The 10 best hotels in Thurso, United Kingdom

August 6, 2022 Timmy Ribble

Discover the best hotels in Thurso, Caithness and Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, Scotland including Forss House Hotel, Premier Inn Thurso hotel, Park Hotel, The Castletown Hotel, The Hawthorns Bed & Breakfast, Windhaven Camping and B&B, Greenland House, Pentland Lodge House, Manor House, The Inn at ynot.
Restaurants in Thurso

1. Forss House Hotel

Forss, Thurso KW14 7XY Scotland
Excellent
69%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 508 reviews

Forss House Hotel

Forss House is a delightful 1810 country home nestling in 20 acres of woodland, below a waterfall, on the gently meandering River Forss. A 14 bedroom family owned hotel Forss House is an elegant comfortable haven that puts you instantly at ease with a welcoming staff keen to look after you.

The good the bad and the ugly

Reviewed By Maureenwillow

The good A beautiful location and lovely lounge and bar area. Lovely pillows. Good food. Lovely barman. The bad The hotel was full so we stayed in a cottage, There was no radiator or towel rail in the bathroom so we could not dry our towels. There was a small wardrobe but no storage - we were told the hotel owner had designed it this way - which meant we lived out of our suitcase. Our room was not made up - which was expected as bed and breakfast customers. The mirror in the bathroom is too low to see into. All very minor niggles but… The ugly We arrived 40 minutes early and asked if we could have a cup of tea. We were told no and that obviously we had not read our emails and the hotel was not open so we had to go away and come back after 3. Some of the staff were delightful but we had the same experience of previous guests with one waitress scowling at us and slamming down our plates at breakfast. We came back early one afternoon and decided to have a cup of tea in the nice lounge rather than sit on the bed in our room. The staff said they would send an electrician to our room as the kettle was obviously not working!!! On checkout we were presented with the wrong bill - when we queried it we were told it was correct and had to argue that it was not. No apology received. We mentioned about the room not being made up and we were told we should have phoned the hotel which we did not as it was 10pm when we got back to our room and we had no mobile signal in the cottage - again no apology. When we mentioned the minor items in the room which we thought needed changing we were just told that was the way the owner designed it. When we asked if there was storage in the hotel rooms we were told yes but that we had not paid much so implied we should not expect much. I don’t think £200 per night is cheap. When we queried our bill there were drinks on there. The hotel owner had offered us drinks in the bar the previous evening. We were told that the hotel owner offers lots of people drinks, but expects them to pay for them. It was such a shame as this was the worst experience of all the hotels we stayed at on the NC500. We appreciate there are difficulties obtaining staff but that does not excuse being rude to customers. Some of these things may seem petty but added together they did not make for a good customer experience We have brought all these issues up with the management, but they were not at all interested, Staying in the hotel may be a different experience, but we felt like second class citizens staying in the cottages. I have thought long and hard about writing this review as I do not leave negative reviews, but felt angry about how we were treated.

2. Premier Inn Thurso hotel

Ormile Road, Thurso KW14 7DL Scotland
Excellent
62%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
8%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 115 reviews

Premier Inn Thurso hotel

One of our northernmost hotels, Premier Inn Thurso is nestled in the heart of Thurso, a short walk from the banks of the River Thurso and only a mile from the golden sands of Thurso Beach. We're just a five-minute drive from wonderful historic sites like Thurso Castle, Old St Peter's Church and Holborn Head Lighthouse. Take a trip to the nearby Wolfburn whisky distillery or catch a show at the Mill Theatre. Enjoy a bite to eat at our in-house Thyme restaurant and after a bracing day out in Thurso, look forward to a relaxing sleep in one of our super-comfy Hypnos beds.

Value for Money

Reviewed By Abdul Fatta B

A stopover ended with a WOW factor. Warmth welcoming from wonderful staffs, with a clean room and perfectly functioning facilities, and amazing breakfast. Definitely will be booking Premier Inn from hereon whenever I am travelling in UK.

