Northern Sands Hotel

3.0 star property

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Photo gallery for Northern Sands Hotel

Beach nearby
Point of interest
Game room
Deluxe Double or Twin Room, 1 Bedroom | View from room
3 bars/lounges

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Dunnet, Dunnet Head, Thurso, Scotland, KW14 8XD
  • Dunnet Bay Beach
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Dunnet Head Lighthouse
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Castle of Mey
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Wick (WIC)
    ‪33 min drive‬

Room options

Classic Double Room, 1 King Bed

  • 54 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Classic Double or Twin Room

  • 54 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds OR 1 King Bed

Premier Double Room, 1 King Bed, Sea View

  • 75 sq ft
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Deluxe Double or Twin Room, 1 Bedroom

  • 75 sq ft
  • Hill view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds OR 1 King Bed

Deluxe Triple Room, Garden View

  • 75 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Twin Beds and 1 Twin Sofa Bed OR 1 King Bed and 1 Twin Sofa Bed

Single Room, 1 Twin Bed

  • 54 sq ft
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Twin Bed

Similar properties

About this property

Northern Sands Hotel

3-star Thurso hotel walkable to Dunnet Bay Beach
At Northern Sands Hotel, hit the nearby beach, dine onsite at Logans Bar, or enjoy a drink at one of the hotel's 3 bars/lounges.
Northern Sands Hotel offers 12 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Beds feature Select Comfort mattresses. Smart televisions come with satellite channels. Bathrooms include bathtubs or showers and complimentary toiletries.

This Thurso hotel provides complimentary wired and wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include irons/ironing boards and blackout drapes/curtains. Housekeeping is offered daily and hypo-allergenic bedding can be requested.

Dining is available at one of the hotel's 2 restaurants. Guests can unwind with a drink at one of the hotel's 3 bars/lounges. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. For a surcharge, an airport shuttle (available on request) is offered to guests. This beach hotel also offers an arcade/game room, tour/ticket assistance, and a garden. Onsite self parking is complimentary.

Northern Sands Hotel is a smoke-free property.

Logans Bar - This bar specializes in local cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Pentland Lounge - Onsite restaurant. Open daily.
The Links - Onsite restaurant. Open daily.

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 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

Northern Sands Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 132 out of 178 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 39 out of 178 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 178 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 178 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 178 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

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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 Excellent

Jill

Traveled with group, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great hotel for the NC500

A great hotel, lovely rooms all with Scottish names. Great service and food.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Clive

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovey staff and service made our stay a joy. Very reasonable too. Thank you
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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 Excellent

Robert

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great stay, very convenient if using the Gills Bay ferry to Orkney as only 15 minutes away from terminal. Newly refurbed room, comfortable bed, excellent shower and great food served in bar/restaurant at both dinner and breakfast. All staff encountered very cheery. One small critique - the Smith room could do with a lamp for in the evening, rather than just the harsh spotlights. Even a dimmer switch would do the job! Wi-Fi in room could also be better as signal quite poor. Those small issues aside, a great stay and would visit again when the opportunity comes up.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer Anne

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

wee

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Outstanding amazing rooms brilliant food and great customer service
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Derek

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

6 stars if they had 6 available

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

10/10 Excellent

Les

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lesley

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely remote hotel in a great location

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

10/10 Excellent

Robinson

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Fabulous hotel

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

10/10 Excellent

Roger

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heidi

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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

8/10 Good

Patty

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Lisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely visit

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

10/10 Excellent

David

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Chris

Business traveler
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

luc

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful place and great local fresh food
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steven

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great location
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kylie

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
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