Portsoy

Portsoy is a fishing village 8 miles west of Banff on the north coast of Aberdeenshire in northeast Scotland. It has a picturesque harbour often used as a film and TV location, such as the 2016 remake of Whisky Galore! In 2022 the population was 1700.

Aberdeen (ABZ ^IATA) and Inverness (INV ^IATA) are the nearest airports and have car hire. Elgin is the nearest railway station, but from the south it's more convenient to change at Aberdeen.

By road from the south follow A9 past Perth and Aviemore then take A95 through Grantown, Aberlour and Keith. Or you could follow the coast to Aberdeen then A96 to Keith.

Stagecoach North Bus 35 runs hourly from Aberdeen via Oldmeldrum, Fyvie, Turriff, Macduff and Banff, taking 2 hr 30 min to Portsoy, and continues to Buckie and Elgin. They start every 30 min from Aberdeen but alternate buses turn back at Banff.

57.6814-2.6911 Seafield St is the main bus stop in Portsoy.

The village is small but you need your own wheels to explore beyond.

Portsoy Taxis are on +44 1261 843770.

• 57.685-2.6911 Old Harbour was built in the 17th century. New Harbour just beyond was built in 1825 for the herring fleet.
• Salmon Bothy is a small museum and community centre on Links Rd by New Harbour, open F Sa & M 2-4PM, Su 10AM-noon, free.
• 57.6924-2.77062 Findlater Castle is a scenic stump on the cliffs west of Portsoy, approached by a narrow neck of land and free to access. In Gaelic fionn is white and leitir is a stony slope, so "Findlater" refers to the bright quartzite bedrock and became a noble family title. The castle ruin is from 14th century, over earlier fortifications.
• 57.69-2.8193 Cullen is a traditional fishing port west across the county boundary, see Moray.

• Links Bay by the caravan site is sandy, the nearby coast is otherwise rocky.
• Suds Surf School is at Sandend Bay 2 miles west.
• 57.6926-2.8291 Blue Coast Surf & Paddle, The Links, Cullen AB56 4WB, ☏ +44 7450 403704. Surf and paddleboard school offering lessons, tours and equipment hire from Cullen Bay.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Golf: the nearest courses are at Cullen to the west and Banff east.
• Highland Games are held in June at Cornhill 5 miles south of Portsoy.
• Scottish Traditional Boat Festival is next held 11-13 June 2027, tbc.

• Co-op Food on Seafield St is open daily 6AM-10PM.
• Local jewellery is made from "Portsoy marble", which is actually serpentinite, or if you insist (Mg, Fe)₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄

• Port House is a cafe by the harbour at 10B Shorehead, open W-Su 10AM-4PM.
• Portsoy Ice Cream at 24 Seafield St is open daily 8:30AM-8PM.
• Fish & chips: Hook Line & Sinker is a takeaway at 28 Seafield St, open Su-Th 3-8PM, F Sa 3-9PM.
• Aspire is a restaurant within a former church on Seafield Terrace, open W-Su noon-10PM.
• Cullen Skink originated from the village to the west: it's a thick soup of smoked haddock, milk, potato and onion. It's delicious the first time but prone to repeat on you for hours, and Samuel Johnson loathed the stuff during his 1773 Highland tour with Boswell.

• Shore Inn is at 49 Church St by the harbour.
• Station Hotel: see below.
• 57.6778-2.737221 Glenglassaugh Distillery, Portsoy AB45 2SQ (2 miles west of Portsoy off A98), ☏ +44 131 335 5135. Whisky distillery built in 1875, mothballed 1986-2008 but then brought back into production. Tours by appointment only.  (updated Sep 2026)

• Portsoy Links Caravan Park, Links Rd, Portsoy AB45 2RQ (east side of harbour), ☏ +44 1261 842695. Open year-round, this has 37 tourer stands and 13 tent pitches. Tent £25, tourer hook-up £38. (updated Sep 2026)
• Station Hotel, 22 Seafield St, Portsoy AB45 2QT, ☏ +44 1261 842327. Trad travellers' hotel in village centre, some facilities dated but comfy enough. B&B double £100. (updated Sep 2026)
• Fordyce Castle^{[dead link]} built in 1592 is now upmarket self-catering accommodation.

As of Sep 2026 Portsoy and its approach roads have 4G with O2, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE.

• West to Lossiemouth (a service town for an RAF base) and Elgin with a ruined cathedral.
• East to Banff, Gardenstown and Fraserburgh; the latter is still an active fishing port.
• South to Huntly with a ruined castle.

Cairngorms ← Keith (junction ) ←

SW  NE

→ ENDS AT between Portsoy and Banff