Old Man of Storr

A very short, easy walk to do late afternoon (when most walkers have come back down off the mountain) so you can enjoy the silence and evening light.

Details

270268
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 326 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 324 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 500 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 174 m

Photos

Description of the walk

By car, take the A855 from the north of Portree towards the north of the Isle of Skye.

(S/E) Park in the "Bodach an Stoir / Old Man of Storr" car park. Start by going through a wooden gate.

Follow a wide, clear track that climbs up to the northwest.

(1) The track turns into a smaller path. Shortly after, you will pass below the Old Man of Storr.

(2) Continue on up along a small path until you reach an animal fence, which blocks the way, to enjoy the landscape. To the south, you will have beautiful views of the Old Man of Storr with its distinctive form.

Make your way back down to the car park along the same path (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 174 m - Bodach an Stoir / Old Man of Storr car park
  2. 1 : km 1.04 - alt. 324 m - Small path
  3. 2 : km 2.03 - alt. 498 m - Animal fencing
  4. S/E : km 4.11 - alt. 176 m - Bodach an Stoir / Old Man of Storr car park

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Sandy63111
Sandy63111

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike! A must-do in Scotland. The car park at the start of the trail is large, paid (make sure you park in the designated spaces) and has toilets. The trail is very well marked, clean but sometimes a little technical (very rocky sections). There is a bit of elevation gain, and it climbs right from the start, so you'll need good shoes and a bottle of water. The summit, which offers the best view of the Old Man of Storr, is very exposed to the wind.

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John Lune
John Lune

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Signs make it impossible to get lost, even in fog, which is apparently common and was the case for us. Parking is very easy to find and well organised.

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RandoJLB
RandoJLB
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very nice short hike, with incredible, breathtaking views. Walking around the Storr allows you to escape the crowds for a few minutes.

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Siphnos92
Siphnos92
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

One of the most beautiful walks on the planet! Go early to avoid the early-morning crowds (which you'll come across on the way down, but it's no big deal) and to get the sun in front of you, giving a beautiful view of the rock and sea below. The path is very well signposted and easy (it's uphill, of course), so it's impossible to get lost. You can't expect what you're going to see on the way up; it's only once you've passed the old man and turned around that you're amazed. It's absolutely magnificent, another planet, time stands still! indescribable, go for it!

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salbert
salbert

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A great little hike with some crazy scenery.

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gg13500
gg13500

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike, incredible views. Not to be missed.

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Robin06190
Robin06190

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike!
We did it at the beginning of June with very unpredictable Scottish weather (hail, rain, wind, bright sunshine) but the main thing was to get to the top with some sunshine and a few clouds to take some wonderful photos.

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FLdu13
FLdu13

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A much-used path, this walk is a must on the Isle of Skye.
Beware, many people "escape" from the main path, but with so many people doing it, it has a negative impact on the environment. We all want to do it, but I don't think we should.
Even if it's impossible to get lost, the information on this walk is good. The views are magnificent.
Be careful though, it's a steep climb

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Gregory.lt
Gregory.lt

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike with an impressive view when you get to the top. Be careful though, I'd say you're at an average level as it climbs steeply throughout the hike, about 2km or even more if you turn left at the junction just after the iron gate (which adds about 1.5km). There are a lot of stone steps on the last kilometre, which is not so easy for the uninitiated. Car park currently under construction but spaces available (we started the walk at 6.30pm). Paid parking until 8pm. A fine of 50 pounds will be imposed.

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MB1
MB1

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely little walk with great views. Very easy to follow. Pay car park. Lots of people but not a nuisance.

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Pierre Michel
Pierre Michel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Well done for the information sheet and the guidebook, they were very useful, as not much information is provided on site...

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moliere8
moliere8

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Route completed in May 2023.
The path has been upgraded since this route was posted online.
So the Ggx doesn't quite correspond but is a few dozen metres further away.
Even so, it's impossible to get lost on this well-marked route.
Beautiful views all along the way.
Lots and lots of people. It's even annoying.
Warning: parking is £5! (This is the price you have to pay for the development of the car park, toilets and footpath.
A must when you go to SKYE!

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popome
popome

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely little walk despite the crowds, which in no way detract from the beauty of the place.
Please note that parking outside the car park is now prohibited and the police are on duty to issue tickets...

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caly26
caly26

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very nice, quick walk. Very crowded, so you have to arrive early to get a parking space in the morning, or late in the afternoon.

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chamvon
chamvon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

It's a good climb! But at every break there are superb views of the lochs and lots of people on the way.

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