Caithness Horizons: Museum, gallery shop & cafe
An enthralling new visitor attraction located in Thurso which acts as a hub for the surrounding Caithness area. The magnificently restored building houses a permanent exhibition which uncovers the story of mankind’s past and present interaction with the environment of north east Scotland. A gallery houses temporary exhibitions including the display of work by local artists. In addition there is a shop and café.
Discover Caithness’s wealth of untold stories
Caithness is an area steeped in outstanding history, wildlife and ecology, with a pioneering industrial past. Yet with so much to discover and visit, where do you begin to uncover the secrets and intricate treasures of this distinctive northerly county?
Located in the magnificently restored old Thurso Town Hall and Carnegie Library, Caithness Horizons is an outstanding visitor attraction which acts as a hub for the area, signposting the many attractions and facilities in Caithness. It also houses a Museum, exhibitions & displays, a shop and café.
Commanding attention on arrival are the newly returned Skinnet and Ulbster standing stones, which have undergone two years’ intensive restoration in Edinburgh and now reveal significant new Pictish carvings.
A series of themed displays bring to life the fascinating heritage of Caithness. Highlights include archaeological objects that date from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages and relate to the lives of the Broch dwellers, Picts and Vikings that made Caithness their home. A particular treat is the impressive array of Viking artefacts from a male Viking burial at Reay, Thurso, which are on loan from the National Museums of Scotland.
Visitors can also wander through displays of birds, track bird migration routes and meet Thurso's famous Geologist and Botanist Robert Dick. The displays feature Robert Dick’s herbarium, now accessible to the public for the first time in many years, along with personal items, geological and fossil specimens.
The social history of Caithness is brought to life by displays which include a Penny-farthing bicycle and film clips. The story of Dounreay - which shaped the recent economy and history of Caithness – is also featured. Caithness Horizons explores the activities that took place at Dounreay over a period of more than 40 years, its environmental impact and its influence on the local community.
Caithness Horizons takes visitors on a truly remarkable journey into all that Caithness has to offer. Thought provoking, informative, and visually stunning, this is a first class venue for visitors and locals alike.
Opening Hours
Open all year. Free admission.
Monday – Saturday: 10.00am – 6.00pm
Sunday: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Contact
Caithness Horizons: Museum, gallery shop & cafe
Caithness Horizons
Thurso
Caithness
KW14 8AJ
Great Britain
Tel: +44 (1847) 896508
Fax: +44 (1847) 891152
E-Mail: info@caithnesshorizons.co.uk
WWW: http://www.caithnesshorizons.co.uk
Grading & Awards
