Scourie
Encyclopedia
Scourie historically spelled "Scoury", is a village on the north west coast of Scotland
, about halfway between Ullapool
and Durness
. It is in the traditional county of Sutherland
, now part of the Highland
council area, and the population of the village is just over two hundred. It is known as the birthplace of Hugh Mackay
, 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 Handa
is a nature reserve
and the site of a large seabird colony, including puffin
s, skua
s, guillemots
and razorbill
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 Breakfast
s and a campsite
. However, all are closed from October to March apart from Scourie Guest House which is open all year. Off season, there is nearby shopping/eating is in Ullapool
.
Fishing is a popular attraction due to the large number of freshwater loch
s in the remote area.
Scourie plays host to the home matches of shinty team, Kinlochbervie Camanachd Club
Scotland
Scotland 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 Ullapool
Ullapool
Ullapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland. The North Atlantic Drift passes by Ullapool, bringing moderate temperatures...
and Durness
Durness
Durness is a huge but remote parish in the northwestern Highlands of Scotland, encompassing all the land between the Moine to the East and the Gualin to the West...
. It is in the traditional county of Sutherland
Sutherland
Sutherland 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 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
, now part of the Highland
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is 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. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
council area, and the population of the village is just over two hundred. It is known as the birthplace of Hugh Mackay
Hugh Mackay
Hugh 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 Handa
Handa, Scotland
Handa 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 reserve
Nature reserve
A 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 puffin
Puffin
Puffins are any of three small species of auk in the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak during 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...
s, skua
Skua
The skuas are a group of seabirds with about seven species forming the family Stercorariidae and the genus Stercorarius. The three smaller skuas are called jaegers in North America....
s, guillemots
Common Guillemot
The 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 razorbill
Razorbill
The Razorbill is colonial seabird that will only come to land in order to breed. It is the largest living member of the Auk family. This agile bird will choose only one partner for life and females will lay one egg per year. Razorbills will nest along coastal cliffs in enclosed or slightly exposed...
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 Breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
s and a campsite
Campsite
A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
. However, all are closed from October to March apart from Scourie Guest House which is open all year. Off season, there is nearby shopping/eating is in Ullapool
Ullapool
Ullapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland. The North Atlantic Drift passes by Ullapool, bringing moderate temperatures...
.
Fishing is a popular attraction due to the large number of freshwater loch
Loch
Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake or a sea inlet. It has been anglicised as lough, although this is pronounced the same way as loch. Some lochs could also be called a firth, fjord, estuary, strait or bay...
s in the remote area.
Scourie plays host to the home matches of shinty team, Kinlochbervie Camanachd Club
Kinlochbervie Camanachd Club
Kinlochbervie Camanachd Club is a shinty club from Kinlochbervie, Sutherland, Scotland.-History:Shinty was traditionally played throughout the Highlands of Scotland until the early 20th century when it died off in many areas and there was a tradition of play in North West Sutherland.In 2007, as...
External links
- Undiscovered Scotland-information and many useful pictures
- Panorama of Scourie Bay (QuickTime required)