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Northern Sands Hotel

3.0 star property
Beach hotel near Dunnet Bay Beach

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Photo gallery for Northern Sands Hotel

Beach nearby
Deluxe Double or Twin Room, 1 Bedroom | View from room
Front of property
Premier Double Room, 1 King Bed, Sea View | Hypo-allergenic bedding, Select Comfort beds, desk, blackout drapes
3 bars/lounges

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Housekeeping
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Business services

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 6 of 6 rooms

View all photos for Classic Double Room, 1 King Bed

Classic Double Room, 1 King Bed | Hypo-allergenic bedding, Select Comfort beds, desk, blackout drapes

Classic Double Room, 1 King Bed

Highlights

Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Select Comfort bed
Hair dryer
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
  • 5 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Classic Double or Twin Room

Classic Double or Twin Room | Hypo-allergenic bedding, Select Comfort beds, desk, blackout drapes

Classic Double or Twin Room

Highlights

Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Select Comfort bed
Hair dryer
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
  • 5 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds OR 1 King Bed

View all photos for Premier Double Room, 1 King Bed, Sea View

Hypo-allergenic bedding, Select Comfort beds, desk, blackout drapes

Premier Double Room, 1 King Bed, Sea View

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Select Comfort bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
Hair dryer
Coffee/tea maker
  • 7 sq m
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Double or Twin Room, 1 Bedroom

Deluxe Double or Twin Room, 1 Bedroom | View from room

Deluxe Double or Twin Room, 1 Bedroom

Highlights

Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Select Comfort bed
Hair dryer
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
  • 7 sq m
  • Hill view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds OR 1 King Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Triple Room, Garden View

Deluxe Triple Room, Garden View | View from room

Deluxe Triple Room, Garden View

Highlights

Heating
Free cribs/infant beds
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Select Comfort bed
Blackout drapes/curtains
Hair dryer
Coffee/tea maker
  • 7 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Twin Beds and 1 Twin Sofa Bed OR 1 King Bed and 1 Twin Sofa Bed

View all photos for Single Room, 1 Twin Bed

Single Room, 1 Twin Bed | Hypo-allergenic bedding, Select Comfort beds, desk, blackout drapes

Single Room, 1 Twin Bed

Highlights

Heating
Smart TV
Hypo-allergenic bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Select Comfort bed
Hair dryer
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
  • 5 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

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Exterior

Castletown Hotel

  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
8.8 out of 10, Excellent, 418 reviews
Castletown Hotel

About the neighborhood

Map
Dunnet, Dunnet Head, Thurso, Scotland, KW14 8XD

What's nearby

  • Dunnet Bay Beach - 13 min walk - 0.7 miles
  • Mary-Ann's Cottage - 8 min drive - 5.2 miles
  • Dunnet Head Lighthouse - 9 min drive - 5.6 miles
  • Castle of Mey - 11 min drive - 6.9 miles
  • Scrabster Ferry Terminal - 15 min drive - 11.8 miles

Getting around

  • Thurso Station - 15 min drive
  • Wick (WIC) - 29 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Northern Sands - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Castletown Fish & Chip Shop - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪The Castle Town - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Highlander Restaurant - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Highlander - ‬7 min drive

About this property

Northern Sands Hotel

Hotel near Dunnet Bay Beach
Located close to Mary-Ann's Cottage and Dunnet Head Lighthouse, Northern Sands Hotel provides a garden, an arcade/game room, and 3 bars. At the two on-site restaurants, enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and local cuisine. Free in-room WiFi and a conference center are available to all guests.
You'll also enjoy the following perks during your stay:
  • Free self parking and extended parking
  • A roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge), smoke-free premises, and tour/ticket assistance
  • A banquet hall, luggage storage, and meeting rooms
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms at Northern Sands Hotel have amenities such as free WiFi.
Other amenities include:
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding and Select Comfort beds
  • Tubs or showers, free toiletries, and hair dryers
  • Smart TVs with digital channels
  • Electric kettles, heating, and daily housekeeping

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi and wired internet
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge) from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM on request
  • Free extended parking on site

Food and drink

  • 2 restaurants
  • 3 bars/lounges

Restaurants on site

  • Logans Bar
  • Pentland Lounge
  • The Links

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • Conference center
  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • Picnic area

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Bathroom emergency pull cord
  • Grab bar near toilet
  • No elevator

More

  • 1 building
  • 1 floor
  • Banquet hall
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding
  • Select Comfort mattress

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with digital channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle

More

  • Desk
  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The front desk is open daily from 6:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Guests will receive an email within 72 hours before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: GBP 70 per vehicle (one-way)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

National rating

This establishment has received its official star rating from VisitScotland, the National Tourist Board for Scotland.

