Old Man of Storr
Can be walked all year in good weather, it is recommended to visit it early in the morning since it is maybe the only time you will not meet a large number of tourists heading to the place
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The Old Man of Storr is one of the most famous attractions on the Isle of Skye. It is a rocky formation lying below the mountain of Storr. The start of the walk to the Old Man is in the parking lot on the A855 road from Portree to Staffin. The path up is good but can be muddy in wet weather. I would recommend to visit it early in the morning since it is maybe the only time you will not meet a large number of tourists heading to the place.
Comments
Bohys, what time would you recommend to start to avoid the crowds? Around 8 am? Also I heard that there is a different path up which is not crowded. Do you have an idea where this one could be?
Hey Sarah. I would recommend to go earlier, like at 6 am. The sunrise is great on the Old Man as well. I heard of the other path as well. I never walked it, so I will tell you what I remember. It should start on the A855 road approximately half a mile before the car park under the Old Man. I remember people told me it is quite boggy, but I can't tell. The path lead up along the forest, which is now unfortunately cut down. But I guess it will not be a problem to find this path up. Cheers.
Taken when doing the Skye trail May 2013.
Do you know the story of an Old Man of Storr? The 2 natural stone pillars are the man and his wife. Very odd couple, as the wife has fallen over. But before they stood upright, side by side as a couple. There is a theory, that this couple, wife and man had lost their cow and went looking for it. Well, while searching they met with the giants and fled from them. Oh... They made a crucial mistake while running away - they looked back and... were turned to stone on the spot...
Morale: when you are in mountains never look back - only forward!!
Approaching Old Man of Storr...
Ridley Scott used this as one location for his Alien prequel 'Prometheus'.