Portormin Harbour, Dunbeath

Portormin Harbour comprises a late 19th-century harbour basin, an early to mid-19th century fishing store, and an early to mid-19th century ice house. The harbour was designed by James Fraser, a civil engineer, and constructed in 1892. It consists of a projecting masonry pier that forms an L-shaped basin; the pier is built of coursed rubble. Before 1892, there was no pier or basin at this location. Plans are dated September 1892 and were signed by James Fraser on 5 October 1892.

The fishing store is a two-storey, five-bay, symmetrical building facing south. It has forestairs (external stairs) leading to first-floor entrances in the east and west gables. The building is constructed of rubble with dressed rubble dressings. Five entrances are located on the ground floor, with regular fenestration above; there are smaller windows on the second floor. All windows are shuttered. A further entrance is present in the centre of the east gable at second-floor level, with evidence of a hoist mechanism above. The roof is covered with corrugated asbestos.

The ice house is vaulted and built into the hillside, with a high rubble retaining wall alongside. The ice house itself is constructed of rubble with tooled rubble dressings, and the projecting, rounded south gable is whitewashed. The roof is rounded and turfed. Internally, an ante chamber leads to the ice house proper, and the original door still survives. According to the Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland (circa 1858), “The bay (Dunbeath) is an excellent fishing station.”