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Major city · United Kingdom

Portsoy

Give Portsoy half a day plus one night: 17th-century harbour, Salmon Bothy museum, Findlater Castle cliff walk. Without a car, treat it as a bus stop, not a base.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Portsoy is a small fishing village on the Aberdeenshire coast, 8 miles west of Banff, with a 17th-century old harbour and a 19th-century new harbour that once served the herring fleet. The village itself takes two to three hours on foot; the reason to stay a night is Findlater Castle, the coastal path and the slow bus timetable. Most travellers see it as a stop between Banff and Cullen, or as a quiet base for the Moray coast.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short days, wind and rain)
Airports
ABZ · INV
Nights
1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Portsoy999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Portsoy, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • BeerPint of beer in a pub£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Budget bedCaravan pitch (own tourer), a night, per room£25 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel or B&B double room, a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
  • High-end bedHotel or B&B double room, a night, per room£180 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £75 (≈ US$100) · High £130 (≈ US$180)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

17th-century Old HarbourSalmon Bothy museumFindlater Castle ruinScottish Traditional Boat FestivalPortsoy marble (serpentinite) jewellery
Airports
ABZ Aberdeen (Nearest large airport with car hire; about 1 h 30 min by road to Portsoy) · INV Inverness (Smaller airport with car hire; longer drive west along the A96 and A98)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    8°C (46°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  5. May

    Best

    13°C (55°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    16°C (61°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    16°C (61°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (18°C (64°F)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F) low), wettest Oct (15 rain days), driest Feb (11). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Portsoy: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

6°C (43°F)

1°C (34°F)

14 rd

Feb

7°C (45°F)

1°C (34°F)

11 rd

Mar

8°C (46°F)

2°C (36°F)

13 rd

Apr

10°C (50°F)

3°C (37°F)

11 rd

May

13°C (55°F)

6°C (43°F)

11 rd

Jun

16°C (61°F)

9°C (48°F)

11 rd

Jul

18°C (64°F)

11°C (52°F)

12 rd

Aug

18°C (64°F)

11°C (52°F)

13 rd

Sep

16°C (61°F)

9°C (48°F)

13 rd

Oct

12°C (54°F)

6°C (43°F)

15 rd

Nov

9°C (48°F)

3°C (37°F)

14 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

1°C (34°F)

14 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The village is walkable in 15 minutes end to end. Beyond Portsoy you need a car or the bus: Stagecoach 35 runs hourly along the coast between Aberdeen, Banff, Portsoy, Buckie and Elgin, and the Deveron 405 links Banff, Portsoy, Fordyce and Cullen on Wednesdays only. Portsoy Taxis covers short local runs.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Findlater Castle

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way on foot

Walk west from the village along the coast path, about 2 miles

A 14th-century ruin on a cliff, reached over a narrow neck of land. Free, no facilities, rough underfoot.

Cullen

go

Door to door: About 15 min by car

Drive or take the Deveron 405 bus (Wednesdays only)

Fishing port with a sandy bay and the Cullen Skink connection; Cullen House is not open to the public.

Banff

go

Door to door: About 20 min by car

Stagecoach 35 bus or drive east on the A98

Larger town with shops, a museum and the start of the Moray coast road.

Glenglassaugh Distillery

caution

Door to door: About 10 min by car

Drive 2 miles west off the A98

Tours and shop have been closed; check before you drive out.

Elgin

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Stagecoach 35 bus, or drive via the A96

Nearest railway station for onward travel; cathedral ruins and a bigger choice of shops.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Village centre (Seafield St and North Main St)

Walk to both harbours, the Co-op, takeaways and the Station Hotel. Best if you are here without a car.

Links Rd by the New Harbour

Caravan park and the Salmon Bothy; sandy Links Bay is a short walk east.

Durn Rd, south of the village

Quieter, half a mile from the harbour; Durn House is the upmarket option.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–110 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
High
£110 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel or B&B double room1 × 1 night × £110£110
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £75£150
Stagecoach 35, Aberdeen to Portsoy, one way2 × £12£24
Car hire, one day, small car1 × £45£45
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£35
Trip total≈ £192 per person per day, bed included£384≈ US$550

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Portsoy excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Fish and chips takeaway£9–14 (≈ US$12–19)
Cullen skink, bowl£6–9 (≈ US$8–12)
Pint of beer in a pub£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
Ice cream cone£3–5 (≈ US$4–7)
Petrol, per litre£1.40–1.60 (≈ US$2–3)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Portsoy is a quiet, low-crime village and walking it by day is easy. The real risks are the weather, the unfenced cliff path to Findlater Castle and the early last bus: tell someone your route and carry a charged phone.
  • Buses are hourly at best and the last one north or south is in the early evening: check the timetable before you commit to a late walk.
  • The coast path to Findlater Castle is rough, unfenced and exposed; wear shoes with grip and do not approach the cliff edge.
  • Mobile signal is patchy: 4G works with some networks and not others, and 5G has not reached the area. Download offline maps.
  • Several village pubs and hotels have closed in recent years: check what is open before you plan an evening out.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
Police non-urgent
101
NHS non-urgent
111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

PortsoyPortsoy

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Embassy

No embassy in Portsoy. The nearest US consulate is in Edinburgh; most other countries have embassies in London and consulates in Edinburgh.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Stagecoach 35, Aberdeen to Portsoy: about £12 (≈ US$16), 2 h 30 min
  • Stagecoach 35, Banff to Portsoy: about £4 (≈ US$6), 20 min
  • Portsoy Taxis, local run: metered; ask the fare before you set off

Say or show

  • Hello — Hello
  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Please — Please
  • Where is the harbour? — Where is the harbour?
  • One fish supper, please — One fish supper, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

Small village: carry cash for the odd place that does not take cards, and check bus times the day before.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Portsoy. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short days, wind and rain) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ABZ and INV: hire-car pickup, bus fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Old Harbour, New Harbour and Links Bay, Seafield St, the Findlater cliff path.
  3. Place pages with verified opening (Salmon Bothy, Findlater Castle, Glenglassaugh) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Bus-timetable fixtures for the 35 and 405 so the no-car route can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources

Ask about Portsoy

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