Skarfskerry
Scarfskerry
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 Scarfskerry
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| Scarfskerry shown within the Caithness area | |
| Population | 300 |
| OS grid reference | ND260734 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| 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 | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
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". Historically, it belonged to the Parish of Dunnet, along with Brough.
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. The pier, about 150 yards long, has a small bight on the southwestern side, 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. Skarfskerry Point, a double-headed point, 30 feet high, marks the eastern entrance point of Brough Bay. The Loch of Mey lies just to the southeast.
Scarfskerry Harbour is also home to the wreck of the SS Linkmoor, of London, Captain Ridley. Liverpool to Blyth. Lost 10 Nov 1930, 2.55am GMT during a Westerly gale force 8-9 in heavy sea & squalls. Cause, engine trouble and state of weather, with 32 on board of whom all were saved. The SS Linkmoor is a favourite "shore" dive site for local divers and is often used as a training dive. Best dived in winter due to the shallow nature of the wreckage being obscured by kelp. The boilers actually stood proud of the water until they final succumbed to the waters during a storm in the 1990s. A local house situated a short distance from the harbour is named after the ship that salvaged the Linkmoor, the "SS Briarbank."
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Wikipedia