The settlement emerged in the late 19th century as the north coast was populated by families forcibly displaced during the Highland Clearances.

[2] Strathy is on the north coast of Scotland, on the A836 road some twenty miles west of Thurso.

The Church of Scotland at Strathy has a prominent position on the approach to the village from the east.

It was described by Alexander Munro in 1900 as "absolutely unique among Scottish crosses", in that the deep cups at its four extremeties and centre seem to recall the "cups and rings" characteristic of similar pagan memorials, despite the monument's apparently Christian character.

He speculated that it may date from the period of transition between paganism and Christianity in the area around the 7th century, although accepting that the absence of other evidence precluded any certainty.