What's the biggest town on Skye?

Portree, a village on the east side of Skye, is officially the island’s capital. It is quaint, picturesque, romantic, mystical and endearing but rather diminutive in size with only 2500 permanent residents.

Essentially a service town, Portree cleverly maximises its limited resources. It boasts a cinema that is part of the Aros Centre (a community, arts and education hub). The library and indoor swimming centre are shared with the local high school. There is a smallish supermarket and a few independent shops, which supply both locals and tourists. Add in a couple of garages, hardware stores and pubs and that is Portree. It is a three hour drive to Inverness, the closest regional town on the mainland, and it appears that the locals depend on the internet and a fleet of red Royal Mail vans for the many things not available locally.

Portree famously hugs the harbour coastline with a row of prettily coloured buildings along the dock side. The locals are friendly, the parking (at least in one area) is free and the air is crisp and clean.

In our travels we have often discovered local culinary specialties by observing what and where the locals eat. Today we notice an excited group of high-school students devouring their lunch as they swagger up the road eating from disposable plates. Their enthusiasm encourages us to discover the source of their sustenance. Further observation reveals that they are feasting on hot chips topped with cheese as they emerge from the local Chippy, a hole-in-the-wall fish and chip shop. Joining the queue we ask ‘Can we have what they are having?’. We share a plate of chips with cheese at the bargain price of £1.70. They are thick, hot, crisp and very wicked. Further investigation reveals that the secret to these delicious chips is that they are cooked in beef fat!!

A new tourist slogan for Skye’s capital could read:

Portree, a small town, guaranteed to make you big!