Muckle Skerry

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / surface missing template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / height missing

Muckle Skerry is an island of the Orkney Islands. It is the largest of the Pentland Skerries, a group of four archipelago in the Pentland Firth. Muckle Skerry is located about five kilometers south of South Ronaldsay and seven kilometers north-east of Duncansby Head, the easternmost point of land north of the Scottish mainland. With a length of 1.1 km Muckle Skerry is a maximum of 600 m wide. In the northwest, there are three small, unnamed lakes. While in 1881 only 17 residents were counted, Muckle Skerry is uninhabited today. A landing pad for applying boats located on the northeast coast.

History

On Muckle Skerry, there are numerous traces of earlier settlement. It is not certain whether located near the designated " tennis court " northeastern headland are the remains of a Broch. Muckle Skerry seems unlikely as a place of settlement Broch Community In the sight of his small size. In part three heavily damaged structures, it is likely to Cairns. Evidence of settlements are found mainly along the north coast.

1794 with the 36 m high Pentland Skerries Lighthouse one of the first lighthouses in Scotland was built on Muckle Skerry. Today the tower is automated and the only surviving structure on the island. He is listed as a historic landmark in the highest category A Scottish monument.