The northernmost town on mainland Britain has a rugged coastline and strong surfing culture. Its 13th-century St Peter's Church and science museum draw visitors year-round.
Thurso, the northernmost town on mainland Britain, sits on Scotland's north coast. You can watch surfers tackle the waves at Thurso East, explore the stone ruins of Old St Peter's Kirk from 1125, or walk along the clifftop path to Holburn Head Lighthouse. The town's granite buildings and active fishing harbor reflect its maritime past, and you can take a ferry from nearby Scrabster port to explore the Orkney Islands.
Getting to Thurso
The town connects to Inverness via regular train service to Britain's northernmost railway station. Scottish Citylink buses run frequently along the A9 road from Inverness, with the journey taking about 2.5 hours. The nearest major airport is in Inverness, while Wick Airport, 30 minutes away, handles smaller flights.
Exploring the Town Center
The town center follows an 18th-century grid pattern designed by Sir John Sinclair, with wide streets lined with granite buildings. Sir John's Square marks the center, where you'll find the war memorial and St Peter's & St Andrew's Church, an 1832 Gothic structure with pointed arches and tall windows. In the Fisher Biggins area near the river mouth, you can walk through curved streets past renovated 17th-century houses.
Surfing and Water Activities
Surfers come to Thurso East for its reef break waves, which reach heights of up to 4 meters. The spot has hosted international surfing championships, while Thurso beach suits beginners with its gentler waves. You can swim at Thurso beach from June to September, and local companies like North Coast Watersports rent kayaks and organize guided trips on the Pentland Firth.
Coastal Walks
From Thurso beach, follow the coastal path west to Holburn Head Lighthouse, where you'll pass 30-meter cliffs and rock formations. The path continues to Scrabster harbor, home to the Orkney ferry terminal. Look for guillemots and kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs, and seals swimming near the harbor.
Historical Sites
Old St Peter's Kirk's roofless walls date from 1125, with a unique 17th-century window carved from one stone slab. The remaining walls of Thurso Castle stand on the eastern side of the river mouth - while most of the building was demolished in 1952, you can still see parts of its 19th-century structure from the coastal path.
Modern Amenities
At the North Coast Visitor Centre, you can learn about local history and the Dounreay nuclear facility through interactive exhibits. Wolfburn Distillery, which opened in 2013, produces single malt whisky using traditional methods - you can join daily tours to see the production process. The town has a swimming pool at Millbank Road, the two-screen Thurso Cinema, and several supermarkets along Millbank Road and Castlegreen Road.
