Ulbster Arms Hotel near Thurso

Hotels
8.8 (760 reviews)
Hallkirk , Halkirk , gb

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
Family rooms
Garden
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

Location

Guest Reviews

8.8
Based on 760 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
N
Nick couple gb
7
2026-08-22 via Nuitee
F
Francesco solo_traveller it
10
Pros:

Colazione buonissima! Punto strategico per visitare il nord della Scozia

2026-08-22 via Nuitee
E
Elisa extended_group it
8
Personale disponibile, ci hanno anche aiutato a risolvere un problema di “multa” presa in altra città
Pros:

Tutto molto bello

Cons:

Le tende delle camere, non oscurano abbastanza per la notte

2026-08-21 via Nuitee
A
ATHANASIOS couple gb
8
Pros:

Historic place in a picturesque location, ideal for NC 500. Apparently the hotel is preferred by fishermen. Nice pub with good food.

Cons:

Heritage buildings are always a challenge when you compare with recently refurbished or new establisments. Poor sound proofing, bed comfort and a historic charming bathtub with no curtains or shower are the downsides that you sometimes accept at an older hotel.

2026-08-18 via Nuitee
K
Kathy couple us
9
Pros:

The staff was cheery and efficient! They make the place work. Because of the value this place provides, we travel to get where we want to be to stay there. We are return guests and will be back again!

2026-08-17 via Nuitee
B
BARBARA couple it
8
2026-08-14 via Nuitee
P
Paul solo_traveller gb
10
Pros:

Excellent hotel with great facilities. Great breakfast.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-14 via Nuitee
A
Amanda couple gb
8
Pleasant stay - food is brilliant and staff and friendly and welcoming
Pros:

Evening meal and breakfast were superb
Staff were accommodating and welcoming
Service in the restaurant was brilliant
Nice spacious rooms

Cons:

Bed in our room was not particularly comfortable - quite an uncomfortable mattress. For such a large room it seems unusual to have only a standard double.
We only had a bath in our ensuite. The bath had a shower head - no shower curtain so was a little precarious trying to shower and not get water all over the floor - but a shower is preference rather than necessity.

2026-08-13 via Nuitee
J
James solo_traveller gb
10
Classy , Classy and Classy
Pros:

I was on a NC500 road trip and needed a place close to the top coast. Places were hard to come by and I found this place.

The internal rooms including its library and restaurant and lovely gardens are wonderful. Plenty of parking out the back.

The evening meal I had there was fresh haddock and chips.

Breakfast was amazing.

Its such a lovely place and i would stay again.

Cons:

It was just a shame i stayed in one of the lodges and not in the main building . Although the room and bathroom were spacious and immaculate.

Its a bit off the beaten track.

2026-08-12 via Nuitee
J
Justin family_with_children gb
10
Accommodation and food was superb, all the staff made us feel welcome and were happy to chat and give us information of
Pros:

The property was just as stunning on the inside as much as the outside, absolutely loved it

Cons:

Nothing about the property, what I would suggest is though is to remove the slate tag in the keys, it’s really noisy when trying to open or look the doors

2026-08-11 via Nuitee
P
p couple us
4
Pros:

Breakfast was great, the location was great for our purposes. The room was very small and we could hear people coming and going. The room was in a separate annex, removed from the hotel premises itself.

2026-08-08 via Nuitee
D
Duarte couple pt
9
Excelente
Pros:

Local muito acolhedor, limpo, pequeno almoço e um bom restaurante

Cons:

Tamanho da cama

2026-08-08 via Nuitee
J
James couple ca
10
2026-08-07 via Nuitee
J
John solo_traveller gb
9
Pros:

The Hotel was really nice and comfortable bed.The Breakfast was good to.

Cons:

No all good would stay there again.

2026-08-05 via Nuitee
S
Stefania solo_traveller gb
9
2026-08-03 via Nuitee
M
Martin solo_traveller gb
10
Just book it
Pros:

Spotlessly clean hotel, rooms, bar, lounge, library, and restaurant full of original character.
Prices are very reasonable for such a nice hotel.

Cons:

Nothing. Everything was perfect.

2026-08-02 via Nuitee
T
Ton extended_group nl
7
2026-08-02 via Nuitee
D
David extended_group cz
8
Comfortable stay, good breakfast
Pros:

Lovely big bedroom

2026-07-25 via Nuitee
M
Muhammad Arshad Irshad family_with_children gb
9
Memorable.
Pros:

Very nice place with a lot of peace to enjoy.

Cons:

Location, cleanliness, staff, food.

2026-07-14 via Nuitee
S
Sylvia couple nl
9
Pros:

Een parel van een verblijf, met bar en goed restaurant. Heel sfeervol allemaal.

2026-07-13 via Nuitee