Portree with Small Children – The Lump, the Harbour and Birch
A few hours, from Somerled Square, Portree and back.
The route
Portree is small enough to explore on foot with young children, and this morning needs no car at all.
A short path climbs from Bank Street into the trees on the Lump, the wooded hill above the harbour, where a small stone tower from the 1830s looks down on the bay. Then it's down to the painted houses and fishing boats on the quay, and a hot chocolate at Birch to finish. Allow an hour or two.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The day
Portree
An easy wander round the middle of Portree, all on foot from Somerled Square. Up through the trees to the tower first, down to the boats on the quay, and back up the hill for something warm.
About two hours
The Lump
An attraction
From Somerled Square it's about 6 minutes' walk along Wentworth Street and Bank Street to the path that climbs into the trees on the Lump, the wooded hill between the town and the harbour. The Skye Highland Games are held on the grassy field on top every August. Above the harbour stands the Apothecary's Tower, a small eight-sided stone tower built in the 1830s as a beacon, with the boats and the bay below. Visitors have described a steel stair up to its battlements: if it's open, hold small hands on the stair and at the top. The paths have steps in places, so a pushchair will struggle. If you're driving in, park at Somerled Square (the first 30 minutes are free, then £3 for up to 2 hours, the longest stay allowed) or at Bayfield car park (£3 for up to 3 hours).
5 min on foot
Portree
An attraction
Walk about 5 minutes from the tower, down Fancy Hill and a short path, to Quay Street, where Portree's painted houses, pink, blue and white, line the harbour and the fishing boats tie up at the pier. The quayside is open to the water, so keep little ones close.
3 min on foot
Birch
A drink
From the harbour it's about 3 minutes' walk back up the path to Bank Street and along past the Green to Bayfield Road, a minute from Somerled Square. Birch is a bright little coffee shop on the corner, open every day from 8am to 5pm, and it roasts its own coffee on the island. Have the hot chocolate, which is rich, and pick a bake from the counter. Brunch is on too, with eggs and sourdough, if the morning has made everyone hungry. It fills up in summer, so go early for a seat by the window.
If it rains
The Lump's paths are under the trees and everything is a few minutes apart, so a shower does little harm; on a really wet morning, the pool at the Fingal Centre on Viewfield Road is the dry answer, 10 minutes' walk from the square.
Birch, skye's own coffee roasters.
The View Restaurant, bay views, Cuillin Hills Hotel.