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The town of Thurso, on the north coast of Scotland, is the northernmost town on the British mainland. The town expanded in the mid-20th Century, to house workers at the Dounreay atomic energy plant and testing facility, which were developed then but are now being decommissioned.

At such a northerly location, summer days are very long, with 18½ hours of sunlight in late June. Conversely, winter days are short, with less than 6½ hours of sunlight on the shortest day in late December.

Thurso is on the route of the North Coast 500 (or NC500) touring route: Link or see also Link

The B874 road runs between the towns of Thurso and Wick, in the far north of Scotland. For more information, see Sabre Roads: Link

National Route 1 of the National Cycle Network is a long distance cycle route connecting Dover and the Shetland Islands mainly via the east coast of England and Scotland. The route is all signed and open except between London and Woodbridge (in Suffolk) and between Whitby and Staithes (in Yorkshire).

The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes. It was created by the charity Sustrans Link (Sustainable Transport), aided by a National Lottery grant.

Many routes aim to minimise contact with motor traffic, though 70% of them are on roads. In some cases the NCN uses pedestrian routes, disused railways, minor roads, canal towpaths, or traffic-calmed routes in towns and cities.