3. Park Hotel

Oldfield, Thurso KW14 8RE Scotland
Excellent
36%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
4%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 378 reviews

Park Hotel

If you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel in Thurso, look no further than Park Hotel. As your “home away from home,” the hotel rooms offer a flat screen TV and a desk, and getting online is easy, with free wifi available. Guests have access to a 24 hour front desk and newspaper while staying at Park Hotel. If you’re looking for something to do the list is endless , Old St Peter's Church (0.5 mi), and Lindsey Gallacher (0.5 mi) are a nice way to spend some time, and they are all within nce of Park Hotel. The staff at Park Hotel looks forward to serving you during your upcoming visit.

Expensive and noisy

Reviewed By PeterH9064

Booked this hotel 11 months ago at a price up to £20 more than being charged today! 23.15 and so noisy that I have been forced to write this review. Told not to expect to eat in the early evening due to a 40th birthday party event. Very disappointing.

4. The Castletown Hotel

Main Street By Thurso, Castletown, Thurso KW14 8TP Scotland
Excellent
40%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
6%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 357 reviews

The Castletown Hotel

Nestled in the curve of Dunnet Bay, within the picturesque fishing village of Castletown, this family-run hotel is perfect for exploring Caithness, offering quality, affordable accommodation with free Wi-Fi and parking. Run by two local brothers, this attractive 18th Century property is infused with an authentic Scottish charm and it embodies all that is great about traditional Highland Hospitality. Comfort and relaxation are very much the cornerstones of their ethos and they are committed to creating a warm and welcoming ambience. Whether business or leisure, guests are perfectly positioned to make the most of North Scotland’s rugged coastline. The Hotel features 24 en-suite bedrooms, each of which has been lovingly decorated and furnished to a very comfortable standard. All rooms come fully equipped with all the necessary amenities one needs to make their stay as cosy as possible, including free Wi-Fi access, flat screen TV with freeview, hairdryer, duvets and complimentary tea & coffee making facilities. The Hotel offers accommodation to suit all different kinds of traveller, from Classic Double and Superior Double or Twin Rooms to Single and Family options. Specialising in traditional Scottish and British cuisine, the on-site restaurant has garnered an impressive local reputation for its delicious cuisine. Committed to using locally sourced produce wherever possible, there is a strong emphasis on creating quality home-cooked food fresh from the natural larder that is the Scottish Highlands.With its spectacular location and great facilities, the Castletown Hotel is an ideal venue for hosting a wide range of events and functions. Perfect for small parties such as wedding anniversaries, birthday celebrations and family gatherings, the Hotel can supply a tailor made menu to suit all palates and budgets.The Hotel is located in the flagstone village of Castletown, just a 5 minute drive from the A9 at Thurso. What’s more with free on-site parking, it is both convenient and accessible. The nearest city is Inverness, which is roughly a 2 hour 30 minute drive through some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Scotland. Thurso train station provides regular services to Inverness and the hotel is also located on the main bus route to and from the city. There are two car-ferry ports; one at Gills Bay and another at Scrabster, each just a 15 minute drive away. For those travelling by air, Inverness Airport offers flights to a range of national and European destinations, whilst the regional Airport at Wick is just a 20 minute drive away and receives flights from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Kirkwall. The Hotel is located in the picturesque village of Castletown within Dunnet Bay in the northernmost Highlands of Scotland. Situated just a short distance inland, this historic village features its own local harbour and heritage centre.

Unbelievably Poor!

Reviewed By candycF8122CI

We booked in for a meal a week beforehand. When we arrived they had no knowledge of our booking and we were asked quite rudely if we were staying in the hotel. We were then directed by "Emma" to a waitress who was told "take this man over there!" We hadn't been seated for more than 5 minutes and we were asked three times if we were ready to order! The choice was poor - they took three drinks orders from us before we were finally able to make a proper order, as basic drinks were out of stock. Food choices were poor -everything apart from a couple of dishes had chips with them, and the meal we ordered was supposed to come with chips by had friend potatoes instead. The restaurant had two other couple in, and yet we waited 45 minutes for our meal. Staff were curt, had no real customer service or nice table side manner. One meal was pleasant and the other was far too over seasoned, making it impossible to eat. When we let the waitress know, she went off with no comment and when we came to pay, they knocked of the price of the cheapest drink, despite the meal and drink being virtually untouched, due to the over seasoning of the meal..we were due to stay for a jubilee quiz night that had been advertised, but there was no bunting, no nod to the jubilee and no atmosphere at all. We didn't stay, in fact I will never go to or recommend this restaurant again.

