‘More than a quick stop’ – Scottish content creator Ruth Aisling enjoys ‘friendly’ welcome in Thurso for latest video
Thurso’s familiar streets, coastline and community were given fresh perspective this week after a popular Scottish travel video creator showcased the town in her latest episode — amassing over 63,000 views in just two days.
Ruth Aisling, whose YouTube channel is well known for honest, quietly observational travel video reviews, documented a full day spent in the Caithness town after making the journey north by train.
Ruth, originally from the south of Scotland but now dedicated to rediscovering her homeland after years abroad, spent her visit wandering on foot through the town, having left her usual mode of transport — Ernie the campervan — at home.
The new episode — entitled “24 Hours in Scotland’s Northernmost Town” — follows on from a previous instalment, chronicling a one-day trip via rail from Stranraer to Thurso, aptly named “I Tried the Longest Train Journey in Scotland (in one day)”.
“It’s so exciting to just take a train to a random place and then spend the day exploring,” she remarks, summing up her simple yet enthusiastic approach to travel.
Arriving after an 11-hour rail journey, she admitted feeling tired but soon found herself revived by the crisp Caithness air and striking coastal views.
“The weather looks so nice outside today, so I’m looking forward to heading out and exploring this town,” she said as she left the Pentland Hotel to begin her day.
Ruth’s wander took her past familiar landmarks, including Sir John’s Square where she was intrigued by stories linking the grid layout to New York.
Later, at the Meadow Well, she reflected on the site’s historic role as the town’s water source and a gathering place for fishermen.
The cold did not go unnoticed. "I actually stopped and bought some gloves for £2.99 because my fingertips were so frozen," she laughed, noting the Caithness chill with good humour.
Yet, the weather did little to dent her enthusiasm.
On the river and beach she was taken by surfers making the most of the waves.
"Even though today it's so cold, I can see some people out there surfing on the waves," she said. "When I come back next time in the summer, I definitely want to do a surf lesson here."
Her visit to Wolfburn Distillery — which she described as welcoming and informal — was another highlight.
"It was great to go into Wolfburn,” she added. “The man working there was so friendly and gave me a few different drams to try, and since I was walking, I could actually enjoy a dram."
The day ended with a meal at the Pride of Bengal on Princes Street, after which she praised her curry as “fantastic”.
Speaking after her trip, Ruth said: “From reading the comments on my YouTube video, it seems like Thurso is a town a lot of people pass through, maybe on their way to Orkney or while doing the North Coast 500 and they don’t really stop to explore.
“So, it was great to spend a bit more time there and see how much it has to offer. The town has a long history, but also signs of new life, like the revival of Wolfburn Distillery and the growing interest in surfing.
“It’s a mix of old and new that gives the town a unique feel. I definitely think it’s worth more than a quick stop. And it’s nice to be able to say you’ve visited the northernmost town on mainland Scotland!”
“With my channel, my aim is to share Scotland’s lesser-travelled corners. Locations or islands that don’t always get as much attention.
“Personally, I much prefer quieter spots without masses of tourists, and we’re lucky that Scotland has so many places like that.
“I’ve held back from filming much around the North Coast because of concerns about over-tourism with the NC500, especially after speaking to friends who live there.
“That said, I’d love to return to the far north again. There are so many stunning places I’ve yet to explore properly.
“It was amazing to see surfers out, even though it was such a cold day when I visited! I’ve surfed before, but only in warmer places - not in Scotland… yet! I’d love to give it a go here one day, maybe in summer when the sea looks a bit more inviting.
“I imagine Thurso really changes with the seasons. In winter, it must feel much wilder with the wind and weather, but I think there’s something lovely about that too.
“It would be nice to visit Thurso in the winter and stay in a cosy hotel with a warm fire and perhaps a glass of Wolfburn whisky in hand, watching the weather from indoors.”
Ruth Aisling has shared a total of 91 videos to YouTube since launching her channel, delivering content to over 177,000 subscribers.
Her videos have been viewed over 15.6 million times since the channel’s launch in January 2020.