Property is also known as

Northern Sands Hotel
Northern Sands Hotel Thurso
Northern Sands Thurso
Northern Sands
Northern Sands Hotel Hotel
Northern Sands Hotel Thurso
Northern Sands Hotel Hotel Thurso

Frequently asked questions

Is Northern Sands Hotel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Northern Sands Hotel?

Self parking and extended parking are free at this property.

What time is check-in at Northern Sands Hotel?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at Northern Sands Hotel?

Check-out is at 10 AM.

Does Northern Sands Hotel provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs 6:00 AM–10:00 PM on request. A fee of GBP 70 per vehicle applies.

Where is Northern Sands Hotel located?

Situated in Thurso, this beach hotel is 0.5 mi (0.8 km) from Dunnet Bay Beach and within 6 mi (10 km) of Mary-Ann's Cottage and Dunnet Head Lighthouse. Castle of Mey and Scrabster Ferry Terminal are also within 12 mi (20 km).

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Northern Sands Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 137 out of 184 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 40 out of 184 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 184 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 184 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 184 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

9.2/10

Amenities

9.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10

Directly on NC500, friendly staff, excellent breakfast.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10

This was my forth stay at this property it's clean and tidy with friendly staff and on the NC500 route definitely recommend staying here
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10

Super nice staff, clean comfortable rooms, good quality bed, well situated in an incredible part of the country.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10

Outstanding amazing rooms brilliant food and great customer service
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10

The property has been decorated to a very high standard. Every area is spotless. The staff are all friendly and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble. There is a wide choice of breakfast items and come cooked to perfection. It is a lovely calm place to stay. Loved it and already booked our next stay.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10

Very good
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10

Very nice room and shower but a small single room. Good food in the restaurant. Very warm and positive staff!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10

Fabulous hotel, staff really friendly and helpful
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10

Lovey staff and service made our stay a joy. Very reasonable too. Thank you
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10

Wonderful place and great local fresh food
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10

Lovely location can walk to the beach. Rooms very clean and comfy if a tad on the small side for a double room, very tight at the bottom of the bed. Fantastic food for both dinner and breakfast
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

8/10

Great location
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10

Very clean, helpful staff,lovely food would highly recommend anyone to stay here.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10

Great Location, Clean,Freindly staff Ann was fantastic an asset to the hotel Would stay again
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10

Beautiful place. Staff were really friendly
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10

The hotel was very clean and well run by staff. Food was lovely and staff very friendly and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

8/10

1 night stay, very comfortable friendly staff and good food
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10

Lovely hotel, clean room, good food, great!

10/10

Our stay was lovely! A great find!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10

Best stay of the trip, the staff were excellent, the hotel is in great condition beautiful inside the room was excellent, facilities great. The food was out of this world, best cooked breakfast of the journey, just a nice atmosphere.

10/10

Excellent service, great food, well located
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

8/10

The hotel staff were exceptional and the food was good.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

10/10

Outstanding property! Absolutely gorgeous, lovely rooms, fantastic bathroom- and the restaurant is top notch! We walked to the beach to see the sunrise in late September- and it did not disappoint. I was really looking forward to staying here and it was excellent in every single way!!!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10

Lovely renovated property with a lovely little bar area with comfy sofas , staff so friendly and welcoming and a choice of 2 places with both having amazing food The bedrooms lovely and clean with a walk- in shower for some . Worth the drive up 👌😊
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10

Cant fault place from start to finish only stayed one night as was on the NC500 then onto Skye next day wish I booked two nights minimum First off hats off to housekeeping spotless immaculate perfect great job, next Julie she was an angel and last but not least lady on breakfast where do I start do they do Michelin starts for fry ups as they should do was perfect Thanks all will be back
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025