{{Use British English|date=January 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox UK place |official_name= Skerray |gaelic_name= Sgeirea |scots_name= |static_image= Skerray Free Church - geograph.org.uk - 577738.jpg |static_image_width= 250px |static_image_caption= Skerray Free Church |map_type= Sutherland |coordinates= {{coord|58.53287|-4.3008|display=inline,title}} |population= |os_grid_reference= NC661628 |unitary_scotland= Highland |lieutenancy_scotland= Sutherland |country= Scotland |post_town= THURSO |postcode_area= KW |postcode_district= KW14 |dial_code= 01641 |constituency_westminster= Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |constituency_scottish_parliament= Caithness, Sutherland and Ross }}
'''Skerray''' ({{langx|gd|Sgeirea}}) is a remote small crofting hamlet and fishing port on the north coast of Sutherland, Scotland.<ref name="Society1987">{{cite book|author=Royal Scottish Geographical Society|title=Scottish Geographical Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sks7AQAAIAAJ|year=1987|publisher=Royal Scottish Geographical Society}}</ref> It is located {{convert|7+3/4|mi|km|abbr=off|round=0.5}} by road northeast of Tongue and {{convert|40+1/4|mi|km|abbr=off|round=0.5}} by road west of Thurso.<ref name="GM"/> Skerray is home to a community of artists and a group of tree planters.
==Geography== thumb|left|250px|Skerray harbour Skerray, whose name means "between the rocks and the sea", is so called because it is situated on a rocky promontory on the Atlantic Ocean between Tongue to the southwest and Bettyhill to the east.<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=http://www.mackaycountry.com/skerray.htm|title=SKERRAY|publisher=Mackaycountry.com|access-date=27 December 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128025109/http://www.mackaycountry.com/skerray.htm|archive-date=28 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> There is an additional location called Skerray {{convert|1|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=off|spell=in}} to the west. The community is located north of the A836 road from Tongue. The nearest local airport and main line rail station are at Wick and Thurso.
Skerray is the main village in "Mackay Country", historically attributed to Clan Mackay. There are 11 townships in the community, Torrisdale, Achtoty, Lotts, Clashaidy, Clashlevan, Achnabat, Clashbuie, Modsary, Lamigo, Strathanbeg, Strathan, and Slettel, now deserted.<ref name="MC"/> To the south are the lakes of Lochan Modsane, Loch na Coit, Lochan nam Burag, Lochan an Tigh-choimhid and Loch Skerray, with Lochan Ruadh to the southwest.<ref name="GM">{{cite map|title= Maps|publisher=Google Maps<!--|access-date=27 December 2011-->}}</ref> Just off the coast of Skerray Bay are Neave Island and Eilean nan Ròn to the northwest.
Skerray Bay contains a small harbour and pier. The harbour, situated west of Melvich,<ref name="Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland">{{cite book|title=Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L6JCAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA568|edition=Public domain|year=1857|publisher=A. and C. Black|page=568}}</ref> has a natural rocky ridge, open to the north.<ref name="Office1915">{{cite book|author=United States. Hydrographic Office|title=British Islands pilot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NaYuAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA343|edition=Public domain|year=1915|publisher=Govt. print. off.|page=343}}</ref> The foundation stone for Port Skerray was laid in October 1894 by the Duke of Sutherland.<ref name="The Railway news ...">{{cite book|title=The Railway news ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fRg1AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA510|edition=Public domain|year=1894|page=510}}</ref> The Skerray stream, '''Strathskerray''', is approximately {{convert|3|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} in length and empties at the sea.<ref name="The Topographical, Statistical, and Historical Gazetteer of Scotland: I-Z">{{cite book|title=The Topographical, Statistical, and Historical Gazetteer of Scotland: I-Z|url=https://archive.org/details/topographicalsta02edin|edition=Public domain|year=1853|publisher=A. Fullarton|pages=[https://archive.org/details/topographicalsta02edin/page/761 761]–}}</ref>
