Thurso Bay

Thurso Bay, also called Scrabster Bay, lies on Scotland’s north coast where the Atlantic meets the River Thurso. The bay stretches between Clairdon Head and Holborn Head, roughly five kilometres apart at its widest point. Fresh water from the river and the Wolf Burn mixes with the saltwater tide, which pushes inland nearly two kilometres. The river mouth sits at the bay’s southern edge, while the open Atlantic lies to the north and east. Orkney lies beyond the bay to the northeast, with Dunnet Bay and the Pentland Firth further along the coast. The bay’s sheltered waters host Scrabster Harbour, built close to Holborn Head. A ferry leaves from the harbour daily, crossing to Stromness in Orkney. Nearby stands Holborn Head Lighthouse, guiding ships into the calm waters. The river mouth once bustled as a busy port in the 19th century, though today it serves smaller vessels. A sandy beach runs along the western shore, facing the town of Thurso. The Wolf Burn flows into the bay at Burnside, halfway between the river and the harbour. Visitors find wide sandy shores and calm waters framed by low headlands. The lighthouse and harbour mark the bay’s working heart, while the river mouth offers a quieter spot to watch the tide. The town of Thurso provides cafés and shops just steps from the beach. Walkers can follow paths along the shore or inland beside the Wolf Burn. The view across the bay takes in distant Orkney on clear days, with the lighthouse beam cutting through the dusk.