John o' Groats, Settlement in Highland, Scotland
John o' Groats is a small settlement in Highland on the northeast coast of Scotland, about 2 miles from Duncansby Head. The hamlet sits on a road running east from Thurso and consists of a few houses along the shore.
A Dutch settler named Jan de Groot operated a ferry service to Orkney Islands from here in the 15th century. The place later became a symbolic endpoint for travelers covering the longest route across Britain.
The name of this settlement comes from a Dutch ferryman who carried passengers to Orkney in the 15th century. Today a local book festival in April brings writers and residents of the region together.
Buses run regularly from Wick and Thurso to the settlement, and the nearest railway station is in Wick with connections to Inverness. The wind can be strong along the coast, so warm clothing is advisable even in summer.
Archaeological excavations uncovered Iron Age pottery sherds and flint flakes, pointing to a long history of settlement here. This stretch of coast sits roughly 876 miles north of Land's End in Cornwall.
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