Scrabster: Harbour, Coast and History

Scrabster combines a harbour with a distinctive coastal landscape and themes from natural and cultural history. For travellers looking for hotels in Scrabster, the place can be understood from three different perspectives: the harbour and its ferry connection, the cliffs at Holborn Head, and the visible traces of earlier use.

Harbour and ferry connection

Scrabster Harbour lies at the western end of Thurso Bay. Grass-covered cliffs shelter the harbour; the view takes in a dramatic coastal landscape with Dunnet Head. The harbour setting and coastal views give the place two distinct sides: its maritime connection and the striking seascape. Scrabster can therefore be understood as a destination through both its harbour and its coastal scenery.

NorthLink Ferries’ Pentland Firth ferry service operates between Stromness in Orkney and Scrabster in Caithness. Scrabster is therefore one of the two named termini of this ferry connection. If a crossing is part of your plans, check the service’s current sailing times and arrangements before you travel, as these can change. NorthLink Ferries’ Pentland Firth ferry connection is also the only ferry route that passes the Old Man of Hoy. You can take this passage past the Old Man of Hoy into account when planning your trip.

Coastal landscape and nature

The Holborn Head SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) covers 4.5 km of coastline west of the lighthouse at Scrabster. The sea cliffs at Holborn Head are home to breeding colonies of fulmar, common guillemot, kittiwake and razorbill. The nature theme can thus be identified through two specific features: the extent of the coastal stretch and the seabirds that breed there. SSSI stands for Site of Special Scientific Interest and designates the coastal stretch as an area of special scientific interest. For travellers interested in nature and coastal environments, Holborn Head offers a distinct focus alongside the harbour and ferry route.

History and buildings

The natural harbour also has a recorded history behind its name: Skarabolstadr means “cliff settlement”. In the 19th century, Norse fishermen favoured this harbour. The name and its historical use add a sense of time to Scrabster’s maritime character: the place can be considered not only through its present-day ferry connection but also through its history as a natural harbour.

Scrabster Castle is now visible as an earthwork and standing ruin. It was first mentioned under this name in 1328. The year marks the castle’s first mention under this name. Its national importance stems from its potential to further understanding of domestic and defensive architecture, as well as the economy, in early medieval northern Scotland. The building thus brings together its visible form and its significance for understanding the early history of northern Scotland.

There is also a promontory fort at Holborn Head. Its wall is in ruins and was built from local slate-like slabs; the fort is protected as Scheduled Monument 559. Holborn Head Lighthouse near Scrabster was established in 1863 by engineers David and Thomas Stevenson. These structures offer different points of comparison in terms of history: the castle recorded under a name, the fort’s construction and protected status, and the lighthouse’s engineering history. Together, these remains offer different ways to understand Scrabster’s coastal and cultural history.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Keiss, Whitefield, Talmine, Balmacara, Portnalong, Fearn, Ullapool, Forres

For the higher-level travel overview: Highland.