{{For|the ancient mountain building event 2.6 billion years ago|Scourian orogeny}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox UK place | static_image_name = Handaquinag.jpg | static_image_caption = Quinag and Scourie across the Sound of Handa | country = Scotland | official_name = Scourie | gaelic_name = Sgobhairigh<ref name=aaa>[http://www.gaelicplacenames.org/databasedetails.php?id=706 Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland]</ref> | population = | os_grid_reference = NC157447 | coordinates = {{coord|58.3519|-5.1512|display=inline,title}} | map_type = Sutherland | community_scotland = Eddrachillis | unitary_scotland = Highland | lieutenancy_scotland = Sutherland | constituency_westminster = Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross | constituency_scottish_parliament = Caithness, Sutherland and Ross | post_town = LAIRG | postcode_district = IV27 | postcode_area = IV | dial_code = 01971 }}
'''Scourie''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|k|aʊ|r|i}}; {{langx|gd|Sgobhairigh}}) is a village on the north-west coast of Scotland, about halfway between Ullapool and Durness. It is in the civil parish of Eddrachillis, in the traditional county of Sutherland, now part of the Highland council area; the 2011 Census classified it as "very remote rural" with an adult population of 132.<ref>{{cite web|title=Area Information for Scourie, Lairg, Scotland, IV27 4TB|url=https://www.streetcheck.co.uk/postcode/iv274tb|website=streetcheck.co.uk|accessdate=2018-02-18}}</ref> The name probably comes from Old Norse ''skóg-erg'', meaning "shieling of the wood".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Watson|first=W. J.|year=1906|title=Some Sutherland Names of Places|journal=The Celtic Review|volume=2|issue=8|pages=360–368 [363]|jstor=30069878}}</ref>
Until the 19th century, Clan Mackay was the predominant family in the area, with a junior branch of the family owning Scourie itself; in 1640, it was the birthplace of Hugh Mackay, a Scottish general who commanded the forces of William III at Killiecrankie in July 1689. The last of the Mackays' Scottish estates, including Scourie, were sold in 1829, although the name is still common in the area.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bangor Jones|first1=Malcolm|title=From Clanship to Crofting; Land Ownership, Economy and the Church in the Province of Strathnaver|url=https://ssns.org.uk/resources/Documents/Books/Strathnaver_2000/04_Bangor-Jones_Strathnaver_2000_pp_35-99.pdf|website=ssns.org.uk|publisher=Page 51|accessdate=19 February 2018|archive-date=19 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219151439/https://ssns.org.uk/resources/Documents/Books/Strathnaver_2000/04_Bangor-Jones_Strathnaver_2000_pp_35-99.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The nearby island of Handa is a nature reserve and the site of a large seabird colony, including puffins, skuas, guillemots and razorbills. The Scourie estate was owned by Dr Jean Balfour,<ref>{{Cite web|title = 2015 - Drs Jean Balfour and Bob McIntosh « Award for Dedicated Service to Forestry « ConFor|url = http://www.confor.org.uk/AboutUs/Default.aspx?pid=1545|website = www.confor.org.uk|accessdate = 2015-09-26|author = ConFor|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208082732/http://www.confor.org.uk/AboutUs/Default.aspx?pid=1545|archivedate = 2015-12-08}}</ref> who died in 2023. 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".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.englishriviera.co.uk/site/attractions/gardens-and-parks | title=''Cabbage tree'' in England}}</ref>
Being on the popular North Coast 500 (NC500) scenic route, the village has accommodation for tourists at a hotel with 21 rooms, bed and breakfasts and a campsite. Fishing, particularly fly fishing, is popular due to the large number of freshwater lochs, which offer brown trout.
Scourie plays host to the home matches of shinty team Kinlochbervie Camanachd Club and North Caledonian Football League team Scourie F.C.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.scourie.co.uk Welcome to Scourie] * {{gbmapping|NC157447}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20050502235822/http://www.robinwilson.net/scouriecu/scouriecu.html Panorama of Scourie Bay] (QuickTime required)
Category:Populated places in Sutherland
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