John o' Groats Scotland

John O'Groats is a small highland coastal village scattered over a large area and is mainly a rural farming community situated in an extreme location. There are two focal points in the village... the Post Office and Grocery store (which has a cash machine) and the Seaview Hotel. The other being the 'End of the road' harbour area and main car park. John O'Groats as a destination has a name far bigger than the village itself so sometimes people expect a 'town' or more. John O'Groats isn't a Disney World, an Alton Towers, a theme park or even like Land's End. It is a fantastic, unspoilt location from which the adventurous can see the wonderful landscape and wildlife that is so special to this area and is the real star of the show. For the less adventurous there is still plenty to do and see at 'the end of the road'.

Welcome to John o' Groats Scotland

Our claim to fame: Not the most northern village...
but the northerly end of the longest distance between two points on the British mainland. Land's End being the other.

A visitors first arrival point is usually the car park... which unlike Land's End is free. From here you can visit the local shops which provided everything you'd expect in a tourist destination and more. You can get food and refreshments in the two cafes. There's a woollen mill, the famous Last House and Museum, a Tourist Office to answer all your questions, toilets.. yes they cost 20p... but are award winning loos of a very high standard and worth every penny. The craft village from where, unlike many tourist destinations, you can buy quality items made at John O'Groats. These include a Candle Makers, Traditional and Designer Knitwear, Pottery, Paintings and Prints by local artist David Body. From the harbour area there is the famous sign post and two different wildlife trips are available in season which is the best way to view the breathtaking array of bird life on the local cliffs and on the water. You can also see Seals and if your lucky... Dolphins, Minky and Killer whales are often spotted.

Accommodation around John o' Groats

Price Guide - per person based on sharing room: under $40 - $41 - 70 - more than $70

Hotels and Guesthouses below - Self catering cottages click here

Stretch your legs and walk to the Ness of Duncansdy along the coastal path starting from the Caravan and Camping Park and look for the small corrie shells know locally as Groatie Buckies which are suppose to bring the finder good luck or further along to the Stack's of Duncansby 3km away from John O'Groats... or for the less fit you can easily drive. The views across the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Islands six mile away are stunning from the top of these 200ft cliffs. The cliff tops are the perfect place to view the nesting sea birds in the inlets, ledges and on the stacks in complete safety. There are day excursions to Orkney should you be tempted to go and get a closer view. John O'Groats has always been famous for it's 'end to enders'... and many stars have been here. The start and finish line is traditional the front door of the John O'Groats House Hotel but sadly this iconic building, despite the best efforts of the locally community, has been aloud to fall into disrepair by it's owners neglect and is now closed. There are plans for the redevelopment of the hotel and harbour area...

A mound near the John O'Groats House Hotel marks the site where Jan de Groot, a Dutchman, built his famous house in 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 of his seven sons and himself, and an eight sided table so that no one occupied the head of the table. Jan de Groot ran a ferry to Orkney and charged 2p a trip. The coin for this denomination became known as the 'groat'. Jan de Groot is buried in Canisbay churchyard where his tombstone can be seen, now moved to inside the entrance porch for protection against the weather. Over a period of time the name Jan de Groot has subsequently changed to John O'Groats.