THE OLD MAN OF STORR AND THE QUIRAING HIKES

Day 2 Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing

The Old Man of Storr is a fantastic walk with stunning views all the way.There are great views of it from the road from Portree to the Storr lochans where a pull in allows classic photos of it across the water.(The image below was taken in autumn.)

Got a space in the car park at 9.30am though it was filling up quickly (this was mid August.) £5 for 6 hours which is well beyond the time needed for a simple there and back.

The Old Man is a polite translation of the rock pinnacle’s Gaelic name ‘Am Bodach’ which means ‘penis.’ It’s a common name for various phallic shaped rock stacks in Scotland!

The hike starts off with a steepish pull up then becomes a more gradual ascent.

If you’re young or a regular hillwalker, it’s not a difficult hike but some people were stopping for a breather part way up.

The walk was mobbed, as busy as Ben Nevis! Young and old were making their way up the excellent path (like a stone staircase at times) past the Old Man itself.It’s possible to walk right round it too.

Before the main viewpoint, there are one or two options for scrambling up to other spots…

Then it’s only a few minutes on the continuing excellent path to the best view of all – the final little knoll, a bit eroded but fine, which gives a vista over the whole landscape.Truly fabulous views.

It took us 45 mins to reach this knoll though my son did it in about 30 mins at his usual cracking pace.Great views to Torridon and the mainland’s beautiful mountains.

We had our hefty leather hiking boots on (I like the ankle support) but trail shoes would suffice or even lighter running type trainers on a dry day. As ever, we both used our walking poles.I really need them for balance these days.

Popped in to check out the nice small shop at the car park, selling quality memorabilia of the walk, Talisker whisky and other Skye products. No café but a coffee van across the road was going like a fair.

The Quiraing

A 25 min easy drive north and we were at the Quiraing car park. This is an amazing area though we didn’t see it at its best given it was a very overcast day.

A photo looking back to the Quiraing area taken in January from Staffin beach.The mountain above the Quiraing is a very rounded hill ringed by cliffs.It’s a very straightforward ascent.

The single track final section of road was very quiet and at 12.30pm we got parked easily.Looking down on the car park area once part way up the initial ascent…

There are two hike options.

Either contour along below the summit of the hill, heading for the pinnacles. The path is visible in the photo below (taken in autumn):

To actually access the pinnacles and The Table, as its called involves a quite eroded hike up scree so very few people do that these days.Most follow the main path and either return that way or continue up onto the hill’s summit.

We decided on the other option which is to head directly for the top of the hill, called Meall na Suiramach. This sits above the various pinnacles and gives lovely views over the whole landscape, the Outer Hebrides and the mainland mountains opposite the islands of Raasay and Rona.

This meant taking the immediate left hand branch of the contour path which is now like a stone staircase (it used to be a boggy trudge.)

It’s still a stiff slog up before the angle eases out and crosses the steep moorland.There were plenty of people about but it was not as busy as our previous hike.In less than an hour we were at the top, looking down over the fearsome cliffs onto the Quiraing. The Table used to be as flat as a billiard table as I think sheep used to graze it; no longer, or else they were munching on grass elsewhere!  We scrambled up to it a long time ago on younger legs.

Photos of The Table and over Staffin Bay taken one March…

Great views across to the Torridon mountains again, beyond Staffin Bay.Slioch below with Red Point beach visible…

The air was so clear we could see all the way up to Assynt’s famous inselberg mountains. Stoer Lighthouse was visible too and the Cuillin were clearing beyond the Trotternish ridge (part of which we were now on.) 

Detoured up to the Trig point for views across to the Outer Hebrides, found a rocky perch and had our sandwich lunch.

Decided not to do the whole loop which involves descending down then skirting round the various cliff sections and retraced our steps.My son heading down…

Us following some way behind!

Then down the final steps…

We all agreed this was another fantastic hike – about 2.5 hrs all in including our break at the top.

Stopped off at busy Kilt Rock, a view I always enjoy seeing.

Heading back via the Old Man of Storr area, there are some fine views of the cliffs and the pinnacle from the road. We didn’t stop this time as we had booked dinner out and were wanting to get back for showers and a bit of a relax – this photo was taken one January…

Dinner was at The Old Schoolhouse in Dunvegan (about a 25 min drive from the house) which I’d booked a couple of weeks ago. Although I was a bit disappointed in the limited menu and specials the Braised Beef Stew was first class and Chris’s Lamb Ragout with Pasta was gorgeous! Well fed after a busy but hugely enjoyable day.