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September 25, 2026September 26, 2026

Old Man of Storr – Isle of Skye – Scotland

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

The Old Man of Storr is a 55-metre-high basalt rock pinnacle standing dramatically on the Trotternish Ridge of the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

Created by an ancient, massive landslide, this striking geological landmark sits roughly 7 miles north of Portree and is the most popular hiking attraction on the entire island.

Old Man of Storr, Trotternish, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK

Easy and inexpensive bus access from Portree keeps this short day hike busy. In fact, all 300,000 visitors / year seemed to be out on the rare sunny day I was there. 😀

Distance: 3.8 km (2.4 miles) round trip.
Time: Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Difficulty: Moderate. The gravel trail is well-maintained but climbs steeply, gaining about 205 metres (700 feet) of elevation.
Terrain: Mostly firm gravel paths and pitched stone steps. The final stretches up near the “Sanctuary” (the base of the spires) can become muddy, rocky, and slippery, so sturdy footwear and the balance of a mountain goat are recommended
Aim to arrive before 8:00 AM or later in the evening to secure a parking space and enjoy a quieter hike
Several buses a day can get you here

Here’s the start.

And here’s Storr, the main attraction.

Of course there are many more spires, some even more striking.

There are a number of viewpoints.

Follow the sheep along the roped off trail …

… or hop the rope and enjoy equally fantastic scenery on your own.

I had lunch and enjoyed the sunshine for about an hour without seeing any other people. I had plenty of time, waiting on the bus to my next hike.

A fantastic place.

Though it was a sunny day, we had some sun showers.

Highly recommended if you get to remote Isle of Skye.

I’d posted an A.I. modified image of myself — aged by the Scottish highlands. 😀

View this post on Instagram

Though no app is needed once you get to the trailhead, I had AllTrails – The Old Man of Storr Loop open.

Click PLAY or watch some drone footage on YouTube.

Click PLAY or check out Portree on YouTube.

March 26, 2026March 27, 2026

Day Hiking Mt. Etna, Sicily

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I arrived Sicily from nearby Malta.

PLAN was to climb Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, and one of the most active in the world, currently 3,403 m (11,165 ft) high.

I figured it would be an easy day trip after Kilimanjaro.

Should have done some research. Summit trekking peak tours of Etna generally operate from April through November, with the main hiking season starting around May.

I arrived late March. There was a LOT of snow, even around 1900m. It can be 10–15°C cooler than in Catania. Many tourists arrive underdressed. And with footwear better for the beach than snow. 😀

Volcanic rock is somewhat sharp. It can cut flip-flops. I wore approach shoes and was OK on the snow and ice. Coming from Canada, this was normal for me. I didn’t see anyone using any kind of ice cleats.

They ski and snowshoe here. There are 2 small ski resorts.

I’d flown into the jumping-off point for Etna, the city of Catania.

There are dozens of options for day hiking Etna, from dozens of companies. It’s confusing.

My hostel recommended a day trip by bus offered by Tourist Service for €30, discounted from a posted €35 regular price. Since their office was right next door to my accommodation, I signed up.

It’s about 2 hours (with traffic) to Etna from the city. On the way up, we stopped to see a recent example of eruption damage. Yikes. This mountain has killed a lot of people over the centuries.

Bus delivered us to Rifugio Sapienza at around 1900m on the more popular south side of the mountain. A bit of a tourist trap. The north trailhead (Piano Provenzana) is better for offers wilder hiking trails and fewer crowds.

From Sapienza you can take a cable car up to 2500m. It’s expensive at €54 return when I was there. And you can hire a 4×4 contraption to pay even more. Guides are required at higher elevations.

I opted to stay close to the Rifugio Sapienza trailhead, saving my money for a summit climb some time in future.

There’s an additional €5entry fee for the Silvestri Craters on the south side. Well worth it. The highlight for me.

It’s only about 1km to circumambulate all 5 craters — but they are scenic.

With an hour left before my bus departed, I climbed the most conspicuous cone.

Had the top to myself for about 20 minutes.

Looking down on to the **Silvestri Craters**

Driving your own vehicle to Rifugio Sapienza is a good option. And there’s a public bus €6.60 return — but it leaves Catania very early. Returns very late. I assume that service runs mainly for employees.

Click PLAY or watch a 1-minute highlights video on YouTube.

October 17, 2024October 17, 2024

Hiking Lake Sørvágsvatn, Faroe Islands

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Almost every tourist to the Faroe Islands goes to see the lake hanging over the ocean. Unique and spectacular.

Sørvágsvatn is the largest lake in the Faroe Islands.

… surface is about 40 m (130 ft) above the level of the sea.

It is surrounded by a higher cliff which prevents it from emptying fully into the ocean, the waterfall Bøsdalafossur being the outlet.

The greater height of the cliffs on either side of Bøsdalafossur can give the illusion from certain perspectives that the lake is higher above sea level than it is.

The waterfall vista is great. But personally I liked even better walking the Trælanípan cliff — aka the ‘Slave Cliff’. Supposedly where slaves were pushed to their deaths.

There are many, many birds nesting on those vertical sides.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

In 2024 the hiking fee was 450 kr (USD $42) / adult (ages 15+) for a guided walk. 200 kr (USD $20) / adult (ages 15+) to hike on your own, as I did.

Price is $teep. And has been going up in recent years. Know that there are other great cliff walks free in the Faroe Islands. 😀

official website – tralanipan.fo