Portree Tartans
1 variationsEach tartan can have multiple variations, the most common of which are Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress
About tartan variations
- Ancient
- Modern
- Weathered
- Hunting
- Dress
Ancient Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans, mossy greens and sky blues, a more orangey red and some would say showing off the pattern to much greater effect as as the contrasts are much brighter than the Modern tartans. The pattern or sett remains the same across all variations of a single tartan, and only the shades or tones vary.
Helpful Advice
Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Modern Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans. Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Helpful Advice
The Modern tartans are often the more subtle combinations such as the classic Black Watch Modern
Weathered Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer, more earthy colours typical of the Weathered tartans, reminiscent of bolder colours subjected to wind, rain and sunshine producing beautiful faded tones, olive greens and browns, and very light blues with reds that are more pink than red.
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Some mills refer to the Weathered tartans as Muted.
Hunting Tartan
The Hunting Tartans are the camouflage tartans and some clans don't have these variations because they are already predominantly green or brown and don't need amendment to blend in with nature's colours. The Black Watch or Gunn tartans are examples of these, whereas a tartan such as the Fraser is predominantly red and would not provide much cover for men out hunting.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
Dress Tartan
The Dress Tartans were designed as the name suggests for celebrations and highland dance. The sett or pattern of the tartan remains the same and the main colour is changed to white, or extra white is added to the pattern to give it a brighter, more "fancy" appearance. The Scots do like to bend the rules and occasionally instead of white thread, yellow is used and this is where the rather wild MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came from.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
From the Start
Portree Tartan Origins & History
Explore the history
How it all started
The beautiful village of Portree, situated on the east coast of the Isle of Skye, is the island's capital and is a central hub for tourists visiting from all over the world. You can take the ferry across from the mainland as well as driving across the Skye Bridge which links with the mainland, for the best views on your road trip to the magical island. You can spend your days driving, cycling, and walking the islands winding roads and towering peaks to get a taste of its stunning scenery and wildlife. It is a world-famous destination for all walkers, climbers, and adventure lovers. The hills of Ben Tianavaig and Fingal's Seat oversee one side of Portree, with the views of the scenic harbor and multi-coloured houses painting a perfect picture on the other. It is known as the cultural hub on the Isle of Skye and has many scenic attractions which is why many people love to visit.
Portree has only been around for roughly 200 years old and was created as a fishing village at the beginning of the 19th century by the then Lord MacDonald. The name Portree or Port Righ (which means King’s Port in Gaelic as on the road signs), is popularly thought to have stemmed from a visit by King James V of Scotland in 1540, however, the area around the harbour was called Portree or sometimes Portray a long time prior to the king's visit. Its name actually just comes from the Gaelic for Port on the Slope.
What's in the tartan?
The Portree District tartan dates back 1986 and features an outstanding blend of colours which represent the village on the Isle of Skye. Colours within the tartan include red, brown, yellow, white and blue.
The Old Man of Storr
Just up the coast from Portree along the road to Staffin, is the world famous Old Man of Storr. This is the most renowned walk on the island and is by far the busiest. The ‘Old Man’ is a large peak of rock that stands high on the Island of Skye and can be seen for miles around. As part of the Trotternish Ridge, the Storr was created by a massive ancient landside, leaving behind one of the most striking landscapes in the world. It is commonly known for its incredible scenery and views across Skye, wiht the landmark being a largely popular spot for hikers, hill walkers and everyone else who visits. According to myth, the Old Man of Storr was in fact a giant who inhabited on the Trotternish Ridge and when he was laid upon his death, his thumb (the 'Old Man') remained partially above the ground!
Portree, Port Rìgh in Gaelic, essentially translates as 'King's Port', possibly from the visit in 1540 by King James V of Scotland.
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