Day 1 - Arrive in Inverness
Arrive at your overnight accommodation in Inverness.
Day 2 – Inverness to Culbokie
Make you way to Inverness Castle and look for the end of the Great Glen Way stone monument. Welcome to the start of the John o’ Groats Trail! You leave Inverness, following the banks of the River Ness towards the Kessock Bridge. After crossing the Kessock Bridge, you head up through the forest, not quite summiting Ord Hill (191m), continuing on through the forest to the village of Munlochy. From here, there is an opportunity to visit the Munlochy Clootie Well before mainly road walking along quiet lanes to Culbokie for your overnight stay.
25km (15.5 miles), 450m (1476ft) of ascent
Day 3 – Culbokie to Alness
From Culbokie, you will cross the A9 causeway over the Cromarty Firth, with care. Most of the walking will be along quiet roads and cycle paths, through farms, villages and woods. Just past the small village of Evanton, keep looking to your left towards Cnoc Fyrish (453m) for the monument representing the Gate of Negapatam, Madras, India. You continue onward to the town of Alness, where you will stay for the night.
15km (9 miles), 70m (230ft) of ascent
Day 4 – Alness to Tain
Your walk today will be on a mix of quiet roads and forest trails. Make sure you make the most of the views through the clearings, they are definitely worth it. Keep looking for a barn with a waterwheel when you’ve passed Scotsburn Farm. As you come into the town of Tain, named after the river, that runs through it, enjoy the interesting and unusual buildings and take some time to explore the hidden-away corners.
21km (13.5 miles), 240m (787ft) of ascent
Day 5 – Tain to Dornoch
Today, your walk will be from Tain, north towards Dornoch. Before you cross the Dornoch Firth Bridge, take the opportunity to visit the Glenmorangie Distillery. Once on the bridge, make the most of the views over the Firth. The day will be spent walking quiet lanes and forestry trails. You will stay in the town of Dornoch for the night, giving an opportunity to enjoy a stroll along the golden sand beaches, a visit to its Cathedral and to learn about the history of the Witch’s Stone.
14km (9 miles), 70m (230ft) of ascent
Day 6 - Dornoch to Golspie
A cliff top walk or a sandy beach, is the first choice for your walk today before joining the dismantled railway line, bypassing Embo. As you continue following the railway line, keep your eyes open, northwards, for the Duke of Sutherland Monument on Ben Bhraggie (397m). When you get to the road, you will see the remains of Skelbo Castle. The next section takes you along the road, with amazing views across Loch Fleet before picking up the railway line again for a short stretch. Crossing over The Mound, head for Balblair Wood, before arriving at a track signed as ‘Coastal Route to Littleferry’. From here, you head towards Golspie, either through the dunes along the beach or a more inland path. You will spend tonight in Golspie.
22km (14 miles), 70m (230ft) of ascent
Day 7 – Golspie to Brora
Coastal walking is the order of the day, passing Dunrobin Castle, the ancestral home of Earls and Dukes of Sutherland. This 189 roomed mansion is still inhabited and sections of it date back to 1275. Soon after the castle, you will see the ruin of Dun Liath broch, a well-preserved iron-age structure dating back 2000 years, and with a short detour, can be visited. There are two path options now, but it is easier to keep to the pebbly shore. When you see a grassy path appearing above the shoreline, take that, and you will soon arrive in Brora for your overnight stay.
10km (6 miles), 60m (197ft) of ascent
Day 8 - Brora to Helmsdale
Another choice awaits you today of path or beach walking, depending on the tide. There will be burns to cross, sometimes by steppingstones, sometimes by bridge and at least one, Loth Burn by wading! The walking underfoot will be rocky and uneven in places and is mostly waymarked into Helmsdale. Tonight, you will stay here.
20km (12 miles), 190m (623ft) of ascent
Day 9 - Helmsdale to Berriedale
Today, you will be climbing to the highest part of the trip, with amazing views out to sea. Care must be taken as the path isn’t always clear over the moorland areas. You will pass the Ord of Caithness, a granite mass of 198m, on the boundary of the counties of Sutherland and Caithness. There will be the opportunity to visit Badbea, one of Scotland’s clearance villages and see the monument that commemorates them. As you arrive in Berriedale, look out for two monuments on the harbour that are used by sailors, to navigate by to journey into the harbour. You have now reached the halfway mark. You will be transferred back to Helmsdale for your overnight stay.
