Northern Sands Hotel

Hotels
Independent
9.4 (99 reviews)
Dunnet, Dunnet Head, Thurso, Scotland, KW14 8XD , Thurso , GB

Facilities

Meeting rooms
Arcade/game room
Free WiFi
Garden
Luggage storage
Wheelchair accessible
Picnic area
Arcade/game room
Front desk (limited hours)
Meeting rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great food
Comfortable rooms
Wonderful location
Clean and modern

Categories

Cleanliness
9.19
Clean, modern, impressed with comfort and cleanliness.
Service
9.66
Staff were really nice, friendly, and helpful, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Location
9.6
Short walk to the beach and in a nice quiet location.
Room Quality
9.15
Very comfortable and spacious room.
Amenities
9.18
Fire alarm incident but overall comfortable stay, great amenities.
Value for Money
9.14
Great experience for the price, very enjoyable stay.
Food and Beverage
9.69
Amazing food, excellent breakfast, and well-coordinated service.
Overall Experience
9.56
Wonderful stay, highly recommend, exceeded expectations.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 05:27

Property Description

Scenic Views and Entertainment
Enjoy the garden views and take advantage of complimentary wireless internet and an arcade/game room.

Dining and Nightlife
Indulge in local cuisine at Logans Bar or unwind at one of the 3 bars/lounges for a relaxing drink.

Convenient Amenities and Comfortable Rooms
Benefit from tour assistance, a picnic area, and a banquet hall. Stay in one of the 12 guestrooms with a Select Comfort bed and Smart TV.


Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access and an arcade/game room. Additional features at this hotel include tour/ticket assistance, a picnic area, and a banquet hall. Satisfy your appetite with local cuisine at Logans Bar, one of the hotel's 2 restaurants. Relax with a refreshing drink at one of the 3 bars/lounges. The front desk is staffed during limited hours. Event facilities at this hotel consist of a conference center and meeting rooms. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available on request), and free self parking is available onsite. Stay in one of 12 guestrooms featuring Smart televisions. Your room comes with a Select Comfort bed. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming provides entertainment. Bathrooms feature bathtubs or showers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.

Important information:

  • Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.
  • Contactless check-out is available.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: WIC

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets not allowed

  • Check-in & Check-out

    Contactless check-out is available

  • General

    Cashless transactions are available

  • Guest type

    Essential workers only - NO

  • Accessibility

    No elevators

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

9.4
Based on 99 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.19
Service: 9.66
Location: 9.6
Room Quality: 9.15
Amenities: 9.18
Value for Money: 9.14
Food and Beverage: 9.69
Overall Experience: 9.56
C
Christine couple gb
9
I would stay again
Pros:

Breakfast tasty & very handy for Gill's Bay ferry

Cons:

I thought the mattress didn't smell very fresh although my husband couldn't smell anything

2026-07-04 via Nuitee
S
Sheena solo_traveller gb
9
Pros:

The staff were lovely and very helpful. I quite liked the system of ordering breakfast the night before and there was plenty choice

Cons:

Nothing really. All pur needs were met

2026-07-03 via Nuitee
J
Jeremy solo_traveller gb
6
Fabulous location and food
Pros:

The staff are great and the food delicious. I recommend eating in the restaurant. The location is easy walking distance to the beautiful Dunnet Bay.

Cons:

I wasn't planning to swing a cat in my room but if I had, there was no room to swing a cat. I had the Smith room (he must have been a wee man - I'm not small) the room was cramped and the shower cubicle was too small to turn around in.

2026-07-02 via Nuitee
G
Glyn couple gb
9
Lived up to expectations
Pros:

Fdinner, with invited guest, really good. Room was v.clean and good decor. Only issue, nowhere to sit in room apart from bed.

2026-06-30 via Nuitee
R
René solo_traveller be
9
2026-06-30 via Nuitee
A
Alan couple gb
9
2026-06-30 via Nuitee
S
Stuart couple gb
8
Suited our requirements
Pros:

Great staff.

Cons:

Poor for outside relaxing.

2026-06-29 via Nuitee
K
Kira couple ca
5
Convenient location
Pros:

Location was excellent. Very large parking lot

Cons:

Parking lot could use better signage. Bathroom had false eyelashes on the floor. Fan was very loud and stayed on quite long after turning off the light. Soap dispenser in bathroom by since fell apart every time it was used. Water pressure in shower wasn’t great. Room was incredibly small with minimal room for luggage between beds and room, and no real room between the beds and desk. Food was good in the restaurant but order was incorrect. Ordered Cullen skink to start and lamb and was given potato and leek soup to start and cullen skink as my main. Disappointing to say the least.

2026-06-29 via Nuitee
C
Catherine solo_traveller gb
8
Lovely spot to stay
Pros:

Spotless clean. Delicious breakfast. Friendly staff and a 5 min walk to a beautiful beach.

Cons:

The blind at the window was a bit short but that didn't really bother us

2026-06-28 via Nuitee
M
Martyn couple gb
10
Lovely stay in the hotel, room lovely, bed really comfortable and food was great, was sad to leave
Pros:

Lovely hotel, comfy bed, staff friendly and food very good

Cons:

Nothing, it was all lovely

2026-06-28 via Nuitee
J
Jan solo_traveller nl
10
Pros:

Goed bereikbaar en rustig gelegen. Prima restaurant. Voor het ontbijt moet je de avond ervoor een bestellijst inleveren (om verspilling te voorkomen). Ruime keuze. Goede parkeergelegenheid naast het hotel. Grote kamer en uitstekende bedden. Vriendelijk personeel.

Cons:

Geen opmerkingen.

2026-06-28 via Nuitee
K
Karen solo_traveller gb
10
Beautiful place to stay 5*
Pros:

Great location just a short walk from the beautiful Dunnet beach. Clean comfortable room and good restaurant with perhaps the best cheese board I’ve ever had in a restaurant. Good selection for breakfast too.

2026-06-27 via Nuitee
S
Stan solo_traveller nz
8
2026-06-26 via Nuitee
S
Stuart extended_group gb
9
Great hotel, would stay again
Pros:

excellent restaurant.

Cons:

room a bit small due to king sized bed in it

2026-06-19 via Nuitee
S
Stephanie solo_traveller gb
9
Pros:

Location and comfortable

2026-06-18 via Nuitee
D
David solo_traveller gb
10
Fantastic @
Pros:

The flexibility with breakfast times and check out times and the service always with a smile!

2026-06-18 via Nuitee
D
DEEPIKA extended_group gb
7
2026-06-17 via Nuitee
B
Bianca couple de
8
2026-06-17 via Nuitee
L
Lines solo_traveller gb
8
Pros:

Good check in, comfy room and all staff were very helpfull.

2026-06-17 via Nuitee
C
Caroline couple gb
10
2026-06-16 via Nuitee