Why A Stop at John O Groats is Worth It [7 BEST Things to Do]

10/11/2023

John O' Groats is the northernmost town you can drive to in Scotland - and although it can take about 5 and a half hours to get there from Edinburgh I promise it's 100% worth it. If you're taking a road trip through Scotland, then this is one place you won't want to miss, especially during whale watching season. To make the best of your time there, we've put together this entire list of the 7 best things to do in the area.

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Where Even is John O Groats?

Located on the Northern Coast of Scotland right across the water from the Orkney Islands, John O'Groats is the most Northern town in Scotland that you can drive to without taking a ferry. The story goes that in 1496 the King gave Jan de Groot the entire ferry business that connected the land here to the Orkney Islands, and eventually the town was named after him as "John O'Groats." The best way to get here is to rent your own car or campervan/rv, otherwise you can take this day trip from Inverness. Want to know a fun fact? The people here are known as "Groaters." Seriously.

Looking for a place to stay in John O' Groats? We camped at John O' Groats Caravan and Camping Site but if you're looking for something a little "cozier" then we recommend the John O'Groats Apartments!

7 Reasons to Visit John O Groats

1. Explore the Coast & Hiking
The coast of Scotland, similarly to the rest of the coast in the UK, is absolutely stunning. If you're visiting the John O Groats area then one place we highly recommend is visiting the Duncansby Stacks and Lighthouse! Beginning in John O Groats the walk is about 3 kilometers each way, and although chances are it'll be quite windy, the views waiting for you will be 100% worth it. If you don't feel like walking the 6 kilometers round trip, then you'll be happy to hear that the views right from downtown John O Groats are stunning as well, especially since you can view the Orkney Islands from here!

2. Warm up at Cafe Groats
Our favorite (and possibly the only) place to eat in town was Cafe Groats. They have large windows that look out into the water and an excellent lobster chowder! To be honest, I don't have much else to say other than this is a must stop!

3. Take an Orkney Islands Day Trip
Like we mentioned above, the Orkney Islands are right across the water from John O Groats. Although we weren't able to take the ferry over since it was closed for the season, if you visit in the summer months you'll be able to take a 40 minute ferry ride over to the islands. To make things even easier for visitors, the John O' Groats ferry offers visitors a fully organized day trip from May to September. Not to mention, the same company offers wildlife and whale watching tours as well!

4. Visit the Local Distillery
Unfortunately when we visited John O' Groats the 8 Door Distillery was closed, but we've heard it has great reviews! Especially for those looking to try some local Scottish Whiskey, they even offer 3 different tour options of the distillery, and if you're looking for something not to potent - they also serve coffee, cake, and cocktails!

5. Or the Local Brewery
Located in the "Last House" of John O Groats, the building is the last surviving building in town from the 1700's. Now, when you enter you'll find a beautiful shop selling brewery gear and canned beers, and if you walk towards the back you'll find their tasting room. A small, hidden bar that only sits about 9 people, this unique find is one stop you won't want to miss!

6. Visit the Year Round Christmas Shop
John O Groats has plenty of small gift shops to go shopping at, but the most unique is the year round Christmas shop! Hidden away in the back of the Groatie Buckie Gift Shop you'll find a small room filled to the brim with Christmas decor, ornaments, and other holiday goodies. You can also find a ton of unique gift items throughout the store!

7. Stop by the John O' Groats Signpost
The very last stop you need to make in John O' Groats is at the signpost, a small post that was put in place in 1964. At one time, the owner even charged visitors to take photos with it, however now it's open for all guests to take photos of. It even says how far away certain cities like London, Edinburgh, and the Orkney Islands are from John O Groats!

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