Thurso,

Thurso, a burgh of barony and seaport of Caithness, at the mouth of the Thurso River, by rail (1874) 21 miles NW. of Wick and 154 NNE. of Inverness. It is pleasantly situated and handsomely built—except in the older quarter—and has six churches, a town-hall (1870), capital bathing, &c. The harbour at the mouth of the river had got silted up; but extensive improvements were carried out in 1891-92, when also a good pier at Scrabster was extended, on the west side of the bay, where steamers regularly call. The rock scenery around the town is very fine. Paving-stones are prepared and exported, and live-stock and grain shipped. The self-taught geologist, Robert Dick (1811-66), was a baker here from 1830. Pop. 3930.