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An Dubh-Sgeir

Island in Ross-shire

Scotland

An Dubh-Sgeir

Plockton shoreline Looking across the mouth of Loch Carron.
Plockton shoreline Credit: John Allan

An Dubh-Sgeir is a small island located off the coast of Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands. It lies in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 10 kilometers northeast of the mainland. The island measures around 1 kilometer in length and is known for its rugged and rocky terrain.

The name An Dubh-Sgeir translates to "the black skerry" in Scottish Gaelic, which accurately describes the island's appearance, as its dark rocks contrast with the surrounding blue waters. The island is uninhabited and lacks any permanent structures, making it a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and those seeking solitude.

Despite its small size, An Dubh-Sgeir boasts a diverse range of flora and fauna. The island is home to various seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills, which nest on its cliffs during the breeding season. Grey seals can often be spotted resting on the rocky shores, while dolphins and porpoises occasionally swim in the waters nearby.

Access to An Dubh-Sgeir is limited, as there are no regular ferry services to the island. However, it can be reached by private boat or kayak, weather permitting. Visitors are advised to take caution when exploring the island, as the terrain can be treacherous, with steep cliffs and slippery rocks.

An Dubh-Sgeir offers a unique opportunity to experience the untouched beauty of Scotland's coastline. Its rugged landscape, rich wildlife, and peaceful atmosphere make it a haven for those seeking a true escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

