John o'Groats

John o'Groats (Gaelic: Taigh Iain Ghròt) is a small village in the traditional Scottish county of Caithness and the Highlands region of Scotland.

The pier at John O'Groats

John O'Groats Hotel

The lighthouse at John O' Groats

The Last House and Museum

The lighthouse at Dunnet Head

Understand

John o'Groats is popularly thought of as the northernmost point on the mainland (the counterpart to Land's End in Cornwall) - although not actually the northernmost point (this honour belongs to Dunnet Head nearby), John o'Groats is certainly the northernmost settlement on Great Britain.

John o'Groats takes its name from one Jan de Groot, a Dutchman who obtained a grant for the ferry from the Scottish mainland to the Orkney Islands, recently acquired from Norway, from the Scottish King James IV in 1496.

• John o'Groats Tourist Information Centre, County Road, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. open Easter-October. Information on travel, accommodation, local services and emergency services - also stocks a range of books, maps, gifts and souvenirs. 

Get in

By car

This is the only direct means to get to John o'Groats. It is located at the end of the A99, which branches from the main A9 Inverness to Thurso road at the village of Latheron, going via the neighbouring town of Wick. If you are arriving via the Orkney Islands, you follow the A939 due east from Thurso.

If you are driving from the Central Belt, bear in mind that this is an extremely remote part of Scotland, the total distance from Glasgow/Edinburgh is almost 280 mi (450 km) - think about it - the same distance as say the Midlands of England. From the Central Belt to Inverness is around 2.5-3hours, reckon on another 2 hours to make the 110 mile journey to Caithness as the A9 becomes a rural single carriageway north of the Black Isle.

By boat

Get a ferry from the Orkney Islands.

• John o' Groats Ferries passenger ferry sails from Burwick to John o' Groats (summer only).
• Pentland Ferries vehicle and passenger ferry sails from St Margaret's Hope to Gills Bay (5km west of John o' Groats).
• And see Thurso for the Scrabster-Stromness ferry.

Get around

See

• Last House. (updated Oct 2017)
• 🌍 Last House Museum, KW1 4YR, ☎ [phone]. (updated Oct 2017)
• 🌍 Castle of Mey (6 miles west of John o'Groats towards Thurso). May to September. The Caithness residence of the late Queen Mother, lovingly restored by her after the death of her husband King George VI in 1952. £11.50.  
• 🌍 Dunnet Head (off the A836, 20km west of John o' Groats). Actually the northernmost point in Great Britain. There is a lighthouse at the end of the headland, and impressive sea cliffs. Great views across the sea to Orkney. (updated Mar 2017)
• 🌍 Duncansby Head (3km east of John o' Groats, along a minor road). The most north-easterly point in Great Britain. It also has a lighthouse and sea cliffs, as well as sea stacks. (updated Mar 2017)
• See Orkney from here. To the north, cloud-wreathed Hoy is seen to the west, and low-lying pastoral South Ronaldsay to the east. The little islands in between are uninhabited and have no transport. These are Swona just west of South Ronaldsay, and Stroma (larger and west) and Muckle Flugga (tiny and east) closer in: these latter two are part of Caithness not Orkney, but the sheep don't care.

Do

• Go to Land's End. The journey from Land's End to John o' Groats (or vice versa) has been undertaken by many individuals as a personal challenge, and to raise funds for good causes. The usual on-road distance is about 1400 km (900 miles), but it can be much longer, depending on the route chosen. It is usually done by walking or cycling, but it has also been done by running, on a horse, driving, or by public transport. (updated Mar 2017)
• 🌍 Wildlife Cruise on the John o' Groats Ferry (ferry office, at the harbour), ☎ [phone]. Daily at 14:30, June to August. 90 minute afternoon cruise. Wildlife spotted can include puffins, skuas, guillemots, and grey seals. £18. (updated Mar 2017)
• Mey Highland Games are held at the castle in early August. The next event is Sat 3 Aug 2019.

Buy

There is a small shop called 'First and Last' at the pier of John O'Groats.

Eat

• 🌍 The Cabin at John O'Groats, ☎ [phone]. the most northerly food takeaway on the island of Great Britain (updated May 2017)

Drink

Sleep

• 🌍 John o' Groats Guest House, John o' Groats, Caithness, KW1 4YR, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A comfortable, family run guest house. £50. (updated Nov 2015)
• 🌍 Natural Retreats John o' Groats, ☎ [phone]. Historic hotel next to the harbour, built in 1875. It has now been refurbished as luxury self-catering apartments and lodges. From £108. (updated Mar 2017)
• 🌍 Seaview Hotel, KW1 4YR, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. From £40. (updated Mar 2017)

Go next

• Head back the other way to Land's End. It's a long walk!
• West to Thurso
• South to Wick
• Take a ferry north to the Orkney Islands

Routes through John o'Groats

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→ Wick → Inverness