Portree

Portree (Gaelic: Port Rìgh) is the main village on the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. With a population of 2300 in 2022, it's the obvious base for exploring the island. The name means "King's Port", probably a reference to James V. It's not a ferry port but in bygone years was a significant port for emigration, for trade when the roads were just muddy tracks, and for naval patrols against the king's foes - in 1746 Bonnie Prince Charlie snuck through town under their noses.

(tel +44 1478 612992) is the tourist office, on Bayfield Road IV51 9EL, open Apr-Sep M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Oct-Mar M-Sa 10AM-4PM.

Get in
By bus: Citylink Bus 914 / 915 runs 2-3 times a day from Glasgow Buchanan Station, taking 8 hours via Glasgow Airport, Dumbarton, Loch Lomond west bank, Crianlarich, Glencoe, Fort William, Invergarry and Kyle of Lochalsh, then over the Skye Bridge to Broadford, Sligachan and Portree. Most buses continue to Uig ferry terminal.

Bus 917 runs twice a day from Inverness via Loch Ness and the Skye Bridge, then via Broadford and Sligachan to Portree; 3 hr 30 min.

Stagecoach Highlands Bus 52 runs three times a day from the ferry pier at Armadale via Broadford to Portree, 75 min.

Bus 56 runs 3-4 times M-Sa from Portree via Skeabost and Edinbane to Dunvegan (50 min) and Lonmore, with a couple continuing west to Colbost and Glendale.

Bus 57 circles the Trotternish peninsula. Bus 57C is clockwise, Portree > Uig > Flodigarry > Staffin > Portree and 57A is anti-clockwise the reverse route. It runs every 2-3 hours M-F plus Sa Apr-Oct and Su May-Sep

is the bus stand. No facilities beyond a draughty perspex shelter, but it's surrounded by pubs and eating places.

By car follow the main road A87 across the toll-free Skye Bridge and continue northwest.

Get around
Almost everything in town is within 5 minutes walk. You might want to take a bus to the Co-op supermarket on the edge of town.

Taxi firms are Gus's (+44 1478 613000), Don's (+44 1478 613100), BW's (+44 1478 612865), Portree Taxi Tours (+44 7384 284373), Lynx (+44 1478 611909) and Portree Taxi (+44 1478 612444). Any of these can do island tours.

Bikes on the Brae hires bikes including mountain and e-bikes, and has a coffee shop. They're open Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM.

Car rental is available from Morrisons (+44 1478 612688).

See

 * has colourful houses and shingle beach, with attractive hills sheltering the bay from the ocean gales.
 * is the headland just south of town; events are often held here. The Apothecary Tower is a folly of 1830, wrecked by a storm of 1978 but rebuilt, and you can ascend the interior steps for fine views. The hills seen east across the channel are the island of Raasay; until the 20th century you could only get from one end of that island to the other by ferry to Skye and out again.
 * are a cascade on the road between Lochs Fada and Leathan. By this point the Old Man of Storr should be in view, unless the clouds are right down and you're not destined to see him today.
 * is the contorted landscape created 10,000 years ago when its ice straitjacket melted and there was a 20-mile long landslide along the east coast of Trotternish. This exposed the rugged peak of The Storr (719 m, 2359 ft), with the distinct 50-m pinnacle of The Old Man of Storr. The Old Man can be seen from the road, an anti-clockwise circuit gives the best views. Or hike up for a closer look: Walkhighlands suggest a 3-mile, 3-hour return hike. Signage at the car park indicates a two hour hike, but this is over-optimistic.
 *  See Uig for points further north in Trotternish, such as Kilt Rock, the Quiraing, and Museum of Island Life.

Do

 * What's on? See Skye Events for ceilidhs and live music, at various venues.
 * Isle of Skye Pipe Band parade on summer evenings, usually on Thursdays at 7PM around Somerled Square.
 * Look up your ancestors: Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre has records back to the 17th century. The bulk are 19th century, when many emigrated especially in the famine years. The Centre is within the Hostel on Dunvegan Rd, open M Tu Th 10AM-1PM, 2-5PM.
 * Boat trips from Portree harbour are run by Stardust and Spindrift. Wildlife spotting, fishing, and some trips land at Applecross or Rona.
 * Shinty: Skye Camanachd play in the MOWI Premiership, the top tier. The playing season is April-Oct.
 * Golf: see Sconser for Isle of Skye Golf Course.
 * Skye Live is a music festival held on The Lump, with the next probably on 8-10 May 2025, tbc.
 * Skye Highland Games are held on The Lump in August, with the next on W 7 Aug 2024.
 * Skye Agricultural Show is on the first Saturday of August on King George V playing fields on Park Road, with the next on Sa 3 Aug 2024.
 * Skye Agricultural Show is on the first Saturday of August on King George V playing fields on Park Road, with the next on Sa 3 Aug 2024.

Buy

 * Gulf filling station at the south edge of Portree has fuel for only a few pence more than mainland supermarket prices. It's open 24 hours.

Eat

 * Eating places, like accommodation, get booked solid in summer, and you may even face a long queue for takeaway fish & chips.


 * Somerled Square the bus stop has The Granary, Caledonian Cafe and Cuchullin restaurant.
 * The Quay has The Chippy, Cafe Arriba (below), Restaurant Rosedale, The Lower Deck (below) and Harbour Fish & Chips.
 * Dulse and Brose is within Bosville Hotel, open daily noon-2PM and 6-8:45PM.
 * An Talla Mòr 1820 on Bank St serves pub grub, open daily 11AM-1AM.
 * Prince of India on Bayfield Road gets poor reviews. It's open daily noon-11:30PM, cash only.
 * An Talla Mòr 1820 on Bank St serves pub grub, open daily 11AM-1AM.
 * Prince of India on Bayfield Road gets poor reviews. It's open daily noon-11:30PM, cash only.
 * Prince of India on Bayfield Road gets poor reviews. It's open daily noon-11:30PM, cash only.

Drink

 * Bars include Pier Hotel on Quay Street, Merchant Bar within Bosville Hotel, and Caberfeidh Bar and The Isles Inn on Somerled Square.
 * Distillery: Isle of Skye Distillers make gin and vodka in Portree. No tours, their shop is on Rathad na Slignich.

Sleep

 * There are over 50 B&Bs in Portree, which routinely sell out in summer, and the best are full up any time of year. You need to book early.


 * Tongadale Hotel is a simple place on Wentworth St by main square, noisy from the pub below, B&B double £130.
 * Tongadale Hotel is a simple place on Wentworth St by main square, noisy from the pub below, B&B double £130.
 * Tongadale Hotel is a simple place on Wentworth St by main square, noisy from the pub below, B&B double £130.
 * Tongadale Hotel is a simple place on Wentworth St by main square, noisy from the pub below, B&B double £130.

Connect
As of June 2024, Portree and its approach road A87 have a basic mobile signal from Three, 4G from O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from EE.

Go next

 * Portree is so central that you'll probably explore the whole island while based here, but you could relocate to Broadford or Armadale to see Sleat.
 * Raasay is usually done as a day-trip via Sconser. Stay longer if you want to unwind.
 * Uig is the ferry port for North Uist and Harris.