Thurso is the northernmost town on the Scottish mainland, a traditional-looking town with fantastic cold-water surfing conditions, a lively foodie scene, and a ferry port to the Orkney Islands. The scenery of Scotland’s northern coast is equal to that of its islands, and the best places to stay in Thurso offer some incredible sea views, as well as inland outlooks that take in the lushly atmospheric blanket bogs of the “Flow Country”.

Thurso has some sights too, including one of the oldest churches in Scotland, one of Scotland’s most northerly distilleries, and a ruined castle. And, as well as the well known right-hand reef-break, Thurso beach is also great for surfers just starting out, or families who’re more interested in the sand and the shallows than the reefs and breaks. It also boasts a swimming hole and a pier. In fact the best places to stay in Thurso are just as good for families looking for a bucket and spade destination, as they are for couples looking for a romantic escape, or surfers looking to spend time with a world-famous reef-break.

The River Thurso cuts through town, offering passage for salmon and water fowl, but also for otters and seals. Fly-fishermen will probably want to try their luck in the pools upstream, but the rest of us may be content to walk along the banks looking for wildlife. If you get as far as Dunnet Head you may see puffins, razor bills, kittiwakes and guillemots. There are plenty of other walking paths winding around the local sights, including Norse-relic, Harolds Tower, the lighthouse at Holburn Head, and the Iron Age Burnside Broch. There are plenty of things to occupy you in town, but the best places to stay in Thurso, also provide a great base for exploring the whole of the Caithness region, and the north Scottish coastline.

The Best Places to Stay in Thurso

For a Country House Escape

• Forss House is an atmospheric country house, built in 1810, on 20 acres of relatively remote Scottish woodland. This is the perfect launchpad for fishing, walking, cycling, stalking and shooting, and other outdoor pursuits — there are a number of rivers, and Scottish links golf courses within easy reach of the hotel. There are 14 rooms and suites, a good selection of which are dog friendly, plus communal areas with welcoming fireplaces and a great selection of whisky.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Want to fly to Thurso?

• The closest major airport to Thurso is Inverness Airport, which is about two and a half hours away by car or about thee hours by rail. The closest small airport, is Wick airport, which is about half an hour drive from Thurso, or just under half an hour by rail. You my also want to consider catching the train up from London — it takes about 13 hours, but it’s a spectacular journey.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• There’s always a chance of rain in this part of the world, so whatever time of year you choose to visit be prepared for any possible weather combinations. This far north it’s probably the light that makes the most difference to your visit; closer to mid-Summer the days are a lot longer, so we recommend May through September. Thurso is actually further north than the southernmost point of Norway!

Still not sure where to stay?

• Expand your search to include the best places to stay in Caithness
• browse some of our Gurus recommendations for Scotland’s Highlands and Islands
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in Thurso