Facing the Orkney Islands on Scotland’s North Atlantic coast, Thurso is the northernmost town on the British mainland. It clusters around a small harbour at the mouth of the River Thurso, which served as an important Norse port during the Middle Ages.
Things to do in Thurso
Stroll through Thurso to admire the circular Meadow Well and explore the 12th-century ruins of Old St. Peter’s Church, which was not only a house of worship but a setting for criminal hearings. On the other side of town is the 19th-century St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s Church, where you’ll find beautiful stained-glass windows and a pipe organ by Norman & Beard. Changing art exhibitions are held at the Swanson Gallery.
You can delve into the past at the Caithness Horizons Museum, which houses a fascinating collection of objects that tell the county’s story. Get up close to fossilised fish from the Devonian period and Bronze Age clay pieces, as well as a Viking cross-shaped gravestone marked with runic letters. Geological and botanical specimens collected by a local baker are also on display.
Surfers can take advantage of the reef, point and beach breaks that dot the coastline surrounding Thurso, which also hosts world championships for kayak surfing. A hiking trail hugs the coast between Thurso and Scrabster, offering magnificent views across Thurso Bay. Head in the other direction and you’ll arrive at Harold's Tower, an 18th-century mausoleum built by Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster.
Getting around Thurso
Thurso is around 2.5 hours’ drive from Inverness and Inverness Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect from Inverness to the Thurso railway station while ferries travel from nearby Scrabster to the Orkney Islands. The centre of Thurso is compact enough to explore on foot.