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Help spending 6 hours in Portree, Isle of Skye

Based on my cruise ship's schedule, I will have 6 hours in Portree, this July 2024. The ship's excursions are most uninteresting sounding (and are wait-listed anyway) and the 7 different private tour operators I've contacted are booked up.
Besides strolling the town and harbor, does anyone know how far/how difficult, it is on one's own, to get to such sites as Fairy Pools, Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, Ben Chracaig, or Quiraing?

Posted by
1359 posts

The 57A and 57 C buses from Somerland Square in.Portree about 5 mins walk from the jetty.
On the A service ( anticlockwise) the Old Man of Stoer area is 30 mins trip time.
The whole roundtrip is pretty pleasing its especially dramatic at the far north.of Skye.
Think the full day ticket is about £7.
There's a cutesy little park directly above the harbour that's worth the few minutes wander too, The Lump.
Check the cartoon like map in the Square, someone put a lot of work into it.
I wouldn't be over bothered to go to Kilt Rock at all...

Posted by
8132 posts

Do be aware that, out of those 6 hours, you need to deduct time to be tendered ashore, then tendered back. You will not be berthed alongside, Tendering time is an unpredictable science.

At least the Seven Seas Voyager is a small ship with 700 passengers- which will make the tendering faster. But last tender will be soon after 1300 for your 1400 departure.

You may get the 0910 57A circular, and should get the 1010 57C circular.

Or what about the 1015 #56 to Dunvegan- gives you 25 minutes in the village.

Posted by
1306 posts

You will not be able to get to the Fairy Pools as it is not on a bus route. The Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock would be viewable on the North Circular bus route (details already given to you above). But you will have to careful work out the timetable to ensure you can catch a later bus back to Portree in time for your tender back to the boat. You will not get to the Quairaing as it is off the main north circular route but you will see it from the bus.

You can do the Scorrybreac circular walk without needing to catch a bus.