Skarfskerry
| Skarfskerry | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Sgarbh Sgeir | |
 |
|
  Skarfskerry |
|
| Population | 300 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | ND260734 |
| Council area | Highland |
| Lieutenancy area | Caithness |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Thurso |
| Postcode district | KW14 |
| Dialling code | 01847 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |
| Scottish Parliament | Caithness, Sutherland and Ross |
Coordinates: 58°38′N 3°16′W / 58.64°N 3.26°W
Skarfskerry (or Scarfskerry; Scottish Gaelic: Sgarbh Sgeir) is the most northerly settlement on mainland Scotland. It is located in Caithness, on a small peninsula northeast of Thurso, off the A836. The name comes from the Old Norse for "cormorants rock".[1] Historically it belonged to the Parish of Dunnet, along with Brough.[2]
Landmarks
This rural settlement consists of a scattering of crofts and other houses and a small harbour with a pier. The harbour is no longer used for commercial purposes, although boats operate in the area providing tourists with trips to see White-beaked dolphins, Minke whales and Harbor Porpoises.[3] The pier, about 150 yards long, has a small bight on the southwestern side,[4] and a rocky beach continues towards the nearby settlement of Ham. The hamlet also contains a Baptist church, and is home to the Scottish National Organiser of British Divers Marine Life Rescue.[5] Skarfskerry Point, a double-headed point, 30 feet high, marks the eastern entrance point of Brough Bay.[4] The Loch of Mey lies just to the southeast.
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Scarfskerry Pottery (relocated to John O'Groats in 1986)[1]
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The Baptist Church
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Farmland near Skarfskerry, Caithness
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Local scenery
- ^ "Members Gallery - David Body". Craft Potters' Association. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
See also
References
- ↑ "Scarfskerry". Caithness.org. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 346. ISBN 978-0-8063-1255-2.
- ↑ Wilson, Ben; Wilson, Angus (2006). The Complete Whale-Watching Handbook: A Guide to Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the World. MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-7603-2567-4.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sailing directions for the north and east coasts of Scotland: Cape Wrath to Fife Ness and including the Orkney, Shetland and Faeroe Islands. United States Hydrographic Office, U.S. Govt. Print. Off. 1950. p. 80.
- ↑ "Area Co-ordinators". British Divers Marine Life Rescue. Retrieved 9 October 2014.