River Thurso

The River Thurso in Thurso

The River Thurso is a small river in Caithness. Its source is Loch Rumsdale in Caithness, and from there it runs down to The burgh of Thurso on the north coast.

Course

Loch Rumsdale is about 16 miles south and nine miles west of Thurso. Here and until it reaches Loch More the river is known also as Strathmore Water. From Loch Rumsdale the river flows generally east/south-east for about 2½ miles until it is joined by Glut Water, and then generally north-east for five miles until it enters the southern end of Loch More. On the loch’s eastern side, towards its northern end, the river flows almost immediately into the western end of Loch Beg. Then from Loch Beg’s eastern end the river flows east/north-east for about four miles until it is joined by Little River.

From Little River the River Thurso flows generally northward across about 12 miles until it reaches its mouth in Thurso Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. On its way it passes through the village of Halkirk, about 5½ miles of the burgh of Thurso, and through the burgh itself, which fronts the bay.

Bridges

The river is bridged twice by railways, thrice by highways and twice by footways: a third footbridge was recently destroyed by the river during severe flooding.

About 2½ miles south of Thurso the river is bridged by the rail link between the burghs of Wick and Thurso. About four miles further south it is bridged by the rail link connecting both burghs with Inverness.

The highways cross the river in the burgh of Thurso, in Halkirk, and at Westerdale, which is about ten miles south of the burgh.

All three footbridges are within the burgh of Thurso.