5. The Hawthorns Bed & Breakfast

Hawthorns A836, Mey, Thurso KW14 8XH Scotland
Excellent
94%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 258 reviews

The Hawthorns Bed & Breakfast

We are a spacious and comfortable B & B located right on the NC500 route within easy reach of the Orkney ferries and all the wonderful scenery and attractions that Caithness has to offer. Enjoy a tasty breakfast before you set off on the rest of your journey, or stay a few days and really take in all of what this amazing part of Scotland has to offer. Well behaved dogs are welcome for a small fee.

Excellent

Reviewed By Stuart A

Stayed two nights in this lovely guest house. Warm welcome from the hosts and shown to a lovely warm, clean and comfortable room. Good location for seeing this area. Lovely breakfast setting you up for the day. Would recommend to all.

6. Windhaven Camping and B&B

Windhaven, Brough, Thurso KW14 8YE Scotland
Excellent
73%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 102 reviews

Windhaven Camping and B&B

This is a family run business which we took over in 2018. We moved up from Manchester/Cheshire and haven't looked back since. The Snack/Gift shop, Campsite and B&B are run by Clare, Phil and Aunty Babs. We have three cozy and comfortable rooms, all with ensuite toilet and shower. All newly decorated and refurbished. Coffee/Tea making facilities are also available in the communal lounge for the small twin and double rooms. The large twin has its own tea & coffee making facilities, but no lounge. We have over 2.5 acres of well kept grass fields for tents, campervans and motorhomes, all with a fantastic view of Brough Bay, The Pentland Firth and the Orkney Isles. It is a fantastic spot for viewing the Northern Lights in the winter. We are on the NC500, 3 miles from Dunnet Head Light House.

Great little cafe with amazing sandwhiches.

Reviewed By biglee33

We stopped off here as part of the NC500 and we needed a cup of tea as the weather wasn't great. The young man working was very helpful in advising us to park our parks in the car park due to big trucks passing. He also told us all the sandwiches on offer and the traditional cakes etc and even threw in some Highlands trivia. Hes a keeper for you guys. Sandwhiches were super soft and tasty, and a good cuppa.

7. Greenland House

Greenland House Main Street, Castletown, Thurso KW14 8TU Scotland
Excellent
86%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 84 reviews

Greenland House

Exceptional service, beautiful bedrooms and a hearty breakfast James and Lynn would like to wish you a warm welcome to Greenland house we are a recently refurbished eight-bedroom former highland bank house built in 1905. we are ideally situated in the small quiet village of Castletown in Caithness in the highlands of Scotland. We are directly on the North coast 500 route. Castletown has many places of interest close by to visit. The market towns of Wick and Thurso are a short drive from here as well as many spectacular natural and historic places to see. Our house is just a short fifteen minute drive to both of the ferry ports for those guests visiting the Orkney isles. All our rooms are beautifully decorated with en-suite facilities, free Wi-Fi, flat screen TV, s, a selection of complimentary hot drinks, hairdryers and complimentary toiletries. Our hearty Breakfast is a full Scottish breakfast using all Scottish produce.

Beautiful House & Very Accommodating Host!

Reviewed By LuSimons1

Andrew, the host could not have been more obliging even though we were late to check in due to over running on the NC500. Fabulous old house and breakfast was delicious and plentiful but the bedroom was quite cold. That notwithstanding I would definitely recommend this B&B for anyone doing the NC500 looking for a comfortable overnight stay.

