Scourie (
Scottish GaelicScottish Gaelic is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages, and is distinct from the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages, which includes Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. Scottish, Manx and Irish Gaelic are all descended from Old Irish...
Sgobharaidh, historically spelled "Scoury") is a village on the north-west coast of
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, about halfway between
UllapoolUllapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland...
and
DurnessDurness is a remote township in the northwestern Highlands of Scotland, lying on the Kyle of Durness. The main sources of employment in the village are crofting and tourism...
. It is in the traditional county of
SutherlandSutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'Ic Aoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
, now part of the
HighlandThe Highland Council area is a local government area in the Scottish Highlands and the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute...
region, and the population of the village is just over two hundred. It is known as the birthplace of
Hugh MackayHugh Mackay was a Scottish general best known for his service in the Revolution of 1688.- Early military career :...
, a British general in the 17th century. The name originates from the Gaelic for Shed Sheiling - a stone-built place of shelter used during the summer months.
The nearby island of
HandaHanda is an island off the west coast of Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. It is and at its highest point.A small Ferry sails to Handa from Tarbet on the mainland and boat trips operate to it from Fanagmore....
is a
nature reserveA nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
and the site of a large seabird colony, including
puffinPuffins are any of three auk species in the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak in the breeding season. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in...
s,
skuaA skua is a seabird of the family Stercorariidae. The three smaller skuas are called jaegers in North America.The name skua comes from Faroese skúgvur , but this word only applies to the species Stercorarius skua, and the island of Skúvoy is renowned for its colony of that bird. The generic...
s,
guillemotsThe Common Murre or Common Guillemot is a large auk. It is also known as the Thin-billed Murre in North America. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring in low-Arctic and boreal waters in the North-Atlantic and North Pacific...
and
razorbillThe Razorbill, Alca torda, is a large auk, 38-43 cm in length, with a 60-69 cm wingspan. It is the only living member of the genus Alca....
s.
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Scourie (
Scottish GaelicScottish Gaelic is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages, and is distinct from the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages, which includes Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. Scottish, Manx and Irish Gaelic are all descended from Old Irish...
Sgobharaidh, historically spelled "Scoury") is a village on the north-west coast of
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, about halfway between
UllapoolUllapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland...
and
DurnessDurness is a remote township in the northwestern Highlands of Scotland, lying on the Kyle of Durness. The main sources of employment in the village are crofting and tourism...
. It is in the traditional county of
SutherlandSutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'Ic Aoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
, now part of the
HighlandThe Highland Council area is a local government area in the Scottish Highlands and the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute...
region, and the population of the village is just over two hundred. It is known as the birthplace of
Hugh MackayHugh Mackay was a Scottish general best known for his service in the Revolution of 1688.- Early military career :...
, a British general in the 17th century. The name originates from the Gaelic for Shed Sheiling - a stone-built place of shelter used during the summer months.
The nearby island of
HandaHanda is an island off the west coast of Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. It is and at its highest point.A small Ferry sails to Handa from Tarbet on the mainland and boat trips operate to it from Fanagmore....
is a
nature reserveA nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
and the site of a large seabird colony, including
puffinPuffins are any of three auk species in the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak in the breeding season. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in...
s,
skuaA skua is a seabird of the family Stercorariidae. The three smaller skuas are called jaegers in North America.The name skua comes from Faroese skúgvur , but this word only applies to the species Stercorarius skua, and the island of Skúvoy is renowned for its colony of that bird. The generic...
s,
guillemotsThe Common Murre or Common Guillemot is a large auk. It is also known as the Thin-billed Murre in North America. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring in low-Arctic and boreal waters in the North-Atlantic and North Pacific...
and
razorbillThe Razorbill, Alca torda, is a large auk, 38-43 cm in length, with a 60-69 cm wingspan. It is the only living member of the genus Alca....
s. The palm trees in the grounds of Scourie House next to the harbour are claimed to be the most northerly specimens in the world not grown in artificial conditions. However, this is a popular misconception. The "palms" in the grounds are actually Cordyline australis, a native New Zealand tree which is found in lowland and montane areas. In the UK it is commonly referred to as "Torbay Palm" or "Cornwall Palm".
The village has accommodation for tourists in several small hotels, including the
Scourie Hotel, and
Bed and BreakfastA bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals...
s and a
campsiteA campsite is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. The term 'campsite' usually means an area where an individual, family, group or military unit might camp...
. However, all are closed from October to March apart from
Scourie Guest House which is open all year. Off season, the nearest decent shopping/eating is in
UllapoolUllapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland...
.
Fishing is a popular attraction due to the large number of freshwater
lochA loch is a body of water which is either:* a lake or;...
s in the remote area.
Scourie plays host to the home matches of shinty team,
Kinlochbervie Camanachd ClubKinlochbervie Camanachd Club is a shinty club from Kinlochbervie, Sutherland, Scotland. The team has feeder arrangement with Naver Athletic.-History:...
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