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ThursoThurso is a town and a burgh on the north coast of Britain, at the northern extreme of the A9, the main highway linking Caithness in Highland Scotland with the south of the country, and about 32 kilometres (20 miles) west of John O Groats. Also it is at the most northerly point served by Britain's rail network, which links the town directly with Wick, the county town of Caithness, and with Inverness, the administrative centre of the Highland Region. The River Thurso flows through the town and thus into Thurso Bay and the Pentland Firth. The river estuary serves as a small harbour. About two kilometres (one mile) to the west of the estuary Scrabster Harbour berths a ferry which links Thurso and mainland Britain with Stromness on the Orkney Islands. Scrabster has deep water in the shelter of Holborn Head. Area offices of the Highland Council are located in the town, as is the main campus of North Highland College. Thurso boasts also a small museum, 2 screen cinema, ten-pin bowling, a small skatepark and an internet cafe for cybergaming. The town's history stretches back, at least, to the era of Norse Orcadian rule in Caithness, which ended, conclusively, in 1266. The town was an important Norse port, and has a later history of trade with ports throughout northern Europe, especially during the 19th century. Old St Peter's Church is said to date from circa 1220 and the time of Caithness Bishop Gilbert Murray, who died in 1245. Much of the town is however a planned 19th century development, and a major expansion occurred in the mid 20th century when an experimental nuclear power plant was established at Dounreay, about fifteen kilometres (nine miles) to the west of the town. Within a period of perhaps ten years Thurso's human population then mushroomed, from around 3000 to about 9000, as Dounreay attracted skilled immigrants from all quarters of the United Kingdom. Surfing, for a few years, was a big pastime with many of the local youths. The power of the waves rolling in from the North Atlantic has been compared with those of Hawaii. Certainly, for those with a penchant for barrelling reef-breaks, Thurso East leaves little to be desired on a good day. On a big day, twenty second coverups are not unknown. The European Surfing Championships are sometimes held in Caithness, with Thurso being the main focus of activity. This indicates the esteem in which Northern Scotland waves are held.
External Links http://www.knowhere.co.uk/415.html The www.knowhere.co.uk guide to Thurso. Info from locals and ex-locals.
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