Portsoy Aberdeenshire | Moray Firth | Dallaswear

Portsoy Aberdeenshire

Portsoy is a small seaside town on the North coast of Aberdeenshire situated midway between the towns of Cullen and Banff. There are many ports along this stretch of coast but Portsoy was one of the first to be established. The burgh of Portsoy came in to existence in 1550 as a result of a charter signed by Mary Queen of Scots. The first harbour at Portsoy was built around the same time. In 1692 another harbour was built made entirely of stone, with large stones set vertically rather than horizontally, as it was believed to be a stronger design, less likely to be washed away by rough seas. The old harbour that we see today is the one built using these methods in 1692.

The centre of the village is built at the top of a hill with the harbour at the bottom. The picturesque harbour featured in the 2016 remake of the film, “Whisky Galore”.

At one time the village relied on the sea for trade including herring fishing. There was also a big trade in local marble. The marble was in fact polished red and green serpentine. Exported all over the world, it has been used in many grand houses and castles, the most famous being the Palace of Versailles. Times have changed and now the area is mainly reliant on tourism. The pretty harbour is a tranquil spot during the summer months and a beautiful place to visit. In June, the popular, annual Scottish Traditional Boat Festival attracts around 16,000 visitors over two days. The main attractions concentrate on all aspects of traditional boats including boat building, restoration and sailing. Along side these are arts and crafts, and traditional food and music. For those interested in the history of Portsoy a visit to the Salmon Bothy Museum is highly recommended.

There is much to see in and around Portsoy. From a grassy incline just off the harbour the views across the sea are beautiful. The elevated view is ideal for spotting marine life out at sea. We often see groups of dolphins from this spot. There are different species in the area; bottle nosed, common, rissos and white beaked. Close by at Troup Head Nature Reserve, situated between the villages of Corvie and Pennan, is Scotland’s largest mainland gannet colony. Other birds you are likely to see include guillemot, razorbill, kittiwake, fulmar and puffins. The birds can all be seen via a cliff top walk but there are local boat operators who offer guides from the sea for a different perspective. Colonization of the cliffs by gannets began in 1988, making it, at the time, the only mainland colony.

Another place of interest if you enjoy birdwatching would be Loch Strathbeg RSPB Centre. The largest dune loch in the UK created naturally in 1720 the area of wetland is particularly important for waterfowl species. In winter it becomes home to 20% of the world population of pink-footed geese. The land in and around the loch is home to 280 species of moths, 300 species of plants, 260 species of birds and 20 species of mammals.

During the summer it’s also possible to see seals from the harbour at Portsoy and a variety of whales including minke, pilot and killer whales!

Portsoy is on one of the UK’s main cycle routes that runs through Aberdeenshire and Moray and there are several options for both cyclists and walkers. These include the old railway line which takes you eastward towards Banff or westward towards Buckie. A sign posted walk across open fields will lead you to the village of Fordyce.

For fishing enthusiasts there are lots of options in the Portsoy area. From the harbour itself you can catch a wide variety of sea fish including cod, pollock, conger, ling and wrasse. For fly fishers there are many well known rivers in the area. The Findhorn, Spey and Deveron are within easy reach and offer trout and salmon.

Another fantastic sight, that is sometimes visible from Portsoy, are the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. The best chance of seeing them is between the months of October to March. I can only imagine what a stunningly magical sight it must be with uninterrupted views across the sea.

Amazingly, there are three hundred castles in Aberdeenshire. They range from full blown ruin to beautiful family homes. The Palace of Boyne is a ruin close to Portsoy. To the west of Portsoy there is another ruined castle, Findlater Castle. The Aberdeenshire Castle Trail is a good way to find out which of the three hundred castles interest you the most and plan a visit that way.

When we visit Portsoy we enjoy the tranquillity. There are some lovely tea rooms and restaurants in the area but for us, you can’t beat a fish supper from the fish and chip shop on the high street and a seat in the harbour to enjoy the fresh air and the views.