A Day Ashore in Portree, Skye
Off the tender at Portree’s harbour and into Skye’s capital: the painted quay, the Lump and the Scorrybreac headland on foot, and the Old Man of Storr up the coast.
Words by Hidden Scotland
Portree is a favourite summer stop for cruise ships. They anchor in the bay and bring passengers ashore by tender to a pontoon at the quay, which is closed to everyone else on cruise days, and the town centre is a short walk away.
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Skye’s capital in all but name is a small town gathered round a sheltered bay, and most of it is within a few minutes’ walk of the quay. For the island’s great sights, the Old Man of Storr is up the coast to the north.
01 · Portree
Portree harbour and Somerled Square
The town’s best-known view is the harbour itself: a curve of houses painted pink, blue and white along the quay, fishing boats and yachts on the moorings, and wooded hills behind. Up the hill, Somerled Square is the middle of the town, with its shops and cafés round about.
Stay near Portree harbour and Somerled Square
Our places to stay, nearest first
The Bosville
Portree
Marmalade Hotel
Portree
Cuillin Hills Hotel
Portree
The Crofter's House
Camustianavaig
Skeabost House Hotel
Skeabost Bridge
Sligachan Campsite
Sligachan
Sligachan Blackhouses
Sligachan
Half of One
Culnacnoc
02 · Portree
The Lump
Rising above the harbour, the Lump is a steep, wooded knoll with paths winding up through the trees to open grass on top, a few minutes’ climb from the square. The view takes in the painted houses of the quay, the boats in the bay and the hills beyond, and every August it is where the Skye Highland Games are held.
Stay near The Lump
Our places to stay, nearest firstThe Bosville
PortreeCuillin Hills Hotel
PortreeMarmalade Hotel
PortreeThe Crofter's House
Camustianavaig
Raasay House Hotel
RaasaySkeabost House Hotel
Skeabost BridgeSligachan Campsite
SligachanSligachan Blackhouses
Sligachan
03 · Portree
The Scorrybreac Circuit
Scorrybreac is a short loop round the green headland on the north side of Portree Bay, near enough to walk to from the square. It follows the wooded shore onto Clan Nicolson land, and out on the headland the views open up across the loch to the Cuillin and over the water to Raasay.
Stay near The Scorrybreac Circuit
Our places to stay, nearest firstCuillin Hills Hotel
PortreeThe Bosville
PortreeMarmalade Hotel
PortreeThe Crofter's House
CamustianavaigSkeabost House Hotel
Skeabost BridgeSligachan Campsite
SligachanSligachan Blackhouses
SligachanHalf of One
Culnacnoc
04 · Portree
The Isle of Skye Candle Co
James Robertson started the Isle of Skye Candle Co. on a family croft in 2006, at nineteen, and since 2022 its home has been the old Aros Centre on Viewfield Road, on the edge of town. Its candles and diffusers are scented after the island’s own plants, which makes them an easy thing to carry home.
Stay near The Isle of Skye Candle Co
Our places to stay, nearest firstThe Bosville
PortreeMarmalade Hotel
PortreeCuillin Hills Hotel
PortreeThe Crofter's House
CamustianavaigRaasay House Hotel
RaasaySkeabost House Hotel
Skeabost BridgeSligachan Campsite
SligachanSligachan Blackhouses
Sligachan05 · Trotternish
The Old Man of Storr
Seven miles north of Portree, the Old Man of Storr is the lonely rock pinnacle seen on so many pictures of Skye. The path from the car park on the A855 climbs 325 metres in 1.7 kilometres, so allow two hours there and back, and pack a waterproof: the weather changes fast, and the Old Man often disappears into the cloud. It takes a tour or a taxi from the town, so leave time to get back for the last tender.
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Stay near The Old Man of Storr
Our places to stay, nearest firstHalf of One
CulnacnocThe Bosville
PortreeCuillin Hills Hotel
PortreeMarmalade Hotel
PortreeThe Crofter's House
CamustianavaigSkeabost House Hotel
Skeabost BridgeSligachan Campsite
SligachanSligachan Blackhouses
Sligachan
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