Portree: top attractions & road trip guide
Portree is the largest town on the Isle of Skye and its unofficial capital, built around a sheltered harbour lined with brightly painted houses that once guided fishing boats home. Its name is thought to derive from Gaelic for "king's port," marking a royal visit in the 16th century, and it remains the island's main hub for shops, ferries, and services.
The town is the natural base for exploring the Trotternish peninsula on a Skye road trip, with narrow, winding roads leading north to dramatic rock formations and south toward the Cuillin mountains. Many roads beyond the town become single-track with passing places, so drive on the left and pull in to let oncoming traffic through.
Top attractions
Old Man of Storr
A distinctive pinnacle of rock beneath the Storr cliffs, reached by a popular uphill trail and one of the most recognisable landmarks on Skye.
The Quiraing
A landslipped landscape of towers and hidden plateaus at the northern tip of Trotternish, crossed by a scenic single-track road and walking trail.
Fairy Pools
A series of clear waterfalls and pools beneath the Black Cuillin, reached by a streamside walking trail near Glenbrittle, southwest of Portree.
Portree Harbour
The town's working harbour, lined with colourful houses and fishing boats and a popular spot for wildlife boat trips out to sea eagles and seals.
Cuillin Hills
A dramatic range of jagged peaks visible across much of southern Skye, among the most challenging mountains in Britain for hillwalkers and climbers.
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