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The Portree Destination is located in the northwestern part of Scotland, stretching over most parts of the Scottish Highlands. The destination is named after the town Portree, which can be found on the Isle of Skye. Some of the other islands that contribute to the destination are the Outer and Inner Hebrides, Isle of Rum, Mull, Arran, Islay, and the Orkney Islands, among others. The Portree Destination area comprises a mountainous highland landscape with tundra nature. A considerable amount of lochs can be found in the territory, one of them being the notorious Loch Ness.[5] The area's climate is cold and humid, with the winter months receiving the most precipitation annually. Thus, the summer months are reported to be better times for visits.[8] The Portree Destination is composed of natural land features, as the highest peak in the UK, Ben Nevis, is located in the area.[6] Among the natural attractions are the Fairy Pools or the Old Man of Storr rocky hills, which can be found directly on the Isle of Skye. The unofficial capital of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness, also has several historical sites to offer. A few of the most popular destinations in the city of Inverness are Inverness Castle, Inverness Cathedral, Ness Walk, and Inverness Town House.[15]
The Portree Destination is named after the town Portree, which can be found on the shores of the Isle of Skye. The island offers a number of natural attractions. Fairy Pools is reported to be among the most renowned touristic destinations on the island, a lake on the River Brittle. The pools are also available for "wild swimming." However, the water in the lake tends to be relatively cold.[9] Another popular natural site on the island is the Old Man of Storr, a mountain peak regarded as an unofficial symbol of Skye Island. The ridge of Storr is reportedly one of the most photographed landscapes in the world. Additionally, a touristic trail leads to Storr Mountain and it takes approximately an hour and a half to walk. With regard to difficulty level, the trail is classified as moderate.[10] Apart from the natural heritage, the Isle of Skye is home to some museums and exhibitions. One of the most well-known museums is the Staffin Dinosaur Museum, which showcases dinosaur fossils of species such as Stegosaurus, Megalosaurus, Cetiosaurus, Hadrosaurus, and Coelophysis.[11]
The Portree Destination represents the prevailing part of the Scottish Highlands, a natural and historical district of Scotland that is known for its tundra nature, mountains, and abundance of lakes. Loch Ness is one of the biggest lakes in Scotland with regard to the amount of water it holds. However, the lake is famous for the myths and tales of the Loch Ness monster allegedly inhabiting the waters. Thus, it is one of the common touristic destinations. Around the lake, there are several villages plus the ruins of Urquhart Castle, which serves as a historical attraction for tourists as well.[7] Another lake is Loch Duich, a sea lake best known for the Eilean Donan Castle built on the lake. The castle is located where three sea lakes meet. The area is said to be one of the most iconic places in Scotland for the surrounding Highland nature scenery combined with the castle's historic building.[13]
Glenfinnan Viaduct is a notable structure in the Scottish Highlands. The viaduct, built in 1901, is located at Loch Shiel and overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument. Being the longest bridge in Scotland, and thanks to the picturesque historic design, the viaduct can be spotted in several movies and series, such as The Crown and Harry Potter.[12]
Scotland and the Scottish Highlands, in particular, are primarily known for their extensive whisky production. In the Portree Destination, numerous whisky distilleries can be found. Located directly on the Isle of Skye is the Torabhaig distillery, which also offers distillery tours.[14]
The Portree Destination stretches across a considerable expanse in the Scottish Highlands territory in the northwestern part of Scotland. The territory is sparsely populated and is one of the least populated lands in Europe. In the area, smaller towns and cities can be found as well as mountains, which dominate the region.[5] The highest peak in the United Kingdom, Ben Nevis, is located in the Scottish Highlands area. The summit of Ben Nevis is at an altitude of 1,345 m above sea level and is part of the Grampian Mountain Range.[6]
The Portree Destination contains several islands. The Outer and Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Rum, Mull, Arran, Islay, and the Orkney Islands are such islands that can be found within the destination. The city of Portree itself is located on the shores of Skye Island, in the northwestern part of the territory. During the Pleistocene, a major geological epoch that constituted the Quaternary Period of Earth's history as a whole, the Highland environment was covered by ice sheets. Thus, nowadays, the area is composed of incised valleys and lochs formed by the mountain streams and ice affecting the landscape throughout the years.[5]
The Scottish Highlands are known for their abundance of lochs. Among the most touristically and mythologically popular lakes is Loch Ness, located close to Highland's capital, Inverness. Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish lake, considering the surface, however, Loch Ness ranks first in Scotland in terms of water volume. The lake also contains one artificial island that was seemingly constructed during the Iron Age.[7]
Concerning the climate of the Portree Destination, in comparison to regions of similar latitude, the territory is warm, damp, and temperate due to the oceanic Gulf Stream affecting the local climate.[5] The warmest month in Portree is August, with an average daily temperature of 17°C, while January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 7°C. May tends to be the driest month in Portree, with an average of 80 mm of rainfall. The most precipitation falls during January, with an average of 215 mm.[8]
Portree, the namesake of the Portree Destination, is an approximately 200-year-old city that emerged from a fishing village.[1] The area was first inhabited in the Early Bronze Age and during the Medieval period. Portree represented one of the significant departure sites for Scots sailing to America in the 18th century. The town survived throughout the years with the help of the many ships and boats that were sailing between mainland Scotland and the Outer Hebrides. Portree was then primarily used as a resting point for the boats. Another income for the city was the export of fish, contributing to the local economy.[2]
Inverness is one of the most significant historical cities in the Portree Destination. The town, located on the shores of River Ness flowing from Loch Ness, is considered the center of the Scottish Highlands. At the beginning of the Middle Ages, Inverness became a burgh and remained a royal residence for centuries.[3] Part of the Inverness medieval history is reflected in Shakespeare's play Macbeth, which tells a story highly adjusted for a theatre of Mac Bethad Mac Findláich's (Macbeth) 11th-century killing of King Duncan.[4]
The Portree Destination represents a distinctive part of the Scottish Highlands, which is currently known for its Whisky production. The area from Orkney in the north to the Isle of Arran in the south disposes of approximately 47 distilleries. Concerning the religion in the Portree Destination, the Protestant church is the most represented. However, the southern islands and the Outer Hebrides are predominantly Catholic.[5]
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