Ulbster Arms Hotel near Thurso

Hotels
8.8 (719 reviews)
Hallkirk , Halkirk , gb

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Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Family rooms
Pets allowed
BBQ facilities
Express check-in/check-out
Fax/photocopying
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Modern rooms
Good amenities
Cons:
Abrupt breakfast service
Noise from neighboring rooms

Categories

Cleanliness
8.19
Rooms were clean but had issues with TV remote; overall cleanliness meets standard.
Service
9.16
Staff were generally friendly and welcoming, although breakfast service was noted as abrupt.
Location
9.2
Good location near the River Thurso and close to ferry terminals.
Room Quality
8.65
Modern decor and comfortable rooms were appreciated, though some discrepancies in arrangement were mentioned.
Amenities
8.68
Adequate amenities reported, including spacious common areas.
Value for Money
9.14
Perceived as a good deal given facilities and overall experience.
Food and Beverage
8.69
Food was generally praised though breakfast experience was mixed.
Overall Experience
8.66
Overall a pleasant stay with willingness to return despite minor issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 03:57

Property Description

Riverside Charm and Modern Comforts

Historic Bar and Dining
Formerly a blacksmith’s workshop, our bar offers a cozy atmosphere to enjoy a range of drinks while watching your favorite shows on a 42-inch plasma TV. Indulge in a full cooked breakfast each morning and savor delicious lunch and evening meals at Anglers Nook.

Deluxe Double Rooms with River Views
Upgrade your stay by requesting one of our Deluxe Double Rooms with a picturesque view of the River Thurso. Enjoy complimentary local toiletries, locally baked biscuits, and modern amenities including flat-screen satellite TV, desk space, and tea & coffee facilities.

Convenient Location and Nearby Attractions
Situated just a short drive from Thurso town center, our hotel offers easy access to Thurso Golf Club and Thurso Rail Station. Explore the most northerly town on Scotland’s mainland and discover the beauty of the surrounding area.

Book now to experience a perfect blend of history and modern comfort at Ulbster Arms Hotel.

Important information:

A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: WIC

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for free when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.8
Based on 719 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.19
Service: 9.16
Location: 9.2
Room Quality: 8.65
Amenities: 8.68
Value for Money: 9.14
Food and Beverage: 8.69
Overall Experience: 8.66
W
wendy • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Beautiful clean room. Excellent en suite. Very quiet. The breakfast was very good. All staff were very pleasant and welcoming.

2026-06-13 • via Nuitee
C
Cristina • solo_traveller • it
6
2026-06-13 • via Nuitee
J
Janne • solo_traveller • fi
8
8
Pros:

Viihtyisä ja rauhallinen paikka. Sijainti oli hyvä.

Cons:

Minusta hinta laatutaso ei kuitenkaan kohdannut. Mielestäni uusipuoli ja vanhapuoli eivät sopineet yhteen. Vanhapuoli oli parempi laadullisesti ja tunnelmallisesti.

2026-06-13 • via Nuitee
S
Sharon • solo_traveller • gb
9
Fantastic place
Pros:

Lovely hotel, set in a nice area. The hotel has accommodation within the hotel and also around the outside area they have accommodation within a few buildings which is where we stayed which had everything you needed within. The restaurant was of good quality and served evening meal & breakfast, food was excellent, and staff were very pleasant and helpful.

Cons:

Are accommodation was very good, apart from the fact that the bed was placed against a wall on one side, which was the only way the bed would fit, but that meant if anyone needed to use the bathroom during the night it would involve waking up the other person or trying to climb over the other person, and being a couple over a certain age this really was a bit of an issue.

2026-06-13 • via Nuitee
S
Soumya • couple • fr
8
2026-06-12 • via Nuitee
P
PETER • family_with_children • de
10
Pros:

Es gibt keine Mängel oder Probleme

Cons:

Sehr ruhig gelegen,

2026-06-11 • via Nuitee
A
Andrew • solo_traveller • gb
10
Ulbster Arms. Recommened.
Pros:

Staff friendly and helpful. Great food. For those travellers that suffer from wet weather there is a great drying room.

2026-06-11 • via Nuitee
S
Stephanie • couple • gb
9
Comfortable stopover on NC500 road trip.
Pros:

Pretty hotel. Tastefully decorated and sparkling clean rooms. Delicious dinner and breakfast. Best porridge.
Friendly staff. Nice riverside setting.

Cons:

Pillows. Some guest noise can be heard from next door room bathroom.

2026-06-11 • via Nuitee
J
Jacques • couple • ch
9
2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
L
Lucian • couple • gb
10
2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
D
Davey • solo_traveller • gb
10
Gorgeous Hotel - Idyllic
Pros:

Rooms were lovely - decor fresh and modern. Food delicious. Staff friendly. Hotel was beautifully decorated.

2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
K
Kevan • extended_group • gb
9
2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
F
Fiona • family_with_children • gb
10
2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
R
Roger • couple • gb
8
Enjoyed
2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
J
James • couple • gb
10
Brilliant
Pros:

Staff were so happy and helpful the food was amazing and the the room was super

2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
A
Alex • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

Food was first class. Staff zll very friendly and helpful

Cons:

TV a wee bit on the small side but not the end of the world

2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
B
bernardo • extended_group • it
9
2026-06-05 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • couple • gb
9
Highly recommended
Pros:

A lovely hotel, friendly staff and excellent value for money. The evening meal and breakfast were excellent.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-06-04 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • solo_traveller • gb
8
Great breakfast .. but new part of hotel is style over practicality
Pros:

The bed was comfy and the place very clean. The breakfast was fantastic and the breakfast staff Logan & Sarah were fantastic and a credit to the place.

Cons:

It was a bit style over practicality.. if you weren't in the main hotel (we weren't) and you were in one of the out buildings (brand new and very nice, like us). The impractical things were.
The windows face the car park, so you had to have the blinds down. The blinds stopped people looking in, but not the light. So you were awake at silly o'clock .. and if a car came in the lights came through.
The key fobs are slate, so they jingle like a cow bell, which means any one coming into the building makes so much noise whilst trying to open the door.
The duvet was not big enough for the bed?!?! Why, we don't know. Only realised once in bed. 🫤
They have soap dispensers in the bathroom, that leak all over the surfaces !!
All, silly things that don't ruin your stay, but are not practical for the user.

2026-06-03 • via Nuitee
M
Maureen • solo_traveller • gb
9
2026-06-03 • via Nuitee