Discover Scarfskerry

Scarfskerry brings together maritime history and nature. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip here, the specific local features can help you decide what to focus on during your stay: visible chapel foundations, stories of ships, and opportunities to watch wildlife at the harbour or in the surrounding waters. Whales and dolphins occur in the waters around Scarfskerry; sightings are possible, but not guaranteed. Historical landmarks thus sit alongside wildlife-watching opportunities that depend on different locations and conditions.

Coastal landscape and traces of history

Kirk o’Banks near Scarfskerry is designated as a Scheduled Monument. By the sea, east of the Burn of Rattar, the grass-covered foundations of the Kirk o’Banks chapel are clearly visible. Here, a named heritage designation and a specific structural remnant come together; the seaside location also anchors the chapel in the coastal landscape. If you are interested in history, this offers a tangible connection to the place: the name Kirk o’Banks and the chapel’s visible foundations are both part of Scarfskerry’s character.

Ships and maritime history

Several ship names bring the maritime history to life. The Gulnare ran aground on rocks east of Scarfskerry Head in the Pentland Firth on 3 December 1866. Five of the Gulnare’s crew were brought safely ashore after a line had been secured to the wreck. The Victoria was wrecked at Scarfskerry, 5 miles southeast of Dunnet Head. The ship SS Linkmoor sank in 1930; its wreck is designated as a dive site at Scarfskerry.

The three ships represent different historical connections: the Gulnare’s story includes both running aground and the rescue of its crew, while its location in relation to Dunnet Head is an important point of reference for the Victoria. In the case of the Linkmoor, the year it sank and the designation of its wreck as a dive site go together. Taken together, the names offer a specific maritime perspective on Scarfskerry without reducing the events to a single story.

Birdwatching and route

Many bird species can be seen at Scarfskerry Harbour, including gulls and puffins. The cliffs are also part of the area’s natural history: historically, they were home to a cormorant colony. The cormorant connects the landscape with the origin of the place name, as Scarfskerry derives from the Old Norse expression for “cormorant cliffs.” The birdwatching described here centres on the harbour; the cormorant colony is part of the historical account of the cliffs.

Whales and dolphins also occur in the waters around Scarfskerry. Sightings are possible, but not guaranteed. These wildlife experiences therefore differ: birds can be watched at the named harbour, while whale and dolphin sightings are possible in the surrounding waters. This distinction helps separate specific wildlife-watching locations from unpredictable sightings.

Scarfskerry is part of the self-guided “Stories Etched in Stone” route through the northeast of Caithness. The route is designed for driving and offers a broader theme for the journey. The local points of interest, by contrast, are Kirk o’Banks, the shipwrecks and wildlife. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether Scarfskerry appeals to you primarily for its coastal history, its nature, or also as part of this self-guided driving route.

Discover more destinations: Evanton, Cononbridge, Staffin, Tomatin, Helmsdale, Dornie, Dunvegan, Rogart.

For the wider travel overview: Highland.