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Portree

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Portree is a the largest Town on the Isle of Skye, 33 miles north of the Skye Bridge, 42 miles north of the Ferry Port village of Armadale, popular for the Aros Visitor Centre, Boat Trips, Walk to the Lump for views over the town, and as a base for exploring the Island.

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The Skye Live Music Festival takes place at Portree.

Boat Trips from Portree can be taken with skyeboat-trips.co.uk.

The image top is of the Aros Visitor Centre on the south side of Portree, with a Cinema, Restaurant, Kids Play, Shop, and Venue for Entertainment.

The second image is of Portree Market Square, known as Somerled Square, named after the Viking Somerled that was King of the Isles in the 1100s. The Square has parking, a larger car park close by, and the Portree Hotel is the building overlooking the Square.

The third image is of the Granary Diner overlooking the Square.

The fourth image is of Wentworth Street with most of the towns Shops, leading to the Harbour area.

The fifth image is of Bosville Terrace from where you get high views over the Harbour.

The Harbour area has a number of Seafood Restaurants, Guest Houses and where you can take Boat Trips from.

The Lump is a Park high above the Harbour with a Tower for views over Portree, where the Skye Live Music Festival takes place. This is a popular place for Sun Bathing on warm days.

Bank Street leads from the Harbour back to the Square, also with good views over the Harbour.

Portree History

1540 - King James V visited Portree with a Fleet of Warships in an attempt to persuade the Island Clans to support him. Kings at this time had to travel around Scotland's Castles and Islands the ensure they had the support of all the Clans.

1746 - after the Jacobite defeat at the Battle of Culloden, Flora MacDonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie had their last meeting at MacNab's Inn at Portree, where the Royal Hotel is today, on Bank Street.

1740s - after the failure of the Last Jacobite Rebellion and the Highland Clearances began, Portree was used as a Departure Point for Islanders sailing to America.

1771 - the Town expanded through Fishing after Sir James Macdonald developed Portree Harbour.

1820s - Thomas Telford built Roads on Skye between Portree northwest to Uig, and south to Kyleakin where the first Ferries ran between the Mainland and Skye, where the Skye Bridge is today.

1826 - weekly Steamers from the Mainland began visiting Portree.

1840s - Portree was again used as a Departure Point for Emigrants due to the Potato Famine on the Islands and Highlands of Scotland.

1851 - Steamers traveling between Glasgow and Stornoway on the Outer Hebrides began calling at Portree.

1894 - regular Steamer Services ran between Portree and Ullapool, Oban, Lochinver, and ports in the Western Isles.

1958 - the last of the Steamers MV Lochnevis (1934) was withdrawn from service after Car Ferries operating on the short crossing between Kyle of Lochalsh on the Mainland and Kyleakin on Skye began taking most of the trade.

Today - Portree is the largest and busiest Town on Skye attracting many visitors from around the world. There is a large car and coach park in the town centre.

The area around Portree contains Shale, being a possible site of Oil or Gas extraction in the future.

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Portree Photos
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