Key Places:
Remote Highlands Cycling Holiday

12 Day: Guided Off Road

John O'Groats

 John O’Groats had a bad press in past years, not living up to its epic reputation as the start or end point of the UK’s renowned coast to coast trip from the North East of Scotland to Lands’ End at the south west tip of Cornwall. However, having dipped to a low point in 2010 voted the ‘most dismal place in Scotland’ in the Carbuncle Awards, things have looked up.  The town won a regeneration award in 2014 including a grand restoration of the 19th Century hotel.

This unique area is rich in abundant wildlife, history and culture. Looking out to sea there are beautiful views of the uninhabited island of Stroma. The town is the gateway to the Orkney Islands. A ferry runs from here with a crossing that’s only 40 minutes. There are beautiful walks.  Take a three-kilometre stroll (six both ways) along the north coast east from John O’Groats to Duncansby Head Lighthouse and then on to the towering ‘Stacks of Duncansby’. Also nearby is the Castle of Mey once owned by the Queen Mother.

John O Groats is said to take its name from Dutchman Jan de Groot who built a house here during the reign of James IV (1488 – 1513). His seven descendants quarrelled about precedence and Jan de Groot solved this problem by building an octagonal house with eight doors, one for each son and one for himself, and an eight-sided table so that no one occupied the head place.  Jan de Groot ran a ferry to Orkney, charging tuppence a trip. The coin for this denomination became known as the ‘groat’. Jan de Groot is buried in Canisbay churchyard his tombstone was moved inside the Church entrance porch for protection against the weather. Over time the name Jan de Groot changed to John O’Groats.