Old Man of Storr
Skye's most famous pinnacle is a fifty-metre finger of basalt leaning out of a landslip amphitheatre, and the path up from the Storr car park takes barely ninety minutes return.
- Best forWalkers & hikers · Photographers · Road-trippers
- In May10°C · 16 rainy days
- Ideal stay3–4 nights on Skye
- Approx. flying time~10h 15m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyGBPPound sterling
- LanguageEnglish
- Local time12:14same time as the UK
- PlugsType GUK plugs fit
- Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
- Dialling code+44
Why go
A fifty-metre pinnacle of basalt leans out of a vast landslip on the Trotternish ridge, surrounded by lesser spires, hollows and crumbling terraces. The path up from the road climbs steadily through what was once forestry and takes perhaps ninety minutes there and back. As you gain height the landscape becomes progressively stranger, with the Sound of Raasay and the mainland mountains spread out below.
Nobody comes to Skye only for this, so build it into three or four nights on the island, alongside the Quiraing, the Cuillin and the western sea lochs. Portree is the obvious base, twenty minutes south. May, June and September give the best combination of light, weather and midge-free air. The path is well made but relentlessly uphill, and the summit area is exposed to wind and cloud.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights on Skye
- The vibe
- Bleak, jagged, quietly unsettling
From our guides
The higher you climb, the stranger it gets — spires, hollows and the Sound of Raasay glittering below. Dawn is the classic move: sunrise light on the rock, an empty car park and the whole eerie place to yourself before the tour buses roll up from Portree.
Featured in Ten spectacular mountain walks for ordinary fitness levels
Things to do
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The Sanctuary
The bowl of pinnacles below the Old Man itself, where the strange rock forms crowd together. Most photographs are taken from here rather than the top.
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Dawn on the ridge
First light hits the east-facing rock directly, and the car park is nearly empty before the tour buses come up from Portree.
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The Quiraing
Further north along the same landslip, a longer and wilder circuit past the Needle and the Table. Arguably the better walk of the two.
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Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
Columnar basalt cliffs with a waterfall dropping straight into the sea, viewed from a roadside platform ten minutes up the coast.
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Portree harbour
The island's main town, with a row of painted houses around the bay and the practical business of fuel, food and boat trips.
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Neist Point
A lighthouse on the westernmost tip of Skye, reached by a steep path, with sunsets over the Minch and minke whales sometimes visible offshore.
Getting there
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Fly to
Inverness (INV)
Nearest airport to Skye, about 127km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Portree
Inverness (INV) is the realistic gateway, around four hours by road to Portree over the Skye Bridge; Glasgow adds a spectacular but longer drive.
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On the ground
Getting around
The Storr car park is about fifteen minutes north of Portree on the A855, and the path to the pinnacles is a steep ninety minutes return on made-up track.
Public transport: A Portree to Staffin bus passes the trailhead a few times a day, but the timings suit neither dawn nor a relaxed walk.
Flights
Los Angeles Skye, Scotland
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Roughly 10h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Pick your departure date, then your return.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 4°C in January to 13°C in August. Driest in April; wettest in January, with rain on about 24 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
May10° · rain 16 daysCold and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Guesthouses, B and Bs, croft self-catering and a small number of hotels and inns. Skye has very little chain accommodation and a lot of two and three room places.
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Best base overall
Portree
The island's only real town, twenty minutes from the Storr car park, with the widest choice of beds, restaurants that serve late and a petrol station. It is also the first place to sell out.
Find stays in Portree -
Quietest
Staffin and the Trotternish coast
North of the Storr, closer to the trailhead than Portree and far darker at night. Croft houses and pods rather than hotels, with almost nowhere to eat after eight.
Find stays in Staffin and the Trotternish coast -
Best value
Broadford
Down towards the bridge, an hour from the Storr but cheaper and easier to book at short notice. It works if you are driving the whole island rather than fixating on one walk.
Find stays in Broadford -
Best with children
Sligachan and Carbost
Central Skye with a campsite, bunkhouses and inns near flat riverside walks and the distillery road. Handy for splitting long drives, though the midges are enthusiastic in summer.
Find stays in Sligachan and Carbost
Worth knowing before you book: Skye beds for June to August routinely go six months to a year ahead, and many owners set a two or three night minimum. Book before you book the flight.
Search everything else in Portree by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Parking
- The car park at the trailhead is paid and fills early in summer. Verge parking on the main road is not permitted and causes real problems.
- Weather
- Cloud sits on the ridge often, and wind at the top can be strong enough to knock you off balance. Check the forecast and be willing to turn back.
- Footwear
- The lower path is gravelled, but the upper section is rough, wet and slippery. Walking boots rather than trainers.
- Midges
- Still, damp evenings from June to August bring them out in force at the car park. Repellent lives in the glovebox on Skye.
- Timing
- Sunrise and the hour before dusk are quietest and best lit. Midday in July is the busiest the path ever gets.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
The Fairy Pools
Isle of Skye, Scotland · 18km away →
Bealach na Bà
Scotland · 32km away →
Ben Nevis
Scotland · 106km away →
North Coast 500
Scotland · 115km away →
Cairngorms
Scotland · 162km away →
Red squirrels and ospreys
the Cairngorms, Scotland · 169km away →Elsewhere in Scotland
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Old Man of Storr?
Daytime highs run from about 4°C in January to 13°C in August. Driest in April; wettest in January, with rain on about 24 days.
How long should I spend in Old Man of Storr?
Our suggestion: 3–4 nights on Skye.
How do I get to Old Man of Storr?
Inverness (INV) is the realistic gateway, around four hours by road to Portree over the Skye Bridge; Glasgow adds a spectacular but longer drive.
Do I need a car in Old Man of Storr?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. A Portree to Staffin bus passes the trailhead a few times a day, but the timings suit neither dawn nor a relaxed walk.
What currency and language are used in Old Man of Storr?
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP). Language: English. Plugs: type G.
Who is Old Man of Storr best for?
Best for walkers & hikers, photographers and road-trippers. In a phrase: bleak, jagged, quietly unsettling.