Thurso is a small town in Caithness on the north coast of Scotland. It was originally an important Viking port, later trading with ports throughout northern Europe, and was expanded in the 1790s.

More recently, many of the town's residents have been employed by the Dounreay Nuclear Power Station, or work at the port of Scrabster, a mile from the town centre, from which ferries sail to Stromness in the Orkney Islands.

The town is the northernmost point of the British railway network, with trains running south to Inverness, and is at the northern end of the A9 road. It also boasts a small museum, 2 screen cinema, ten-pin bowling, a small skatepark and an internet cafe for cybergaming.

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.

Unfortunately, the pastime appears recently to have sunk to a low ebb with locals, with the draw of drugs and "going roon the toon" in a car becoming more appealing. Its internet cafe is becoming the main place for youths.

External Links

http://www.knowhere.co.uk/415.html The www.knowhere.co.uk guide to Thurso. Info from locals and ex-locals.