This week in the Journal we’re showing you how to explore ÒR’s beautiful home on Skye, the Portree harbour. Our rainbow-coloured buildings by the sea are one of the prettiest and most popular places on the Isle of Skye, so we’re going to share how to get to a lesser-known viewpoint of Portree harbour and experience some dramatic Hebridean landscape to boot.

It’s a beautiful loop walk called the Scorrybreac circuit, and it’s a favourite of locals of all sorts: keep a weather eye out for Skye’s wildlife (dolphins! Sea eagles!) that live around the Portree bay.

Conveniently enough, you you don’t even need to drive anywhere as it begins and ends right in the centre of Portree – from ÒR shop in fact.

This walk is around 4km, and covers some coastal terrain that’s (of course!) often a bit wet – so bring some good footwear.

Walking the Scorrybreac Circuit

Time: 2 hours

Distance: 3km

Start: at ÒR, our bigger shop on The Green. We have quite the selection of gear for short walks like this: Millican rucksacks, hardy Scottish wool socks from Rose Brown and Graham Cashmere, and hats, scarves & gloves from Scottish makers like Hilary Grant and Donna Wilson that are a must to keep out that keen chill!

Coming out of the shop, turn right. Continue down the road to the railings overlooking the bay and the bobbing boats. Turn left, passing the Co-op, and follow the road up as it sweeps right. Walk beside a stone wall where there’s a rather lovely first view of the multi-coloured Portree harbourside.

Continue on the road until you reach a fork, signposted Budhmor (Budh Mòr in Gaelic). Take this turning downhill and walk through this quaint cluster of houses on the (quiet) road. You’ll cross over a stream bridge and on a clear day the Cuillin hills loom up on the horizon on the right.

A walk along the coastline

At the turning for the Cuillin Hills Hotel, follow the smaller road next to it down to a little parking area (this is where you’d leave the car if you drove from ÒR in central Portree).

Have a look at the wildlife info board over on the other side of the car park – this is the beginning of what officially is the Scorrybreac circuit.

Follow the wide track. It’ll take you past the Portree’s boathouse, its small boats often moored up on the shore. Go on into woodland through a little gate – into the homelands of Clan Nicholson.

The view of Portree harbour & wildlife watching

The path is gravel and very easy to follow, taking you out into the wider Portree bay. Soon enough you’ll get wide open views of Portree harbour and loch behind you – from a viewpoint you rarely see in the guidebooks!

Onwards are unfolding views of the rugged land and seascape, including the Isle of Raasay and the little tidal island of Black Rock. Keep a look out for marine wildlife and seabirds along here (we’d definitely want to know if you catch sight of seals, dolphins or eagles!).

The last half of the Scorrybreac path then winds up the headland (a bit of climbing!) but always remains obvious, before taking you back through silver birch woodland around to the Cuillin Hills Hotel again. Then all you need to do is walk back into central Portree the way you came.

There – a beautiful and simple local walk to see a bit more of Portree, and Skye beyond.