8. Pentland Lodge House

Pentland Lodge House Granville Street, Thurso KW14 7JN Scotland
Excellent
85%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 463 reviews

Pentland Lodge House

Pentland Lodge House blends the spacious luxury of old style rooms with contemporary style and high quality, modern facilities. All rooms have king size beds, power shower en suite, free broadband internet connectivity, flat screen TV, desk and seating space. This listed building is within a short stroll of the main town and offers some spectacular views over Thurso Bay. Plenty off-road parking. We seek the highest standards to make your visit comfortable and pleasurable.

Great welcome!

Reviewed By Tyke1961

We finally managed to stay here two years after our initial enquiry. Covid might have delayed us, but we were determined to get here in the end. It was well worth the wait and the effort! The B&B is a big house, full of character, and our room had plenty of space to settle into. Breakfast was excellent and we left for Orkney well refreshed and rested. It's a long way to Thurso, but if we pass this way again, we'll make sure we stay here.

9. Manor House

6 Janet Street, Thurso KW14 7AR Scotland
Excellent
48%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
0%
Terrible
12%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 25 reviews

Manor House

Too many snags

Reviewed By PaddyBrentwood_Essex

On entering the room it looked nice but was very stuffy, it was on the top floor and the window only opened about 4-5 inches, after we unpacked we realised that we had booked a double but had been given a twin, shock horror no TV but there was an aerial socket! Electric shower was quite weak but hot, unlike the sink, we had no hot water there, toilet seat wasn’t fixed properly, had to realign it when we used it. No bath mat and no nonslip one for the shower which was quite slippery. As we had no TV we thought ok we have the iPad, my husband picked up the chair in the room to put between the beds to put said iPad, picked up chair and two legs fell off, the screws were under the seat in a zip up bit, not quite sure what that was about. No heating which tbf we didn’t need in the bedroom but would have liked it in the bathroom to dry the towels. The wardrobe free standing thing also housed the kettle, when my husband went to take his trousers off it, it nearly fell over as it isn’t attached, as the kettle is there, had it been on and fell off….. Apparently the window can’t open wide cause of health and safety but you can possibly scald yourself with boiling water, that’s ok!! The walls between the rooms were stud, we were on the top floor, I didn’t see a big white chicken arrive but Foghorn Leghorn (Dutch version) was next door, when he was in the bathroom shouting at/to his wife, it felt like he was in our room! The breakfast, this is not included in the price £7 for continental, £10 if you have cooked. I have to say that the continental was poor, toast, four types of cereal in plastic containers, banana, apple and tangerines and lidl own brand yogurt, I can’t comment on the cooked, a selection of fruit teas (also Lidl) and filter coffee, a selection of jams in small plastic containers. £7 was far too much, personally I think it should be included in the rate and pay extra if you want the cooked! The couple running it seemed very nice but with all the things that we found wrong, I find it hard to recommend it.

10. The Inn at ynot

Meadow Lane, Thurso KW14 8ER Scotland
Excellent
40%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
5%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 219 reviews

The Inn at ynot

There are 6 modern and stylish rooms which have been designed with a sense of luxury and relaxation in mind. ynot is situated in the heart of the coastal town of Thurso, a stone’s throw from all amenities, shops, bars and restaurants. It is just a short 5 minute walk to Thurso River, harbour and beach.

Wouldn’t come back

Reviewed By annabA1506LD

I am not one to write reviews and although the food was very good the service was shocking! It was fairly speedy at the start. We hadn’t booked and were seated right away. Ordered quick and our drinks came quick. However food took a while to come. Then when we had finished we were left for a good half an hour with empty plates with all the staff looking over at us but not clearing our plates or offering dessert. Finally someone cleared our plates and brought the dessert menu over. He said he would be over to take our order in a couple minutes. We waited a good 15-20 minutes before anyone took our dessert order. Other customers that arrived after we finished our main meal were receiving dessert before we had even ordered ours. They aren’t even busy and the staff were just standing around the bar chatting. Highly unprofessional.

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