14km (9 miles), 510m (1673ft) of ascent
Day 10 - Berriedale to Dunbeath
You will be transferred back to Berriedale to continue your walk. As you set out on the cliff top path today, keep a lookout for amazing waterfalls, cascading into the sea, a small arch at the base of the cliffs and an array of wildflowers, especially in the spring. As the An Dun Headland comes into view, you will see that it has almost broken away from the mainland. Just beyond here, look out for the sea stack known as The Clett. Dunbeath Castle, a 17th Century E-plan tower, stands majestically overlooking the sea. Passing the war memorial and the Dunbeath Heritage Museum, the village of Dunbeath comes into view with it’s quiet harbour. This is where you will stay for the night.
10km (6 miles), 310m (1017ft) of ascent
Day 11 - Dunbeath to Lybster
It will be an adventure walking the Trail today. It will be dramatic, challenging and with some of the paths overgrown, careful navigation is needed! As the trail meanders its way across the cliff tops, look out for the numerous sea stacks. Passing the scenic Latheronwheel Harbour, take a moment to take in its beauty. When you arrive at Port na Muic, have a look around and see if you can spot Scaraben (626m) and Morven (706m), Caithness’ highest hill. As you continue on, the ruins of Forse Castle dating back to 1200, come into view. The next viewpoint will be at Swiney Hill, giving you the first sightings on Lybster Harbour before heading into the village for your overnight stay.
14km (9 miles), 330m (1083ft) of ascent
Day 12 - Lybster to Whaligoe
Your walk today will include sea stacks, a natural arch, the ruins of Clyth harbour, once a bustling harbour for the herring fishing industry and the red and white lighthouse of Clyth, along with many geo’s – long, narrow, steep-sided cleft formed by erosion in coastal cliffs. Soon after the lighthouse, you can see the Stack of Mid-Clyth which has a sea tunnel through it. Following the path, as it hugs the coast, circumnavigating fields with the possibility of resident bulls, you will soon see a large white stone house at Whaligoe. Take a moment to look down the 330 stone steps, down to what was another bustling fishing port, known as the Whaligoe Steps. Continue on to the port of Whaligoe from where you will be transferred back to Lybster for your overnight stay.
12km (7.5 miles), 410m (1345ft) of ascent
Day 13 - Whaligoe to Wick
Your day will start by being transferred back to Whaligoe to continue your walk. It will be a slightly easier walk today through fields with livestock, some uneven ground, and some fantastic coastal views. You will see the remarkable Stack of Ulbster before crossing Mill Burn via a plank bridge! As you descend into Sarclet Harbour, keep an eye open for seals and the remains of a fishing station. Just past Tod’s Gote, there is one of Scotland’s finest arches, Needle Eye Rock, standing approximately 45m in height. Having passed a number of Stacks and Geo’s, the remains of the Castle of Old Wick can be seen. As you get closer to Wick, look for the old tidal seawater swimming pool and old lifeboat station. Having crossed Wick Harbour Bridge, you arrive in the town of Wick for your overnight stay.
17km (10.5 miles), 300m (984ft) of ascent
Day 14 - Wick to Keiss
On today’s walk, you will pass the lighthouse at Noss Head, the remains of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe and Ackergill Tower, once a 5* Hotel but now a private residence. At low tide, you will get a choice of walking along the sands of Sinclair’s Bay rather than the path. The challenge of the day will be crossing the River Wester, which at low tide will be crossable with care but at high tide and in spate will not. Be warned, it can reach at least chest deep! There is an opportunity to cross it via a bridge on the A99 if needed. You can then beach walk all the way to Keiss to find your accommodation for the night.
18km (11 miles), 190m (623ft) of ascent
Day 15 - Keiss to John O’Groats
Your final days walk will take you past the ruins of Keiss Castle, before reaching the settlement of Nybster broch and Mervyn’s Tower, a memorial to Sir Francis Tress Barry’s nephew, which is worthy of a visit. More Geo’s and sea stacks, some with arches will continue to be your companions through the day as will another castle ruin, that of Freswick Castle, before reaching the sandy beach of Freswick Bay. From Skirza Head over uneven and boggy ground, you will come to Wife Geo, where there is a large stack with two long natural arches. The very impressive Duncansby Stacks come into view before seeing the lighthouse on Duncansby Head. From the Bay of Sannick, the walking becomes easier with an infrequent boggy patch. You are nearly at the end of your walk, so take the time to savour the last few miles, as you pass Ness of Duncansby and arrive at John O’Groats. Don’t forget to have your photo taken at the famous distance sign before heading to the café for a well-deserved celebratory drink. You’ve made it!
21km (13 miles), 290m (951ft) of ascent
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