Portree is a small harbor town and the main base on Skye. Expect a tender. The famous landscapes are 15-60 minutes away by road, with only a few buses a day, so a tour is the safest choice.
Where Portree lies
PortreeDoverSouthamptonBelfastCherbourgCobhDublinEdinburghFalmouthGreenockGuernseyHolyheadHonfleurInvergordonKirkwallLe HavreLerwickLiverpoolNewcastlePortlandStornowayWaterfordWhere your ship docks
Portree has no cruise berth. Ships anchor in the bay and tender to the harbor (based on Portree not being a ferry or deep-water port; exact landing unverified).
Shuttle. No shuttle needed; the tender lands in town.
Getting to the sights
| The way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Walk to Town and harbor | 5 minutes | Free |
| Stagecoach bus 57A/57C or tour to Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, Quiraing | Bus loop runs about every 3 hours Mon-Fri (plus summer Saturdays) | Bus fare (unverified) |
| Bus 56 or tour to Dunvegan Castle | About 50 minutes each way | Bus fare; castle entry paid |
Walk to Town and harbor
- Walk up from the tender landing to Somerled Square.
Stagecoach bus 57A/57C or tour to Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, Quiraing
- Catch 57A (anti-clockwise, best Storr views) at Somerled Square.
- Check return times before getting off.
The Storr hike is about 3 hours round trip.
Bus 56 or tour to Dunvegan Castle
- Bus 56 runs 3-5 times a day Mon-Sat.
Tight for an 8-hour call; a tour is safer.
What to see
Old Man of Storr
Famous rock pinnacle above the sea.
- How
- Bus 57A or tour; hike about 3 hours round trip.
- Time
- 4 hours with travel
- Tickets
- Free; parking fees for cars
Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
Cliffs like a pleated kilt with a waterfall to the sea.
- How
- Bus 57 or tour.
- Time
- 30 minutes stop
- Tickets
- Free
Quiraing
Huge ancient landslip with a 4-mile loop walk.
- How
- Tour or car.
- Time
- 2-3 hours
- Tickets
- Free
Dunvegan Castle
Home of the MacLeod clan for 800 years.
- How
- Bus 56 or tour.
- Time
- Half day
- Tickets
- Paid (older listing: about £14 adult)
Portree harbor and The Lump
Colorful houses and a headland viewpoint.
- How
- Walk.
- Time
- 1 hour
- Tickets
- Free
Your day, hour by hour
Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.
- 8:30 First tender ashore (lines can be long).
- 9:00 Walk the harbor and up The Lump viewpoint.
- 10:00 Bus 57A or tour toward the Storr and Kilt Rock.
- 13:30 Back in Portree for lunch.
- 14:30 Shops and harbor.
- 15:30 Join the tender line; aboard well before the last tender.
What goes wrong, and how to avoid it
Beware
- Tender port: rough seas can stop tenders or cancel the call.
- Buses are infrequent; missing one can mean a 3-hour wait.
- Skye roads are single-track with passing places and are very busy in summer.
Do this
- Book a ship tour for the Storr unless you are fit and the bus times work.
Fees, money and access
Rules & fees
- Scotland's new visitor levy applies to overnight stays, not day cruise visits (Highland cruise levy plans unverified).
Accessibility
Tender boarding needs some mobility. Portree's streets climb steeply from the harbor.
Money
British pound (GBP). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, including buses.
More of the The British Isles
Sources & what we could not confirm · 2 sources · checked 2026-11
- Tender landing location and anchorage (no official port page could be opened).
- Highland Council cruise passenger levy status.
- Bus fares; current Dunvegan Castle price.
- Scotland visitor levy details.