Towns & cities · Scottish Highlands
Portsoy
Also known as: Port Saoidh
Portsoy — village and former small burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.

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Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 3 h–6 h
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
About
Portsoy is a town, city, village or settlement in the United Kingdom. Recent population estimates put it at around 1,740 people. Address: AB45. Wikidata describes it as: "village and former small burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 57.6830°, -2.6880°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2021
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Official information
The Salmon Bothy is a historic venue located in Portsoy, Scotland, that serves as a museum dedicated to the town's maritime history and the salmon fishing industry. Visitors can explore exhibits on local industries, including Portsoy marble and fishing, as well as participate in hands-on activities related to traditional boat building and knot tying.
From the Wikipedia article
Portsoy (Scottish Gaelic: Port Saoidh) is a small town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Historically, Portsoy was in Banffshire until 1975. The original name may come from Port Saoithe, meaning "saithe harbour". Portsoy is located on the Moray Firth coast of northeast Scotland, 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Aberdeen and 65 miles (105 km) east of Inverness. It had a population of 1,752 at the time of the 2011 census.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
, now used as a venue for religious gatherings]] Portsoy became a burgh of barony in 1550, under Sir Walter Ogilvie of Boyne Castle, and the charter was confirmed by parliament in 1581. From the 16th century until 1975, Portsoy was in the civil and religious parish of Fordyce but was administered by its own Town Council and Banffshire County Council. Following the commencement of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, on 16 May 1975, lower Banffshire, including Portsoy, became part of Banff & Buchan District Council area which was, in turn, part of the larger Grampian Regional Council area. A further reorganisation of local government in Scotland came via the Local Government etc.…
Visiting
Portsoy, notably the harbour, has featured in BBC period dramas The Camerons, The Shutter Falls and Peaky Blinders and a Tennent's Lager advert parodying the 1949 film Whisky Galore! It was also the principal location for Gillies MacKinnon's film Whisky Galore!, a 2016 remake of the 1949 film; Portsoy represented the fictional island of Todday.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 57.6830, -2.6880
- District
- Aberdeenshire
- Postcode
- AB45
- Parliamentary constituency
- Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
- Population
- 1,740
- Official site
- www.salmonbothy.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q1010537 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Portsoy (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Portsoy Old Harbor - Portsoy Marble and Warehouse.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby

