Thurso is the most northerly town on the British mainland and the largest community north of Inverness, about 110 miles away.

The town is well served with local shops, hotels and places of entertainment with a wider selection of national stores based in Wick 20 miles to the east.

There are 3 primary schools and Thurso High School, as well as the North Highland College.

The Dunbar Hospital is a community hospital providing an Out of Hours centre, Out Patient Clinics, X Ray facilities and Physiotherapy in addition to the in-patient beds for respite care and convalescence.

Much of Thurso's prosperity is due to a 50 year relationship with the Atomic Energy site at Dounreay. Although the site is now being decommissioned and many people still work there  Caithness is looking to diversify into new forms of energy production and technology as well as maintaining more traditional employment in agriculture, fishing and tourism.