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Portree Scotland United Kingdom Cruise Port Guide
Location:
Alongside berthing for ships with maximum length of 63mtrs and maximum draught of 4mtrs. Most cruise ships anchor off. Sheltered anchorage approximately 1 mile from the pier. Pontoon available for tender services.
City center 0.5km, slightly uphill walk with some stairs along the way.
Printable map to take along.
Cruise calendar for this port.
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Monthly Climate Averages for Portree Scotland United Kingdom
Sightseeing:
Portree is the main town on Skye. Its name comes from the Gaelic Port-an-Righ, which translates as "King's Port" and dates to a visit by King James V, plus a fleet of warships, in 1540, to persuade the island clans to support him. It had earlier been known as Kiltraglen.
The main street running parallel to the back of the harbor is Bank Street. This is perhaps best known for the Royal Hotel. In an earlier guise, as MacNab's Inn, this was where Bonnie Prince Charlie bade farewell for the last time in 1746 to Flora MacDonald, who had famously conveyed him "Over the Sea to Skye".
The center of life in Portree has to be its harbor. This is in a superb natural setting, being surrounded by high ground and cliffs. The peninsula to the south is unflatteringly knows as "The Lump", and once provided a spectacular setting for public hangings on the island. Today the harbor continues to be used by fishing boats, but is also home to other vessels, from pleasure craft to the lifeboat.
Built around the harbor at harborside level are a range of buildings which have featured in more than one calendar photograph down the years. The run of brightly painted buildings down the south-west side is especially striking; but for us, the natural stone and whitewashed buildings on the north-west side are even more attractive.
The main town of Portree lies above and behind the harbor. The main focus is Somerled Square, home to the war memorial, some car parking, and most of the bus stops in the town.
The Aros Experience gives an excellent introduction to the Isle of Skye, with its multi-media exhibition portraying the story of the island and its people from the 18th Century to the present day.
Tours Excursions Transportation:
Portree is a small town - almost everything is only 5 minutes walk away.
Check at the tourist office for nice hiking trails.
Public transport is limited.
Nearby Places:
Dunvegan Castle, a fortress stronghold in an idyllic loch side setting. The castle has been home to the MacLeods since the 13th century and it is believed to be the oldest inhabited castle in Britain.
Talisker Distillery is the only distillery on Skye and produces a very distinctive 10 year old single malt whisky.
Skye Museum of Island Life is an open-air museum which has preserved some of the "black houses" (thatched cottages) typical of a 19th century crafting community.
Trotternish Peninsula boasts outstanding mountain scenery. The Storr is an impressive mass of rock rising to a height of 2,358ft. Right in front of it is an extraordinary basalt pinnacle, 165ft high, known as `The Old Man of Storr'.
Shopping and Food
Much of the shopping is to be found in the roads leading from Somerled Square towards the harbor: and Wentworth Street offers a range of those "interesting but not essential" shops that make any visit worthwhile.
Currency:
The currency throughout the UK is the pound (£). You may also hear the slang term quid for pounds. Scottish bank notes are frowned upon in other parts of the UK, so change the notes before leaving Scotland.
Cash machines (ATM) or less formally 'holes in the wall' are very widely available and usually dispense £10 and £20 notes.
Visa, Mastercard and Maestro, are accepted by most shops and restaurants.
Communication:
English is spoken throughout the country, but sometimes with heavy accents!
Most cafe's and restaurants offer free WiFi.
The local emergency telephone number is 999, however the EU-wide 112 can also be used.
Opening Hours and Holidays:
Shopping hours are in general:
Small stores 6 or 7 days a week (10am - 6pm)
Larger stores in general stay open til' 9PM
Hyper marts often 24/7
Holidays in the United Kingdom
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