Thrumster House B&B, Caithness

History

Thrumster House is an elegant Victorian laird's house, set in about 20 acres of woodlands, at the heart of the estate. Throughout the 19th century, Thrumster was the home of the Innes family, whose crests adorn the upper walls of the vaulted hall. This most interesting and colourful family became dispersed all over the world, but their history is fully documented in the vast body of correspondence which is held in the the house. The main part of Thrumster house was built in 1790 by David Brodie of Hopeville, who was a tenant of Sir John Sinclair, a very powerful local magnate, noted for his improving works during this period. There was originally a much older structure on the same site and some of the foundation stones are still visible in the “secret passage” which runs under the hall. (This is not an exciting early feature but a tunnel which was constructed to enable early electricians to take cables under the house when it was first wired in the 1930’s).

In 1812, Sir John, feeling the want of money, sold a great many of his Caithness lands, and Thrumster was bought by James Innes, a tenant of Sir John at Keiss, a scion of a once powerful family in the County.

It was the current tenant, Islay MacLeod, parents who took it over in 1952, and it has been a much-loved home ever since. Her mother, Lady Jessamine Harmsworth died in 1994 and until that time the House was largely unused.

Food & beverage

Breakfast times are flexible (by prior arrangement). Dinner can be provided. Extra charges apply.

Grounds & Gardens

The shooting at Thrumster is very varied, being an area of very diverse habitats. The estate has 5,000 acres of grouse moor, and the rest is composed of mixed arable ground, in the small holdings known as crofts, and of rough pasture, marshes and waterside ground near our lochs, burns and ponds.

For fishing each loch has good stocks of wild brown trout, each producing fish of good quality.  Thrumster has some of the most best trout waters in Caithness.

The farm and gardens provide a ready supply of fresh quality food, to supplement game from the estate and a wide range of delicious fish and shellfish from the neighbouring port of Wick.