Portsoy (Scottish Gaelic: Port Saoidh) is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Historically, Portsoy was in Banffshire. 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.

History

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. It lost its status as a burgh in 1975 and became a part of the District of Banff And Buchan. In 1996, administration was transferred to the Aberdeenshire council area.

The "old harbour" dates to the 17th century and is the oldest on the Moray Firth. The "new harbour" was built in 1825 for the growing herring fishery, which at its peak reached 57 boats. The Old Town Hall in The Square was completed in 1798.

Economy

Portsoy is known for local jewellery made from "Portsoy marble" (which is not marble, but rather serpentinite). The annual Scottish Traditional Boat Festival was started in 1993 to celebrate the 300th year of the harbour.

In popular culture

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.

Transport

Portsoy railway station was formerly the terminus of the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway branch of the Great North of Scotland Railway system. It closed in 1968.

Notable people

• Jimmy MacBeath, the wandering singer, was born in Portsoy and is buried there
• William Boyd, Canadian pathologist and medical textbook writer, was born in Portsoy
• Eoin Jess, the former Aberdeen and Scotland footballer, was born in Portsoy
• Jim Paterson, trombonist with Dexys Midnight Runners, was born and raised in Portsoy