Strathy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Strathy Scottish Gaelic: Srathaidh
Strathy
Strathy
OS grid reference	NC841650
Civil parish	Farr
Council area	Highland
Lieutenancy area	Sutherland
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	THURSO
Postcode district	KW14
Dialling code	01641
Police	Northern
Fire	Highlands and Islands
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Scottish Parliament	Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
List of places UK Scotland 58°33′N 4°00′W / 58.55°N 4.00°W / 58.55; -4.00

Strathy is a small, spread-out community located in Sutherland, a beautiful area in the Scottish Highlands. The name Strathy comes from the Scottish Gaelic word "Srathaidh," which means "place of the strath" (a wide valley). This community started to grow in the late 1800s. Many families moved here after being forced from their homes during the Highland Clearances. This was a time when many people in the Highlands had to leave their land.

Strathy is found on the northern coast of Scotland. It is about twenty miles west of Thurso and sits along the A836 road.

What Makes Up Strathy?

The community of Strathy is made up of a few different parts. These areas generally surround the main part of the village, which is called Steven Terrace.

Strathy East

This part of Strathy is on the right side if you are driving through the village towards Bettyhill. You can reach it by two roads that lead to Strathy Beach.

Strathy West

Strathy West is located right next to Strathy East, just to its south.

Strathy Point

This area is a notable point along the coast.

Nearby Settlements

Some people also consider nearby settlements to be part of the Strathy community. These include Baligill to the east. To the west, you might find Brawl, Aultiphurst, and Laidnagullin included. Essentially, the whole area between the Baligill Burn and the Armadale 'Big' Burn is sometimes seen as Strathy.

Important Places in Strathy

There are a few important landmarks and historical sites in and around Strathy.

Strathy Church

The Church of Scotland building in Strathy stands in a very noticeable spot. It is easy to see when you are coming into the village from the east.

Strathy Point Lighthouse

The lighthouse at Strathy Point was built in 1958. It was special because it was the first lighthouse in Scotland to use electricity. It was also the last lighthouse built with the plan for people to live and work there. The lighthouse stopped operating in 2012.

The Priest's Stone

The Priest's Stone, a unique limestone cross.

In the moorland south of the village, there is an old limestone cross known as "the priest's stone." In 1900, a person named Alexander Munro described it as very unique. It has deep cup-like shapes at its ends and in the middle. These shapes are similar to "cups and rings" found on much older pagan monuments. This makes the stone interesting because it looks Christian but has these older symbols.

Munro thought the stone might be from around the 7th century. This was a time when the area was changing from pagan beliefs to Christianity. However, he admitted it was hard to be sure without more evidence. There is a local story that says if you disturb the stone, a storm will happen. Inside Strathy's village hall, you can see a copy of this interesting cross.

Weather in Strathy

Strathy has a climate typical of coastal Scotland. Here's what the weather is generally like: