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

Aug 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

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!

L C

Google
Get there before 10 if you want a spot to park. The walk was made easier with nice paved stones. It’s an amazing view on the top pass the Old Man. We LOVED it!!! Took us four hours because we took the small trail around the old man and then took the yellow route back. Take the blue trail when going up, it’s not that bad and the view is better.

Jess

Google
Beautiful scenery, went later in the evening around 8pm it was quiet and no parking charge. A few routes to walk around and up, Great spot to watch the sunset.

Nadine O

Google
I am not a fan of hiking, but this was for sure worth all the sweat and sunburns. There are two ways to hike up the Storr, they both take around an hour if you’re a quick hiker. The best views are at the very top. It’s quite a spectacular view from the top, one to definitely remember and do again! Plenty of parking around, £5 for 6 hours. A little gift shop and free public toilets too.

Sam Snyke

Google
Nice hike with views. Better to start with the easy trail and go down the hard trail. Parking available for minimum 6hours

Madeline Meseke

Google
Fantastic hike! Lots of uphill, and I was thankful for my trekking poles-but totally doable without. Would recommend layers as it’s fairly windy at the top. Hiking boots would serve you well too. Decent sized carpark with toilets but definitely fills up, so arrive early to secure a spot. Also a small gift shop on site.

Steven Green

Google
The highlight of Skye for me and for good reason. A small parking charge to park nearby but the views at the top are so worth it. The climb is tricky but they're alternative routes easier and hard. If you feel brave you can go off path and climb right up to touch it which is what I did. There's also another view point further along the path that you walk to. Totally recommend.

Connor Cameron Jaggs

Google
A tough windy climb but absolutely worth it, amazing views of Skye and Raaysay aswell as the Storr itself along the walk to the viewing spot.
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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. ;)