==Economy== thumb|left|250px|Cottage on the road to Skerray harbourThe Skerray economy, historically based on crofting and fishing, saw dramatic changes in its population, which fell from 500 in 1926 to around 100 by the 1980s.<ref name="SmithGazin-Schwartz2008" /> In the late 19th century, the ''North Sea Pilot'' noted that, "At Skerray, Isle Roan, and Torrisdale, 25 boats and 120 men and boys are employed in the fisheries."<ref name="Dept1895">{{cite book|author=Great Britain. Hydrographic Dept|title=North Sea pilot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=huyvAAAAMAAJ|year=1895|publisher=Sold by J. D. Potter.|page=40}}</ref> Skerray has been a crofting community, though with the decline of crofting in this area, dwellings are expected to be converted to holiday homes.<ref name="JedrejJȩdrej1995">{{cite book|last1=Jedrej|first1=Charles|last2=Jȩdrej|first2=M. Charles|last3=Nuttall|first3=Mark|title=White settlers: the impact of rural repopulation in Scotland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TunpB9s82RkC&pg=PA131|year=1995|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-3-7186-5753-7|page=131}}</ref> A five-year Scottish National Heritage research project that began in 1994 gave some of Skerry's crofters the opportunity to participate in an agricultural and environmental management study in exchange for annual payments.<ref name="snh.org.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.snh.org.uk/press/detail.asp?id=152|title=Agricultural Demonstration Projects Could Help Target Funding |date=5 August 1999|publisher=Scottish National Heritage}}</ref> A group of artists live and work in Skerray,<ref name="SmithGazin-Schwartz2008" /> as well as the ''A' Chraobh'' ("The Tree") Group which planted the Millennium Forest at Borgie.<ref name="Society and space">{{cite book|title=Society and space|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zBtUAAAAMAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Pion Ltd.|page=538}}</ref> The economy has expanded to include tourism.<ref name="orkneyit.com" />
==Landmarks== Skerray has a small shop, Jimson's, with an incorporated post office. The main store closed in the early 1960s.<ref name="Smith1988">{{cite book|last=Smith|first=John Smart|title=The County of Sutherland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=56JnAAAAMAAJ|date=September 1988|publisher=Scottish Academic Press|page=270|isbn=9780707305363}}</ref> The adjacent building to Jimson's is now home to a small art gallery featuring art work from local artists. The hamlet also contains Skerray Village Hall. The main church in Skerray is the Free Church (in the hamlet of Achtoty) and, as of 1988, it was reported to be "just about surviving, having had no minister for four years" but has fallen into a ruined state of repair.<ref name="MC"/><ref name="Smith1988"/>
==Education== A parochial schoolhouse was built in Skerray in 1836.<ref name="Education1844">{{cite book|author=Great Britain. Committee on Education|title=Minutes of the Committee of Council on Education Correspondence, Financial Statements, etc., and Reports by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8fkbAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA656|edition=Public domain|year=1844|publisher=Clowes|page=656}}</ref> While primary education remains local, secondary education is provided at Farr High School in Bettyhill.<ref name="orkneyit.com">{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:jo0LI4F_3OkJ:ewanharris.orkneyit.com/pdf/44127-torrisdale.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESj1jDSP-X0MwuVs0-Prs7DEAjEOh7qmmDpxYdmHn5r-yCnl0uW2OCIj7nSs1NPIEiO5Dhb7tbMcT0GuNFYp240krDcFMacGvi9bE9tyD9AWm8driWh8oulbjH2QPigXcAyIO8l7&sig=AHIEtbS7TMp4WLwqI2oWOwEMQ9kllTvqPA&pli=1|title=247 TORRISDALE, SKERRAY, SUTHERLAND KW14 7TH|work=orkneyit.com|pages=2|access-date=28 December 2011}}</ref>
==Tourism== Musical groups from other countries perform in the community hall.<ref name="SmithGazin-Schwartz2008">{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Angèle Patricia|last2=Gazin-Schwartz|first2=Amy|title=Landscapes of clearance: archaeological and anthropological perspectives|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mTITS6Bo-jIC&pg=PA171|year=2008|publisher=Left Coast Press|isbn=978-1-59874-266-4|page=171}}</ref> Cliffs and inlets along the coastline are explored by sea kayaking enthusiasts.<ref name="CooperReid2005">{{cite book|last1=Cooper|first1=Doug|last2=Reid|first2=George|title=Scottish Sea Kayaking: Fifty Great Sea Kayak Voyages|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2hEqZjX1-AcC&pg=PA193|year=2005|publisher=Pesda Press|isbn=978-0-9547061-2-8|page=193}}</ref>
==References== thumb|right|250px|Click twice to view map {{commons category}} {{Reflist}}
Category:Populated places in Sutherland