Thurso
Thurso is a community and former burgh on the north coast of the Highland council area of Scotland. Positioned in the historical area of Caithness, it is the northern most town on the British mainland. It lies at the junction of the north-south A9 road and the west-east A836 road, attached to Bridge of Forss in the west as well as Castletown in the east. The 34-mile (55 km) River Thurso moves via the town and into Thurso Bay and also the Pentland Firth. The river tidewater works as a small harbour. At the 2011 Census, Thurso had a population of 7,933. The larger Thurso civil church consisting of the community and the surrounding countryside had a population of 9,112. Thurso operated as a vital Norse port, and also later on traded with ports throughout north Europe up until the 19th century. A growing angling centre, Thurso also had a credibility for its linen-cloth and also tanning tasks. As of 2015 the Dounreay Nuclear Research Establishment, although primarily decommissioned at the end of the 20th century, uses a considerable number of the neighborhood populace. The Category-A listed ruined Old St Peter's Church (St. Peter's Kirk) is just one of the oldest churches in Scotland, dating to at least 1125. The existing church, St Andrew's and St Peter's, was built in 1832 to a layout by William Burn in the Gothic design. The community contains the primary university of North Highland University as well as Thurso Senior High School, the northern most high school on the British landmass, which was established in 1958. Thurso Castle, integrated in 1872, is in damages. Thurso is home to the football (football) group, Thurso FC, developed in 1998, which play in the North Caledonian League, and also the rugby teams Caithness Crushers and Caithness RFC. Thurso train station, opened up in 1874, was the most north station on the Sutherland and also Caithness Railway. The close-by port of Scrabster gives ferryboat solutions to the Orkney Islands; the Northlink ferry (MV Hamnavoe) runs between Scrabster and Stromness.