A bold island landscape on a Portree wall, painted by Runrig's Donnie Munro opposite his son's café, Birch.
On Bayfield Road in the middle of Portree, a once run-down wall has become one of the town's talking points: a bold island landscape painted by Donnie Munro, the original frontman of Runrig.
Visited and photographed by Simon Hird
Before music took over his life, Donnie studied at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen and became an art teacher, and he painted the wall as a favour to his son Niall, whose café, Birch, looks straight across at it.
He toured the island taking photographs on his phone for reference, then sketched the scene, and friends who do projections for Niall's SkyeLive festival threw the sketch onto the wall so he could paint it. The work took four days, with a steady stream of passers-by stopping to talk to him as he went. The mural is on the street and can be seen at any time, and the café across the road is the obvious place to sit and look at it. Donnie, his son says, now has free coffee for life.
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The mural is on the street on Bayfield Road, opposite Birch café, and can be seen at any time.
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Add your reviewRemember Runrig? The Celtic rock band remain one of Skye’s most enduring musical exports, and original frontman Donnie Munro is responsible for the large, eye-catching murals of island scenery that decorate the wall opposite Birch, his son’s Portree café.
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What is on on SkyeBayfield Road, Portree.
BirchA speciality coffee shop on Bayfield Road in Portree, roasting its own beans on the island since 2021.Under a mile 1 min by road
The Isle of Skye DistillersThe Wilson brothers' family distillery in Portree, making Misty Isle gin from foraged Skye botanicals since 2017.Under a mile 1 min by road
Antlers Bar & GrillThe restaurant of the Portree Hotel on Somerled Square, serving Highland cooking and Skye seafood at lunch and dinner every day of the year.Under a mile 1 min by road
ÒR Shop SkyeTwo craft shops in the middle of Portree, selling jewellery, ceramics, knitwear and art by makers from Skye and across Scotland.Under a mile 1 min by road
Somerled Square War MemorialPortree's war memorial, a small copy of Edinburgh's Mercat Cross topped by a seated lion, unveiled in 1922.Under a mile 1 min by road
Dulse and BroseThe Bosville's restaurant in the middle of Portree, cooking from the Skye and Highland larder, with the Merchant Bar next door.Under a mile 1 min by roadPlaces to stay near the mural, and when each is next free.
The Bosville
Marmalade Hotel
Cuillin Hills Hotel
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What we have written about it and more on Skye.
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