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An Dubh-Sgeir Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 57.348898/-5.6186342 or Grid Reference NG8234. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Plockton shoreline Looking across the mouth of Loch Carron.
Plockton shoreline
Looking across the mouth of Loch Carron.
Plockton Post Office Open between 10:00 and 13:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Thursday is late closing day, when the Post Office trades until 14:00.
Plockton Post Office
Open between 10:00 and 13:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Thursday is late closing day, when the Post Office trades until 14:00.
Ob an Duine A narrow inlet of the sea reaching towards the white painted houses on Harbour Street.
Ob an Duine
A narrow inlet of the sea reaching towards the white painted houses on Harbour Street.
Shore view near Craig from the Kyle to Inverness train On the left is Eilean na Creige Duibhe and the line of the railway ahead is right beside the water.
Shore view near Craig from the Kyle to Inverness train
On the left is Eilean na Creige Duibhe and the line of the railway ahead is right beside the water.
Duncraig Castle from Eilean nan Gamhainn Category C Listed Scottish Baronial castle of 1866 by Alexander Ross (1834-1925). Built for Sir Alexander Matheson who made his fortune trading opium in China and went on to serve as a Member of Parliament and was created a baronet in 1882. With the onset of World War Two Duncraig was used as a Naval hospital. it was bequeathed to Ross & Cromarty County Council in 1945 by Sir Daniel and Lady Hamilton who had both died by this time and it became a home economics training college for girls. A modernist wing was added in 1969 and the college closed in 1989. Slowly decaying but used from 1995 to 1997 as the base for the BBC production of "Hamish Macbeth" it was rescued in 2003 by Perlin and Sam Dobson who bought it for £505,000. The Dobsons put it on the market at offers over £800,000 in 2009 after their efforts to refurbish the property featured in a BBC TV reality show "The Dobsons of Duncraig" in 2004. Duncraig Castle now belongs to Suzanne Hazeldine who is currently carrying out an extensive renovation and it is due to open in Spring 2016 as guest accommodation.
Duncraig Castle from Eilean nan Gamhainn
Category C Listed Scottish Baronial castle of 1866 by Alexander Ross (1834-1925). Built for Sir Alexander Matheson who made his fortune trading opium in China and went on to serve as a Member of Parliament and was created a baronet in 1882. With the onset of World War Two Duncraig was used as a Naval hospital. it was bequeathed to Ross & Cromarty County Council in 1945 by Sir Daniel and Lady Hamilton who had both died by this time and it became a home economics training college for girls. A modernist wing was added in 1969 and the college closed in 1989. Slowly decaying but used from 1995 to 1997 as the base for the BBC production of "Hamish Macbeth" it was rescued in 2003 by Perlin and Sam Dobson who bought it for £505,000. The Dobsons put it on the market at offers over £800,000 in 2009 after their efforts to refurbish the property featured in a BBC TV reality show "The Dobsons of Duncraig" in 2004. Duncraig Castle now belongs to Suzanne Hazeldine who is currently carrying out an extensive renovation and it is due to open in Spring 2016 as guest accommodation.
Tullochard Black House, Rudha, Plockton First mention of Plockton has been traced back to 1787 but before the 19th century there are no records of many people having lived here. It is probable that a small crofting community of three or four families did exist. Part of Tullochard this Category B Listed traditional West Highland house is 19th century and the last intact survival in Plockton. Converted from a store to a dwelling about 1998; see <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3543530">NG8033 : Tullochard Black House, Rudha, Plockton</a> for a pre-conversion picture.
Tullochard Black House, Rudha, Plockton
First mention of Plockton has been traced back to 1787 but before the 19th century there are no records of many people having lived here. It is probable that a small crofting community of three or four families did exist. Part of Tullochard this Category B Listed traditional West Highland house is 19th century and the last intact survival in Plockton. Converted from a store to a dwelling about 1998; see NG8033 : Tullochard Black House, Rudha, Plockton for a pre-conversion picture.
Duncraig Castle from Harbour Street Plockton Category C Listed Scottish Baronial castle of 1866 by Alexander Ross (1834-1925). Built for Sir Alexander Matheson who made his fortune trading opium in China and went on to serve as a Member of Parliament and was created a baronet in 1882. With the onset of World War Two Duncraig was used as a Naval hospital. It was bequeathed to Ross & Cromarty County Council in 1945 by Sir Daniel and Lady Hamilton who had both died by this time and it became a home economics training college for girls. A modernist wing was added in 1969 and the college closed in 1989. Slowly decaying but used from 1995 to 1997 as the base for the BBC production of "Hamish Macbeth" it was rescued in 2003 by Perlin and Sam Dobson who bought it for £505,000. The Dobsons put it on the market at offers over £800,000 in 2009 after their efforts to refurbish the property featured in a BBC TV reality show "The Dobsons of Duncraig" in 2004. Duncraig Castle now belongs to Suzanne Hazeldine who is currently carrying out an extensive renovation and it is due to open in Spring 2016 as guest accommodation.
Duncraig Castle from Harbour Street Plockton
Category C Listed Scottish Baronial castle of 1866 by Alexander Ross (1834-1925). Built for Sir Alexander Matheson who made his fortune trading opium in China and went on to serve as a Member of Parliament and was created a baronet in 1882. With the onset of World War Two Duncraig was used as a Naval hospital. It was bequeathed to Ross & Cromarty County Council in 1945 by Sir Daniel and Lady Hamilton who had both died by this time and it became a home economics training college for girls. A modernist wing was added in 1969 and the college closed in 1989. Slowly decaying but used from 1995 to 1997 as the base for the BBC production of "Hamish Macbeth" it was rescued in 2003 by Perlin and Sam Dobson who bought it for £505,000. The Dobsons put it on the market at offers over £800,000 in 2009 after their efforts to refurbish the property featured in a BBC TV reality show "The Dobsons of Duncraig" in 2004. Duncraig Castle now belongs to Suzanne Hazeldine who is currently carrying out an extensive renovation and it is due to open in Spring 2016 as guest accommodation.
Malahide Trawler yacht Orcades Plockton 66 Ton 17.6m Orcades was built as a navigation training vessel in 1973 and rebuilt as an 11 berth private yacht in Stromness in 1997. In the interim period she was a private trawler in Orkney. I assume related to her, Orcades Charters Ltd was established in 2005 in Plockton and dissolved 2014. She was up for sale in 2013 at £280,000.
Malahide Trawler yacht Orcades Plockton
66 Ton 17.6m Orcades was built as a navigation training vessel in 1973 and rebuilt as an 11 berth private yacht in Stromness in 1997. In the interim period she was a private trawler in Orkney. I assume related to her, Orcades Charters Ltd was established in 2005 in Plockton and dissolved 2014. She was up for sale in 2013 at £280,000.
Duncraig Castle renovation Duncraig Castle has been privately owned for a few years, offering bed and breakfast accommodation. It closed for renovation a couple of years ago. There appears to be some building work going on today, with a rubbish chute next to the entrance, and scaffolding on the right. The castle had previously been used as a home economics college, with a large extension built on the east side in the 1960s. It appears that extension has now been demolished. Compare with this photo from 2009: <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1407048">NG8133 : Duncraig Castle Plockton</a> Duncraig Castle is due to reopen in Spring 2017.
Duncraig Castle renovation
Duncraig Castle has been privately owned for a few years, offering bed and breakfast accommodation. It closed for renovation a couple of years ago. There appears to be some building work going on today, with a rubbish chute next to the entrance, and scaffolding on the right. The castle had previously been used as a home economics college, with a large extension built on the east side in the 1960s. It appears that extension has now been demolished. Compare with this photo from 2009: NG8133 : Duncraig Castle Plockton Duncraig Castle is due to reopen in Spring 2017.
Eilean na Creige Duibhe
Eilean na Creige Duibhe
Waiting room, Duncraig station A rather unusual octagonal waiting room at this small station. The station opened in 1897, and was originally a private station for Duncraig Castle. The station is a Category B listed building, see the Historic Scotland report: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB44180" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB44180">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Waiting room, Duncraig station
A rather unusual octagonal waiting room at this small station. The station opened in 1897, and was originally a private station for Duncraig Castle. The station is a Category B listed building, see the Historic Scotland report: LinkExternal link
View from Plockton looking towards Sgeir Bhuidh A literal translation of Sgeir Bhuidh would be the Yellow Skerry or Yellow Rock and it does indeed appear to be yellow when viewed from Plockton.
View from Plockton looking towards Sgeir Bhuidh
A literal translation of Sgeir Bhuidh would be the Yellow Skerry or Yellow Rock and it does indeed appear to be yellow when viewed from Plockton.
Shoreline at Ardaneaskan
Shoreline at Ardaneaskan
Coast at Rubha Thollaidh
Coast at Rubha Thollaidh
Plockton
Plockton
Aird a' Mhorair, Plocton
Aird a' Mhorair, Plocton
Aird a' Mhorair, Plocton
Aird a' Mhorair, Plocton
Train leaving Duncraig station This is the first train of the day from Inverness, heading west towards Plockton and Kyle of Lochalsh. It has just departed from Duncraig station, which is a request stop. The train is a ScotRail Class 158, number 158705. Plenty of gorse bushes growing beside the station, now covered by yellow flowers.
Train leaving Duncraig station
This is the first train of the day from Inverness, heading west towards Plockton and Kyle of Lochalsh. It has just departed from Duncraig station, which is a request stop. The train is a ScotRail Class 158, number 158705. Plenty of gorse bushes growing beside the station, now covered by yellow flowers.
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An Dubh-Sgeir is located at Grid Ref: NG8234 (Lat: 57.348898, Lng: -5.6186342)

Unitary Authority: Highland

Police Authority: Highlands and Islands

What 3 Words

///hiring.salaried.pausing. Near Lochcarron, Highland

Nearby Locations

An Dubh-Sgeir Sgeir Ollach

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