Thurso

Any suggestions for a place to stay around the Thurso area?

Cheers

here is my route

Glenrothes, to Inverness, then on up to John O' Groats. From there, head over to Thurso. Stay over night in Thurso.

Thurso, around the west coast on the A836, over the Kyle of Tongue, around Loch Eriboll, Loch Laxford, around Loch Assynt and stay somewhere around Lochinver or head down to Ullapool. Ullapool to Ardarroch, then onto Fort William and back home.

So I think 3 days and a total mileage of 790

anyone with any suggestions/recomendations for sights and hotesl?

[banquo]

Can't help you with Thurso, but make sure you're not glowing in the dark, and stay clear of the radioactive beaches near Dounreay.
Your ride back down is a lot more scenic than the way up (but that's just because I don't find the bleakness of Caithness as attractive as the West Coast). Fill up every time you see a fuel stop, as they are few and far between, and many are not open at all on Sundays. Take a mortgage too, and get used to £1.10 a litre...
There's petrol in Ullapool, Gairloch and Achnasheen..
The West Coast route down to Ullapool through Wester Ross is fantastic, if its dry, and you can actually see the hills.

Careful with your distances. Some of the roads can be narrow single-track, and you find yourself averaging 25mph, and still dodging sheep.
The ride up to JOG is on good roads and you can make a good average speed. Once you head along the North Coast from Thurso it all slows right down (or it did, the last time I was there - may have improved...?), and if you don't take your time, there's no point in doing it....
If you're hotelling, The Old Inn in Gairloch has real beer and great seafood. Music on occasion. They have another hotel, the Highland Lodge, just along the road, which is a bit cheaper, but you have to walk to the Inn for the food...
Loads of Hotels in Ullapool and loads of great seafood. There's a Club House at the Ceilidh Place, which is cheaper than most hotels, and you can look out the window at all the campers battling the wind and rain with their tents, whilst you take a hot (communal) shower. It's quiet and low key, and they sometimes have events on, if you're into that kind of thing.
The Rockvilla in Lochcarron is a Harley Friendly place, although I've not stayed there... Special rates for HOG members they say, so you could try it on with Riders Club too..
If you're feeling brave, and have the time, take the Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) road to Applecross. Haven't done it on the Harley (yet).
Oh, it's not on your route, but the road from Gairloch to Garve has just been upgraded, and is a complete blast, if you avoid dawn and evening and the deer. The viewpoint at the top of the hill is worth a photoshoot, if the weather's nice, and especially at sunset.

Take quality midgie repellent as you will need it around the West Coast.
Things to see and do?
Depends what you like doing, but bear in mind that all the touristy places are full of tourists.
We did Skye and Gairloch at the beginning of June, planning to stop off at Fort Augustus on the way down, but the A82 was a mass of coaches and caravans, and when we got to F.A. we just kept going. Looked like Blackpool... Hope the weather improves...

Originally Posted by banquo

Can't help you with Thurso, but make sure you're not glowing in the dark, and stay clear of the radioactive beaches near Dounreay.
Your ride back down is a lot more scenic than the way up (but that's just because I don't find the bleakness of Caithness as attractive as the West Coast). Fill up every time you see a fuel stop, as they are few and far between, and many are not open at all on Sundays. Take a mortgage too, and get used to £1.10 a litre...
There's petrol in Ullapool, Gairloch and Achnasheen..
The West Coast route down to Ullapool through Wester Ross is fantastic, if its dry, and you can actually see the hills.

Careful with your distances. Some of the roads can be narrow single-track, and you find yourself averaging 25mph, and still dodging sheep.
The ride up to JOG is on good roads and you can make a good average speed. Once you head along the North Coast from Thurso it all slows right down (or it did, the last time I was there - may have improved...?), and if you don't take your time, there's no point in doing it....
If you're hotelling, The Old Inn in Gairloch has real beer and great seafood. Music on occasion. They have another hotel, the Highland Lodge, just along the road, which is a bit cheaper, but you have to walk to the Inn for the food...
Loads of Hotels in Ullapool and loads of great seafood. There's a Club House at the Ceilidh Place, which is cheaper than most hotels, and you can look out the window at all the campers battling the wind and rain with their tents, whilst you take a hot (communal) shower. It's quiet and low key, and they sometimes have events on, if you're into that kind of thing.
The Rockvilla in Lochcarron is a Harley Friendly place, although I've not stayed there... Special rates for HOG members they say, so you could try it on with Riders Club too..
If you're feeling brave, and have the time, take the Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) road to Applecross. Haven't done it on the Harley (yet).
Oh, it's not on your route, but the road from Gairloch to Garve has just been upgraded, and is a complete blast, if you avoid dawn and evening and the deer. The viewpoint at the top of the hill is worth a photoshoot, if the weather's nice, and especially at sunset.

Take quality midgie repellent as you will need it around the West Coast.
Things to see and do?
Depends what you like doing, but bear in mind that all the touristy places are full of tourists.
We did Skye and Gairloch at the beginning of June, planning to stop off at Fort Augustus on the way down, but the A82 was a mass of coaches and caravans, and when we got to F.A. we just kept going. Looked like Blackpool... Hope the weather improves...

thanks banquo, some good info there for me to check out.

I am looking to head up that way towards the end of July, begining of August (I had planned on doing it next week but this rain is relentless)