John O’ Groats has long been the starting or finishing point for those covering the length of Britain on foot. In recent years, the new tourist information centre has provided visitors and the community with shops and crafts, as well as a reference point for activities and tours around Caithness.
There is the well-established John O’ Groats ferry which provides the shortest crossing to Orkney as well as pleasure and adventure rides from the harbour. In addition, the new Pentland Ferry service conveys passengers as well as vehicles to Orkney.
For wildlife enthusiasts, there is a choice of boat tours which operate every day during the summer months. Set against the most spectacular backdrops of enormous sea stacks, deep caves, soaring cliffs and deserted islands, visitors can see Atlantic seals, puffins, porpoise, dolphins, skuas, cormorants, pilot whales, sperm whales, minke whales and peregrine falcons. On land, the Highland Council Ranger Service provide a programme of guided walks an events, with plenty of hands on materials at the Dunnet Bay Natural History Display.
For walkers, there is a 3-kilometre walk along the north coast from John O’Groats to Duncansby Head Lighthouse, with incredible views of the massive rock stacks and the numerous seabirds. A few miles west is the Castle Of Mey.