Scenic town where King Charles enjoyed fish and chips named Scotland's top coastal view
A new study has named the scenic harbour town of Portree, on the Isle of Skye, as the location with the finest coastal view in Scotland.
Ranked fourth overall in a national poll commissioned by Haven Holidays, Portree's picture-perfect harbour, colourful seafront and dramatic backdrop secured its spot among the most breathtaking coastal scenes in the UK.
Portree is the largest settlement on Skye and is known for its charming pastel-painted buildings that line the waterfront, as well as its peaceful harbour, nestled beneath steep cliffs, Scottish Daily Express reports.
The view from the quay stretches across Loch Portree towards Ben Tianavaig, a 413-metre hill classed as a "Marilyn" for its prominence.
From its ridge, visitors often spot golden eagles or sea eagles soaring overhead in the blue Highland skies.
The nationwide survey asked 2,000 people to name the most stunning seaside locations across Britain. Cornwall's St Ives took the top spot, followed by Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire, and Padstow, also in Cornwall.
Tenby in South West Wales completed the top five behind Portree, whose inclusion in the list cements its reputation as one of the country's most beautiful and tranquil coastal spots.
In September 2021, King Charles and Queen Camilla experienced the view for themselves during a visit to the town, where they enjoyed fish and chips from local fisherman Dan Corrgiall's harbourside shop.
The royal couple, dressed in traditional tartan, were serenaded by Gaelic singer Robert Robertson, lead vocalist of folk-rock band Tide Lines. 'It just felt like a really nice conversation, and it was a real pleasure,' he recalled of meeting them.
Simon Palethorpe, chief executive of Haven, said: 'You don't need to go far from home to get picture postcard views and scenery.
"There's nothing better than starting and ending your day with a sunrise and sunset view over the sea, even more so when it's on home soil. Brits are still so surprised by the breathtaking coastline we have in the UK.'
The poll also revealed that coastal surroundings remain a top priority for holidaymakers.
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Some 87 per cent of respondents said a seaside setting was important when booking a staycation, with most willing to travel an average of 159 miles from home to reach it comfortably.
In addition, 85 per cent of those surveyed said they would happily pay more to stay somewhere with a sea view.
Relaxation (60%) and a sense of escapism (36%) were the top reasons given for choosing coastal locations, with many citing the mental and physical health benefits of being near the sea.
According to the OnePoll.com survey data, more than two thirds of people believe that the coastal views found across Britain easily rival those abroad.
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