Thurso Tourist Information

Thurso Tourist Attractions

Thurso is the main town in the far north of the Scottish Highlands. It has long been a centre since the Vikings pulled into port in the 10th century. In fact, it's name is derived from the Norse Thorsa meaning "river of the God Thor". It's a functional centre with all the facilities you might need and it serves the many smaller communities in the surrounding Caithness countryside.

The Tourist Information Centre is handily situated by the river as you come into Thurso from the east. There's a car park adjacent to it. The town centre has a wide choice of shops and several restaurants, cafes and takeaways. There is also a good choice of hotels and B&B accommodation. Thurso is also home to the most northerly railway station at which trains from Inverness arrive via Wick.

Thurso isn't necessarily a destination in itself although it is pleasant enough to walk round to do a bit of shopping. The Thurso Heritage Museum near the Town Hall has a range of displays and artefacts including Pictish, ancient standing stones and a runic stone as well as recreated rooms of how locals would have lived in days gone by.

The Thurso River starts at Thurso and cuts down through the Caithness countryside. This is an excellent salmon river and there are several beats where you can arrange to fish. Check the Thurso River link right for more information.

Northlink Ferries from Scrabster to Stromness Orkney Islands

Northlink Ferries run a regular car passenger ferry service from Scrabster (about a mile west of Thurso) in Caithness to Stromness in West Orkney. Three sailings run from Scrabster daily on the MV Hamnavoe, a large 20 passenger cabin ship with restaurants, creche and lounges on board. They pride themselves on the quality of the food and a cream tea features in the day trip ticket.

The crossing takes just one and half hours and you can get some excellent views of the Caithness coastline including Dunnet Head and the Orkney island of Hoy as the ferry nears Stromness. Northink offer day trip tours from Scrabster which is a good introduction to Mainland Orkney but doesn't give you much time for exploring all that Orkney has to offer.

The ferry docks at Stromness harbour where the ferry terminal also houses the excellent VisitOrkney Tourist Information Office. Buses meet the ferry for onward travel across the island to Kirkwall. The centre of Stromness is a short walk from the ferry terminal.

NorthLink Ferries Ltd, Kiln Corner, Ayre Road, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1QX. For reservations and bookings tel: 0845 6000 449. Email: info@northlinkferries.co.uk

Thurso Surfing Highlands Scotland

The turbulent and often treacherous seas of the Pentland Firth have latterly meant that Thurso has become renowned as a good surfing spot.

The seas here have one of the fastest barrelling waves in the world although they're always a bit on the chilly side.

There are several good spots stretching from Dunnet Bay across to Strathy along the north Highlands coast.

Tempest Surf Shop in Thurso hire out all the equipment you'd need as well as stocking surfing gear. They also have a cafe serving local food where you can find out more about local surfing. Tempest Surf, Thurso Harbour, Caithness, KW14 8DE. Tel: 01847 892500. Email: info@tempestsurf.co.uk

Around Thurso - Dunnet Head - Castle of Mey

East of Thurso is the beautiful sandy Dunnet Bay, a good place for learning to surf. This is a long sandy beach backed with sand dunes and some rocky shore worth exploring for the array of seaweeds and rock pool creatures. Caithness Flagstones were once quarried here and there is an interpretive trail, Castlehill Flagstone Trail, that tells you all about the past industry here as well as taking you past a sculpture trail. There's a campsite, car park and Ranger Centre at the north east of the bay where you can gain more information on the area and its wildlife. Open Apr-Sept Tues-Fri & Sun 2-5pm.

Th bay leads to Dunnet Head at it's eastern end, actually Britain's most northerly point on the mainland - not John O'Groats as is often touted. This is a lovely if not windy place, covered in a carpet of heath and bog with an interesting array of specialist plants and mosses. If you travel along the single track road to the end of the head there is parking near yet another Stevenson lighthouse. You can get views of the Orkneys and the Old Man of Hoy from here on a clear day and the white horses of the Pentland Firth. As Dunnet Head is higher than the land around it you can get some wide-ranging views along the whole coastline.

Brough is a small settlement just off the heathland of Dunnet Head where you'll find Dunnet Head Tearooms, a welcome stop if you need to warm up with a cup of tea. Also along the route to Dunnet Head you'll see signs for Mary-Ann's Cottage. This is a traditional farming croft that was lived in by the same family for three generations. It only became vacant on when Mary-Ann Calder's had to leave the croft in 1990 at the age of 93. Her grandfather built the cottage in 1850 and the family's belongings that show how their traditional way of life had endured until this time have been preserved. It is now maintained by The Caithness Heritage Trust and is open Jun-Sept Tues-Sun.

Just inland from Dunnet Bay is the Castle of Mey, the former home of the Queen Mother that she bought after her husband's death. It was formerly a 16th century castle owned by the Earls of Caithness until 1889 but was in a state of disrepair when the Queen Mum bought it. It is the most northerly castle in Britain with excellent views to Orkney. You can visit the castle and gardens for an entrance fee. The castle is full of personal knick knacks including paintings by Prince Charles and novelty souvenirs that are telling of her sense of humour. Check the times on the official website as these may change. Tours of the castle need to be booked in advance. Jeremy Burton, The Castle of Mey, Thurso, Caithness, KW14 8XH. Tel: 01847 851473. Fax: 01847 851475. Email:castleofmey@totalise.co.uk