The Old Man of Storr
Trip Start
Sep 12, 2006
1
82
100
Trip End
Sep 08, 2008
Trotternish Peninsula,
United Kingdom
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
There were a few more cars parked in the carpark than the previous day at Bla Bheinn, and when we arrived we realised we'd actually have to park by the side of the road as there were no spaces. The Old Man of Storr was a lot more accessible than Bla Bheinn, and given the stunning weather it was hardly surprising there were so many tourists.
The initial climb through some woodlands proved surprisingly tough on the legs after the previous day, and we were pretty happy to take a break when we reached a small gate and a view of the imposing Trotternish ridge. It was hard to make out the 'Old Man' at this stage, as it blended in with the cliff face behind it. However, after another ten minutes of climbing it came into full view. As we rose, the view behind us opened out and offered a spectacular look at the Sound of Raasay and the Cuillin Hills in the distance.
Ignoring the signs, we climbed right up beneath the old man, and had a bite for lunch. It reminded me a little of the menhir Obelix used to carry with him in Asterix, but unlikely those, this was much bigger and still reasonably firmly attached to the ground. Although, the signs did warn that it was expected to topple in the future at some stage.
We explored a little behind the rock before making our way further up the hill to a stunning viewpoint which offered real postcard views of the Old Man. Unfortunately by this stage the blue skies had disappeared, and we were forced to don the jackets for the climb back down. By the time we reached the car it was pouring, and I felt a bit for the poor souls who'd just turned up to begin their climb.
It was a great way to finish our short spell on the Isle of Skye, and apart from the first day the weather really wasn't too bad. That afternoon we had about two hours of driving to do in order to reach our next destination, the tiny township of Torridon, nestled at the end of Loch Torridon beneath some supposedly stunning peaks. We could only hope the weather would improve.
