Overview

The Portree hotel, Somerled Square, Portree, Isle of Skye. www.isleofskye.com/theportreehotel One website stated this was one of the 20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland. My goodness, what a load of rubbish, we regarded this town as a “drive straight through so we can say we have been there”. We found nothing of attraction whatsoever, even the famous view of the harbour was a waste of time, (which had been designed by Thomas Telford) But we still feel it best to offer a review. Before the 16th century, there was a small settlement here, “ Kiltaraglen” (the church of St Talarican) but has been suggested by some Thats its name of Port Righ can be written as the “Kings Port” because they felt that King James V visited the town in 1540. However, there is no proof of this. The towns older name could have been Port Ruighe, meaning “slope harbour” There is a lot of archaeological finds that shows it from the Bronze Age, having found stone tools, then later, a collection of Beaker pottery was discovered. In the 1700’s the town was a port of departure for Scots sailing on to America, this being used again in the 1840’s during the famines of Scotland period. Interestingly, the Royal hotel is the place of MacNabs inn, where Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora MacDonald last met in 1746. It is a very busy town, attracted by various reports of its popularity, but we feel personally it’s because no one knows much about the place, it’s very dull and uninteresting. But it does get blocked up by traffic during the main seasons, while people are trying to find parking spots, so we suggest you do as we recommend “drive straight through” so you can say you have been there. =================================== It was lunch time on our visit, at a quiet time of the year, so parking was a little easier, so across the road from The bus lanes in Somerset Square, we thought we would try the Portree hotel. PORTREE HOTEL. Car parking is difficult, so you will have to drive around town until you find a spot. TAKE IT. The hotel was originally built in 1875, with nowadays, 24 en-suite rooms, with the usual TV,s, tea making facilities, although not really a posh place, plain and simple. Note though that if staying overnight here, there are no lifts. Photo 2. There is a narrow alley sort of a path to get you to the side of the hotel if you have a chair you need to use. It’s a slight slope to get down. Photo 3. You have a level approach to enter the bar area, with a push door to enter. Photo 4. This takes you directly into the bar area, turning left offers cubicles to sit to dine Photo 5. Seating can be rather limited, but comfortable enough while you dine Photo 6. Typical bar meals are offered, these are well cooked and tasty enough Photo 7. Toilets are easy enough to find, on the level just past the bar. Photo 8. An accessible toilet is available, with a push door though. Photo 9. Basic area, but clean and tidy,with no pull cord at our visit, but with grab rails PHOTO 10. WENTWORTH STREET The Main Street for little shops and bits and pieces, but don’t expect much, it’s untidy. Turn right and walk along Bank Street for a view over the harbour. It’s not worth going down the steep hill to get to the harbour, nothing to see anyway. Photo 11. Just take a photo from Bank Street. Photo 12. Continue now to walk ahead to reach the square, which can be pretty, but nothing really to do. Phot o 13. Turn right on the square and walk back to bus stop for coach trips, or return to car. OUR FINAL THOUGHTS Disappointing, after lots of well meant reviews , we found the town rather run down, uninteresting streets, harbour far to steep to bother with going down to take a look, and hardly any shops to visit. =================================== THE OLD MAN OF STORR. A 16 minute drive on the A855 will take you to “The Old man of STORR” passing Loch Leathan, before reaching the main car park for visitors to go and see the unusual mountain terrain. The website offers photos and suggested walk to best see this unusual rocky slopes www.isleofskye.com/top-ten-skye-walks/old-man-of STORR. An unusual rocky hill on the Trotternish peninsula which attracts many visitors each year. It overlooks the Sound of Ramsey. The steep cliffs are spectacular in their own way, consisting of local Gryrolite minerals, and known as “ The Sanctuary” A well defined path leads up from the car park, but impossible for disabled people to even bother to think about, but it’s an interesting view. Standing on top of the Trotternish ridge stands this most unusually shaped rocky outcrop, which is now one of the main attractions on the Island, known affectionately as “ The Old man of STORR” It’s a 160 foot high pinnacle of a rock formation of a raw, bucolic landscape that’s amazing to see, but it will take a reasonable fit person around an hour and a quarter to walk up and down the 2.3 mile circuit. However, not for a disabled person.its way out of reach, don’t try it, or you may spoil the rest of your holiday trying to get over the effort. Now why called the Old Man ? Legend says it was because of a giant who lived on the ridge, and when he died and was buried, his thumb stuck out of the ground, which can plainly be seen, on the outcrop. Interesting enough no doubt, and worth the drive to go and see, but we are pleased to say that below the car park, a recently built toilet block has been constructed. At first we wondered if it was worth mentioning the toilets, we felt like poo pooing the idea away, but then thought it would be worth sparing a few wee moments to talk about. Because the Storrs was such a big attraction, car parking was a problem, everyone using the roadside, so the council tried to control this by placing parking charges in place. So along with street parking, a car park area was built. Then in 2021, a new toilet block was built. The work was delayed by the Covid pandemic, but so much money was collected by the car park charges, and on street payments, they spent some of this revenue on this project. The toilet block stands on the main A855 just in front of the car park, but it’s a bit difficult to get down to for a disabled person, but at least it does have an accessible toilet. Easy enough to enter the cubicle, and although plain and simple it’s clean enough, and able to take most chairs and scooters. There are pull cords and grab handles, son well done for their efforts. ====================================== Heading back to Kyleakin if you chose to stay there, will take about an hour or so.

Transport & Parking

Very difficult to park, town centre area reasonably level, you can get around at least. If you find a spot anywhere, TAKE IT.

Access

Reasonably easy to get around, forget the famous harbour view, far to steep to get up and down, entry into Portree hotel ok, and quite level inside.

Toilets

Easy enough to find, pull push doors though, and very basic in cubicle. It did not have a pull cord on our visit, but did have grab bars. Clean enough, with room to turn chairs around

Staff

They were ok, helpful enough.

Photos