Thurso - the queen mother herself once visited the Dunnet Head lightouse and had tea with the head keeper and his wife!

The Thurso area, in the northwest of Caithness, is in marked contrast to its westerly neighbours as moorland turns into a patchwork of fields and forestry. The towns get larger – Thurso has a population of around 8,000 – and so those wanting to visit Scotland’s north coast yet don’t want to leave the luxury of a nearby supermarket and abundant visitor attractions, Caithness is for you.

There is no shortage of museums in Thurso, showcasing the area’s Norse, Pictish and more recent heritage. These are joined by a preserved, ruined church, gardens and two distilleries – both of which you can visit and try their whisky and gin. Visitors looking to spend some time in the town and exploring the visitor attractions are therefore spoiled for choice.

If you want to head further afield and explore the coastline, Dunnet Head – an RSPB reserve and mainland Britain’s most northerly point – has stunning sea cliffs and abundant seabirds including fulmars, kittiwakes, puffins and guillemots. In summer, you might even see the odd Skua roaming the cliffs for its next meal! On a clear day you can see all the way across to the Orkney Isles.

Thurso has an unexpected claim to fame as one of Scotland’s top surfing spots – for those who are brave enough to jump into the ice cold waters!

With its northerly location and uninterrupted views out over the Pentland Firth, the northern lights can be seen dancing across the sky when the conditions are right – we recommend leaving Thurso to get away from the light pollution and see them in their full glory.

From Scrabser you can take a ferry across the Pentland Firth to Orkney, an archipelago famous for its archaeology, wildlife, beaches and excellent diving.

If you’re wanting to visit spectacular cliffs, explore museums and even hop on a ferry to the isles, a trip to Thurso won’t disappoint.