Sunday 14 July 2019, I decided to go for a drive and see the sunset (which was about 10:08 p.m.) and see the moon rise. I watched the sun set from the upper West area on the Isle of Skye, then approached the landmark southbound at about 10:48 p.m. The rocks were visible from up the coast, so I pulled my rental car over to the side of the road so see if I could take a few landscape pictures with the protruding rocks visible. Upon exiting my car to find a good angle, I encountered a male urinator in my way. Passing the person, I was able to get the from-afar pictures I was hoping for. The landmark is marvelous up close as well as from afar. Subtracting out the vertical urinator, it was a good experience and lovely physical feature in the moonlight.
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Michael D.

Yelp
Great parking lot and clean bathrooms. We came on a day when it rained and even snowed for a bit. We didn't make it all the way up, as the visibility was terrible. Do everything you can to come on a clear day.
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Alexander H.

Yelp
The Old Man Of Storr is surely one of the must-do's when on the Isle of Skye. At least if it's your first time like us. We parked our car at the huge carpark just below. There are masses of folks walking up to the Old Man. Or at least many do a part of the trail. After a short while the trail splits and you can choose between a longer and a shorter route. We took the short trail up and took the longer one on the way down. At the end before the top (and the stairs) both trails merge again. The longer route had clearly a lot less walker. It's a fairly easy hike. Our English Bulldog even managed to get to the Old Man. Just the stairs at the very end are a bit annoying. All steps in differents heights and sizes. I walked besides the stairs....much easier. Especially with a dog. On the way up or down be sure to take some breaks sometimes to enjoy the views of the mountains and the Loch. It's surprising how many visitors rush their way up, take a quick pic and leave immediatly. Many not even go up all the way. Also shocking to see the amount of Flip Flops...no joking. Even you can manage with Flipflops I do not recommend it. That's asking for an injury for sure. Even though full with visitors there are quiet spots to be found. And the Old Man and the views really live up to the hype. Spectacular views and landscape. We came here in the afternoon and stayed until the late afternoon. There were clearly less visitors at the end of the day. So, a really great experience. Worth the time. Really a must-do. And it's not even a long hike. Even when you take it really slow you'll be there in under an hour.
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Hannah H.

Yelp
This was an extremely hard hike. Uphill, muddy and rocky the entire way. After my husband convinced me not to turn around and go back to the car, we had the most amazing views from the top. Even with some fog obscuring the rocks, the view of the valleys and ocean were breathtaking. Wear waterproof everything, good boots and bring your inhaler if you got one! Parking is easy and only a couple pounds. Pay at the kiosk. Nice clean bathrooms at the bottom of the car park.
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Jason V.

Yelp
In all honesty, I had a bit of a spiritual awakening on the Isle of Skye, and in the Highlands of Scotland. The natural beauty and serenity of this place hit me like a sirocco: a coarse wind of sand and dust, that scoured the ragged edges of my heart and soul, and eroded away the crust of sadness and doubt that encased them. I have never felt such a strong connection to the living lifeblood of the earth as I did in the Highlands. Subjective or anecdotal that it may be, there is magic at work in these lands, and I challenge you to come here, experience them, and tell me otherwise. This is no tourist destination - this is a pilgrimage of the soul.
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Sophie S.

Yelp
A short hike and easy access makes this a highly traveled route. As a rock formation it is nice, though not particularly grand, but still worth a visit as you soak in the expanse of the Scottish landscape that extends far into the distance. Go in autumn or winter if you prefer more of a sense of solitude and wonder.
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Kristin Y.

Yelp
We did the hike that was just under 3 miles long. Overall, even though this was a shorter hike, it is consistently steep climbing up. However, the payoff is awesome. The bad thing about approaching from below is that the "old man" blends in to everything behind it, and you can't really see it until you are looking at it from behind. So, keep pushing and you will get your views! We looped around the rock formation (recommended!) which was less heavily traveled that the main hike up. I wish that the forest at the base of the hike had not been removed, or at least had been replanted. There wasn't really any signs of new growth in the area, and the bottom half of the hike is pretty boring / desolate with the old dried up tree stumps. Still giving it 4 stars because the top half of the hike is cool and the rock formation is iconic.
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Tabitha W.

Yelp
Our first official stop on the Isle of Skye was the Old Man of Storr, the most famous walk on the Island. The 'Old Man' is a large pinnacle of rock that stands high and can be seen for miles around. I was hoping there would be a bathroom, but no such luck. It was very windy and chilly as we began our long uphill climb.The view was pretty spectacular, both of the ever closer 'Old Man' as well as the view behind us. My footing was a little more unsure on the climb down as the gravel tended to shift under our feet, so I took a spill and landed hard on my butt. Good thing I've got ample padding back there. ;)