North Coast Visitor Centre
Museum and visitor centre in Thurso's restored Town Hall and Carnegie Library on the heritage of Caithness, with free entry.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The North Coast Visitor Centre is housed in Thurso's restored former Town Hall, built in 1870, and Carnegie Library, built in 1910. It opened in November 2021 and serves as a cultural hub and museum celebrating the heritage of Caithness.
The permanent exhibition runs across three floors and follows the story of Caithness from the Devonian period, some 416 to 359 million years ago, to the present day. It uses the extensive local collection to tell the story of the land, its people and its culture. Themes include the Picts, with carved stones and artefacts found locally, and the history of Dounreay and its cultural and social impact on the county.
The centre is operated by High Life Highland and jointly funded by the Highland Council and NRS Dounreay. Besides the museum it has a gallery space, Cafe North, a gift shop and the Caithness Room, which can be hired for events and meetings. It also acts as a visitor information point for the North Coast.
Highlights
- Permanent exhibition across three floors from geology to the present day
- Carved Pictish stones and artefacts found in Caithness
- Exhibition on Dounreay and its impact on the county
- Cafe North with free Wi-Fi
- Restored 1870 Town Hall and 1910 Carnegie Library
Permanent exhibitions
- Story of Caithness – A three-floor permanent exhibition on the land, people and culture of Caithness from the Devonian period to the present day.
- Picts and Dounreay – Locally found Pictish carved stones and artefacts, and the history of the Dounreay nuclear site and its impact on the county.
- Founded
- 2021
- Operated by
- High Life Highland
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
There is no charge for entry, but donations are welcome.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The building has lifts and ramps, with a passenger lift serving all exhibition spaces and the cafe, and level access from the entrance to reception. Assistance and service dogs are welcome; because of collections care and on-site food preparation, family pets cannot be admitted. The centre is listed on Euan's Guide.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Thurso town centre
Local buses stop in Thurso town centre, a few minutes' walk from the centre, and Thurso railway station is also nearby.
By car
Parking available
The centre has no private parking, but a public parking area at the entrance is available first come, first served, including disabled spaces with no time restriction. Other parking within walking distance, such as the Co-op car park and spaces along the main street, may have time limits.
The centre is on High Street near the main shops. By car it is reached via the A9 and A836 into Thurso.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Cafe North serves coffee, tea, homemade cakes, daily soup, light lunches and Scottish treats, and offers free Wi-Fi for customers. The gift shop sells local crafts, books and souvenirs.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The Caithness Room is a multi-purpose space that can be hired for bookings, events and meetings.
Inquiries & details
