Thurso

Thurso is a Town 110 miles north of Inverness, furthest north Town in Scotland, in the area of Caithness.

Thurso is popular for the North Coast Visitor Centre on the High Street, Old St Peters Church, Thurso Beach and Thurso Castle Ruins by the harbour, Wolfburn Whisky Distillery on the west side, Walks, Watersports 7 miles east at the vast Dunnet Beach, and as a base for exploring the North Coast and Orkney Islands.

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

The image top is of St Peter's Church in Thurso centre with two Monuments in the Gardens in front of the Church named Sir John's Square.

Trail Street is one of the the main streets in the Town with the Royal Hotel being the largest Hotel on this street.

The North Coast Visitor Centre is on the High Street, covering the Vikings, Picts, History of the Dounreay Nuclear Research, and the Robert Dick Herbarium. This used to be the Caithness Museum.

Old St Peter's Church is on Wilson Lane close to the Harbour west side, built around 1125 as the first main Church in the area.

The Ruins of Thurso Castle are on the east side of the Harbour. This Castle was built from 1665 for the Sinclair's, Earls of Caithness, More Images by Wendy at Flickr.

Thurso Bay Holiday Park is on the northwest side of the Town with a range of Touring and Camping Pitches.

There are three Ferries from the area for trips to the Orkney Isles, with the Northlink Car Ferry running from Scrabster 2 miles northwest of Thurso with 90 minute crossings.

Gills Bay is 16 miles northeast with Pentland Ferries running from there with 60 minute crossings. This Ferry also takes cars.

John O Groats is 19 miles northeast of Thurso with the John O Groats Ferry offering 40 minute crossings. This is a passenger only Ferry that also runs Coach Tours of the Orkney Isles. This service stopped in 2023 with it being put up for sale.

Thurso History

23,000 BC - Neolithic Horned Cairns were built on Shebster Hill for Burials and Rituals 7 miles southwest of Thurso.

800s - the Norse / Vikings began taking control of the Orkney Isles, Western Isles, and parts of Northern Scotland, leading to many Battles between Scots and Vikings.

1125? - Old St Peters Church was built at the west side of Thurso Harbour.

1140s - the Bishops of Caithness ruled much of the area from their Castle at Scrabster under 2 miles northwest of Thurso.

1157 - a timber Fort was recorded as having been built at Thurso for the Earls of Orkney and Caithness. These Early Earls were Norse with Scots Kings allowing them to control the area, said to be on the east side of the Harbour.

1260s - King Alexander III began forcing the Vikings out of Scotland, Western Isles, and later the Orkney Isles.

1300s - Clan Cheyne, Clan Gunn, and Clan Keith had taken control of much of the land in Caithness, with long running feuds between these Clans.

1379 - the Sinclair's became Earls of Orkney, with the Sinclair's being part Norse, part Scots.

1455 - Sir William Sinclair became the first Earl of Caithness to control the area for King James II. Sir William also held lands at Rosslyn 12 miles south of Edinburgh, where he built Rosslyn Chapel.

1472 - Scotland gained control of the Orkney Islands, ending Viking rule, and ending the Sinclair Earldom of Orkney.

1470s - Castle Sinclair Girnigoe was built for William Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Caithness by Wick, 32 miles southeast of Thurso, from where they could control the area.

1500s - the Fort at Thurso was destroyed by fire.

1566 - Barrogill Castle was built for the 4th Earl of Caithness, George Sinclair, 14 miles northeast of Thurso.

1649 - Irish led by Donald Macalister Mullach, attacked Thurso but were defeated in Battle by locals led by Sir James Sinclair. Mullach was Killed in the Battle.

1650s - Castle Sinclair Girnigoe was badly damaged during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, falling into ruin soon after.

1665 - George Sinclair, 6th Earl of Caithness, built a stone Castle on the east side of Thurso Harbour, said to be where the wooden Fort was situated.

1726 - Haimer Castle was built about 2 miles southeast of Thurso for Alexander Sinclair, 9th Earl of Caithness, little remains today.

1790s - the Sinclair's and Clan Gunn began moving small scale farmers off their land in the Caithness area, some to small Croft's on rocky land by the coast so large scale sheep farming could begin on the more fertile land.

1821 - the Thurso Wolfburn Whisky Distillery was founded on the west side of Thurso by William Smith.

1832 - the new St Peter's Parish Church was built in Thurso centre, probably funded by the Sinclair's, Earls of Caithness, with Parish Churches ran by local Elders, leading to the Old St Peter's Church falling into ruin.

1843 - the first small Free Church was built in Thurso centre on Traill Street, with these Churches built to be free from State and Landowner control.

1860 - the West Free Church was built on Sinclair Street in Thurso centre after a dispute in the first Free Church on Traill Street led to the congregation splitting.

1850 - the Royal Hotel was built on Traill Street three stories high, with most of the centre of Thurso built around that time, three stories high with shops on many of the ground floors.

1871 - a larger Free Church was built on Olrig Street in Thurso centre, with the old Free Church at 12 Traill Street converted to a TSB Bank, then a Pharmacy.

1872 - the Sinclair Castle on the east side of Thurso Harbour was rebuilt as a Gothic Mansion for Sir John George Sinclair, 3rd Baronet of Ulbster, relation of the Earls of Caithness.

1874 - the Railway reached Thurso, linking the Town to Inverness, and from there, the rest of the UK.

1885 - the Episcopal Church was built on St George's Street in Thurso, with Bishops. These Churches were banned in Scotland after the Reformation of 1560 as the Scots wanted their Churches run by local Elders, not Bishops chosen by Royals. Episcopal Churches were built in Scotland again from the late 1790s.

1889 - George Sinclair, 15th Earl of Caithness died when he lived at Barrogill Castle 15 miles northeast of Thurso, with him being the last Sinclair Earl to live in Caithness.

1952 - Thurso Castle was noted as being in Ruin.

1952 - the Queen Mother bought Barrogill Castle as a holiday home, renaming it Castle of Mey.

1955 - the Dounreay Nuclear Power Station was built 10 miles west of Thurso.

1959 - Thurso Technical College opened, it is now part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, said to have about 3,000 full time and part time students.

1994 - the Dounreay Power Station had its last Electricity Reactor closed down.

2015 - the last Military Reactor at Dounreay was closed down. The Site is now being Monitored and Maintained.

2020s - the Olrig Street Church had plans made to convert it to a skate park and climbing centre.

Today - Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness, lives in London England.

See Canisbay Kirk 17 miles east of Thurso for where the 19 Earls of Caithness are buried.