Portree, Skye
Portree on the Isle of Skye
Portree Harbour on Skye
Portree is the largest (and really the only) town on the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. In 1540 the town, then named Kiltragleann (The Church at the Foot of the Glen), was visited by King James V of Scotland and it is believed that it was renamed, by King James, to assert his authority over the powerful chieftans of Skye [the Gaelic for Portree is "Portrìgh" which means "the King's port"]. Sadly this version is contested with some people prefering to believe that the town's name is derived from the Gaelic, "Port Ruighe" meaning "slope harbour" or "Portrigheadh" meaning "port on the hillside". I prefer the King's Port version!
Portree is one of the prettiest fishing ports in Scotland or even the whole of the United Kingdom. The harbour (shown above) is fringed by steep cliffed mountains which provide excellent shelter from the strong winds that occur from time to time. The harbour is surrounded by multicoloured restaurants and guesthouses (as shown below) creating one of the most "postcard" scenes in the Hebrides.
The multicoloured buildings around Portree Harbour, Isle of Skye