52–54 Church Street, Portsoy
Gardens · 0.1 km

Portsoy Links Caravan Park
Caravan parks · 0.1 km

Portsoy War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 0.2 km

War Memorial, Seafield Street, Portsoy
Memorials & monuments · 0.2 km

Portsoy Salmon Bothy
Museums · 0.2 km

Peaky Blinders Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 0.3 km

Old Harbour, Shorehead, Portsoy
Harbours & ports · 0.3 km

The Sail Loft
Hostels · 0.3 km

Portsoy New Harbour
Marinas · 0.3 km

St John's Episcopal Church, Seafield Terrace, Portsoy
Historic churches · 0.3 km

New Harbour, Shore Street, Portsoy
Harbours & ports · 0.3 km

Links Bay
Natural landmarks · 0.4 km
Portsoy is a town in the Scottish Highlands with a population of 1,740. Our guide lists nearby attractions within reach.
At a glance
- Population
- 1,740
- Constituency
- Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
- Top categories near here
Things to see in Portsoy
51 attractions within 12 km — showing the 24 most editorially-significant. Full guide: things to do in Portsoy →
📷 3Castles · Scottish Highlands
Boyne Castle
Boyne Castle — castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
Viewpoints · Scottish Highlands
Findlater Castle Viewpoint
Findlater Castle Viewpoint is a viewpoint in the United Kingdom.
Windmills · Scottish Highlands
Glassaugh Windmill
Glassaugh Windmill is a windmill in the United Kingdom.
📷 5Distilleries · Scottish Highlands
Glenglassaugh Distillery
Glenglassaugh Distillery — Whisky/spirit distillery.
📷 3Harbours & ports · Scottish Highlands
New Harbour, Shore Street, Portsoy
New Harbour, Shore Street, Portsoy — harbor in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
📷 3Harbours & ports · Scottish Highlands
Old Harbour, Shorehead, Portsoy
Old Harbour, Shorehead, Portsoy — port in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
📷 3Harbours & ports · Scottish Highlands
Sandend Harbour
Sandend Harbour — harbour at Sandend, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
Beaches · Scottish Highlands
Sanine Beach
Sanine Beach is a beach in the United Kingdom.
Gardens · Scottish Highlands
52–54 Church Street, Portsoy
52–54 Church Street, Portsoy — a garden in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · Scottish Highlands
Peaky Blinders Memorial
Peaky Blinders Memorial — a memorial in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Hill forts · Scottish Highlands
Durn Hill fort (unfinished)
Durn Hill fort (unfinished) — a hill fort in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Archaeological sites · Scottish Highlands
St Brandan's Stanes
St Brandan's Stanes — a archaeological in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Museums · Scottish Highlands
Portsoy Salmon Bothy
Portsoy Salmon Bothy — a museum in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Castles · Scottish Highlands
Fordyce Castle
Fordyce Castle — a castle in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Public art & sculpture · Scottish Highlands
Fordyce - Fuar Deas - The Cold South
Fordyce - Fuar Deas - The Cold South — a public art in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · Scottish Highlands
Portsoy War Memorial
Portsoy War Memorial — a memorial in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · Scottish Highlands
Fordyce War Memorial
Fordyce War Memorial — a memorial in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · Scottish Highlands
RAF Banff Strike Wing Memorial
RAF Banff Strike Wing Memorial — a memorial in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Historic churches · Scottish Highlands
Parish Church, Seafield Terrace, Portsoy
Parish Church, Seafield Terrace, Portsoy — category B listed building-listed church in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Historic churches · Scottish Highlands
Parish Church, Fordyce
Parish Church, Fordyce — category B listed building-listed church in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Historic churches · Scottish Highlands
St John's Episcopal Church, Seafield Terrace, Portsoy
St John's Episcopal Church, Seafield Terrace, Portsoy — category B listed building-listed church in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Historic churches · Scottish Highlands
Old Parish Church of St Talorgan and walled burial ground
Old Parish Church of St Talorgan and walled burial ground — scheduled monument-listed church in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Nearby
Gardens · Scottish Highlands
52–54 Church Street, Portsoy
52–54 Church Street, Portsoy — a garden in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Caravan parks · Scottish Highlands
Portsoy Links Caravan Park
Portsoy Links Caravan Park — a caravan park in scotland highlands.
Memorials & monuments · Scottish Highlands
Portsoy War Memorial
Portsoy War Memorial — a memorial in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · Scottish Highlands
War Memorial, Seafield Street, Portsoy
War Memorial, Seafield Street, Portsoy — category B listed building-listed memorial in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Museums · Scottish Highlands
Portsoy Salmon Bothy
Portsoy Salmon Bothy — a museum in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Memorials & monuments · Scottish Highlands
Peaky Blinders Memorial
Peaky Blinders Memorial — a memorial in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Portsoy
Places to stay
Caravan parks · Scottish Highlands
Portsoy Links Caravan Park
Portsoy Links Caravan Park — a caravan park in scotland highlands.
Hostels · Scottish Highlands
The Sail Loft
The Sail Loft — a hostel in scotland highlands.
📷 5Campsites · Scottish Highlands
Sandend Caravan Park
Sandend Caravan Park — a campsite in scotland highlands.
Campsites · Scottish Highlands
Cullen Bay Caravan Park
Cullen Bay Caravan Park — a campsite in scotland highlands.
Campsites · Scottish Highlands
Banff Links Caravan Park
Banff Links Caravan Park — a campsite in scotland highlands.
Places to eat & drink
Historic pubs · Scottish Highlands
Railway Inn, 96 North Castle Street, Banff
Railway Inn, 96 North Castle Street, Banff in Scotland Highlands, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · Scottish Highlands
The Market Arms, 5 High Shore, Banff
The Market Arms, 5 High Shore, Banff in Scotland Highlands, United Kingdom.
Historic pubs · Scottish Highlands
Forbes Arms Hotel, Milltown of Rothiemay
Forbes Arms Hotel, Milltown of Rothiemay in Scotland Highlands, United Kingdom.
Historic pubs · Scottish Highlands
Seafield Arms Hotel, 84, 86 Mid Street, Keith
Seafield Arms Hotel, 84, 86 Mid Street, Keith in Scotland Highlands, United Kingdom.
More towns in this region
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Cruden Bay — village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
Flagship📷 3Towns & cities · Scottish Highlands
Inverness
Inverness — city in the Highlands of Scotland, United Kingdom.
Flagship📷 3Towns & cities · Scottish Highlands
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Kyle of Lochalsh — village in Highland, Scotland, UK.
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Aberchirder — village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Portsoy?
- Portsoy is in the Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom (postcode AB45).
- What is Portsoy?
- Portsoy — village and former small burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
- How do I get to Portsoy?
- Drivers can use postcode AB45.
- Is Portsoy free to visit?
- Yes, Portsoy is free to enter.
- How do I get to Portsoy?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode AB45. It sits within the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East parliamentary constituency.