Everyone knows that Scotland is considered one of the best places in Europe for outdoor sports, but did you know that a little town on Scotland's northernmost mainland tip is considered one of the best places in the world to surf?
Unlikely as it seems, Thurso on the Caithness coast, has been named as one of the best places to catch a wave, joining locations in places such as the US, Australia, Mexico and Bali in a study by ParkSleepFly, which analysed various factors such as Google searches, Instagram tags, coastline length, and average sea temperatures to reveal the best surfing spots around the world.
The picturesque Highlands town will be familiar to those tourists and visitors who have taken on the North Coast 500 (NC500) route but might be surprised to know it's in demand for surfing too.
The northernmost town on mainland Great Britain, Thurso has a population of less than 8,000 people and has a rich history of being a historical trading port despite its size. Having had a strong connection to the Viking and Norse populations of the past (like much of northern Scotland), Thurso's name is said to have come from the Norse word for 'of Thor's River'.
Read more: Scottish location named among the best in the world for surfing
The Medieval quarter of the town dates back to the 12th Century, with buildings such as Old St Peter's Kirk, the earliest Christian building in the area, being given A-listed status. It was the chapel of the Bishop of Caithness when he was at his summer residence at Scrabster.
Surfing fans from all over the world now visit the area, with the bay between the nearby town of Scrabster and Thurso Castle, considered to be a prime spot for rolling waves.
Indeed in April 2021, the UK’s best surfers gathered for what would be the first British Surfing Cup held in Thurso since the 80s and the first in Scotland since 1992.
According to the research by ParkSleepFly, February is the best month to go surfing there. However, DiscoverThurso states that any time between October and April when the water is even colder is best.
According to them, a visitor to Thurso Castle was the first to take to the waves back in the 1960s and its popularity has grown in the area ever since.
As wetsuits and surfboards become more available and travel to the area easier, more and more people are coming here to surf.
Indeed, three-times Scottish National Surfing Champion Mark Boyd is a huge fan of the location, and in an interview stated: "It really is world-class. We get big, heavy, barrelling surf similar to what you expect to find in Hawaii, just without the palm trees."
Fancy trying the sport out for yourself? Groups such as North Shore Surf Club, based in the town are happy to help teach beginners the ropes of this thrilling sport.
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