The colourful town of Portree. The Isle of Skye’s largest town is located in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is a port of call for many cruise ships and a great place to use as a base to start your exploration of this magical, rugged island. This fishing village was created about 200 years ago.
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Here are our Port of Call top things to do in Portree, Scotland.
Top things to do in Portree Isle of Skye Scotland
Take a walk through the town of Portree Scotland
The charming town of Portree is the capital of the Isle of Skye. Today, it is a popular stop for cruise ships. Stroll around town and visit the bakery.
The Scottish town of Portree is a port of call for many cruise ships and a great place to start your discovery of the rugged countryside of Isle of Skye. Photo Credit Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
The Scottish town of Portree is a port of call for many cruise ships and a great place to start your discovery of the rugged countryside of Isle of Skye. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©
Take a Portree wildlife tour to see eagles, puffins, whales and more
Many boat or zodiac tours are leaving from the Portree harbour. The best time to see puffins is in the spring or summer off the small coastal islands. Just offshore, one of the largest gannet colonies in Scotland is found near St Kilda.
Sea eagles can be spotted in the cliffs around Portee, and the Minke Whale is frequently seen in the waters from May to October. The common seal and harbour seal also appear.
Old Man of Storr
Old Man of Storr is one of the most popular destinations on the Isle of Skye because of its incredible landscape on Trotternish Ridge. It is one of the largest landslide areas in Europe, and the “Storr” is the result of this ancient landslide. Hiking roundtrip to reach the base of the Old Man will take about 1 1/2 hours. The trail is marked as difficult. It is steep, rocky, and very rough and strenuous. It is located 6 miles or almost 10 km from Portree, Scotland.
Old Man of Storr is one of the most popular destinations on the Isle of Skye because of its incredible landscape on Trotternish Ridge. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
The Quiraing
The Quiraing is located north of Isle of Skye on the Trotternish Ridge. The scenery is spectacular, and the rock formations are out of this world, making the area perfect for use in Sci-Fi movies. The ridge was shaped through a series of huge landslides, creating dramatic peaked hoodoos, cliffs and concealed mesas. Some people choose to explore this area on the 6.8 km walking loop. The trail is difficult, and you should check weather conditions before going. The journey takes you near high cliffs and can be very dangerous with high winds or fog.
The Quiraing is located north of Isle of Skye on the Trotternish Ridge. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
Kilt Rock
Kilt Rock is part of the Trotternish coastline and offers ocean views across to mainland Scotland. The nearby Mealt Waterfall free-falls 60 metres off the cliff’s side into Ramsay Sound. You can view Kilt Rock’s pillar-like rock formations from the waterfall, which are made of basalt. Many imagine the rock formation to look like the folds of a Scottish kilt. Please stay within the designated viewing areas as people have fallen from this attraction. This area has also been used in Sci-Fi movies.
Kilt Rock is part of the Trotternish coastline of the rugged countryside of Isle of Skye and offers ocean views across to mainland Scotland. The nearby Mealt Waterfall free-falls 60 metres off the cliff’s side into Ramsay Sound. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
Trotternish coastline
The Trotternish coastline is a famous spot for geologists worldwide. It is a living outdoor museum featuring interpretive panels in several areas discussing the Middle Jurassic period, when dinosaurs roamed this unique land. Walk along the beaches filled with fossils, and maybe you will discover a dinosaur bone or tooth embedded within a rock. Arrowheads dating from the Neolithic era can also be spotted here. The nearby Dinosaur Museum features a noteworthy collection.
Stafain Dinosaur Museum
Stafain Dinosaur Museum offers an excellent collection of Middle Jurassic history and dinosaur fossils. It showcases discoveries found on the Isle of Skye. Dugald Ross created the museum in 1976 as a teenager and is well-known for recording Scotland’s first dinosaur bones. If you are planning a visit to the area and would like to find footprints of dinosaurs on the beach or look for fossils, you can book a tour. The museum is located close to Kilt Rock and Mealt Waterfall. It is a 25-minute drive from Portree.
The Stafain Dinosaur Museum offers an excellent collection of Middle Jurassic history and dinosaur fossils. It showcases discoveries found on the Isle of Skye. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
Skye Museum of Island Life
This incredible 19th-century crofting village museum shows how crofters lived on the Isle of Skye 100 years ago. It is situated in an ideal location and has sweeping views of the ocean below. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
Fairy Glen
Fairy Glen is a hidden treasure of dome-shaped hills and includes a pond and a rock formation known as Castle Ewen.
Discover the enchanted geological landscape of Fairy Glen on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. The area looks as if it could be the home to magical faeries. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr
Fairy Pools
Fairy Pools is worth a visit if you have time and the weather is good. To reach the first pool and a waterfall from the road, it will take about a 20-minute hike along a path, crossing rivers using stepping stones. The pathway can be very muddy and slippery.
Be prepared
• Bring cash in local currency if you plan to eat lunch or buy anything from small stores or shops, as some places do not accept credit cards.
• Wear good sturdy walking or hiking shoes to navigate uneven terrain, as well as cobblestones, dirt, and wooden floors.
• Make sure you have all-weather waterproof clothing and wear layers. Weather conditions can change and you should be prepared for rain and wind.
Tours and shore excursions
- When we visited the Isle of Skye, we took a 5 1/2 hour shore excursion tour at a cost of £139.98 for 2 from TourSkye.com. We chose the tour because of the good reviews on TripAdvisor. The tour was with a small group of about 12 people. The guide was very knowledgeable and we saw the most we could on a day visit.
Tour Skye – The Scottish town of Portree is a port of call for many cruise ships and a great place to start your discovery of the rugged countryside of the Isle of Skye. Visit the top things to do – Sky Museum of Island Life, The Storr, Quiraing, Cuillin and the Fairy Pools in the northwest coast of Scotland.
- Sadly, Go Skye no longer operates the shuttle bus from Portree in the summer months.
- Check with the Portee Information Centre operated by Visit Scotland.
- Cruise ship shore day excursion tours are also available from Viator. We have used Viator in most countries we visit and can highly recommend them. By booking through the Viator link above, any commissions earned will help keep this website running.
The Scottish town of Portree is a port of call for many cruise ships and a great place to start your discovery of the rugged countryside of Isle of Skye. Photo Credit: Wendy Nordvik-Carr © View more photos wendynordvikcarr.com
A once in a lifetime experience
The Trotternish coastline is famous for its Middle Jurassic history. Book a tour in advance through the Stafain Dinosaur Museum for an opportunity to find footprints of dinosaurs or look for fossils on the beach.
Shopping
Bring cash in the local currency to buy lunch or any other purchases you plan to make. Most places do not accept credit cards. We stopped to pick up lunch on our tour. In the gift shop at the Skye Museum of Island Life, we almost bought three lovely, well-priced gray sheepskins. Sadly, we did not have enough cash when we discovered there was no credit card service.
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About the Author:
Wendy Nordvik-Carr is a highly regarded travel writer who produces quality, well-researched articles with stunning photography and video.
She seeks out authentic experiences showcasing the people, culture and history that make each destination unique. Her focus is on solo, couple and multigenerational travel through cruising, air and road trip adventures.
Wendy is the editor & writer for LifesIncredibleJourney.com, an award-winning travel site that encourages exploration of destinations near & far.
She is a TMAC Director, Chair, National Governance Committee and Chair of TMAC's BC & Yukon Chapter, as well as a member of SATW, IFWTWA and NATJA.
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