DAY 19c
JOHN O'GROATS (Wick, SCO)
Tuesday September 16th, 2008
TODAYS MILEAGE – 436 miles or 702 kilometres
TRIP MILEAGE – 13916 miles or 22396 kilometres
John o' Groats is named after a Dutchman, Jan de Groot. In 1496 King James IV granted De Groot the ferry franchise between the harbour here and Orkney Island, which was at the time still a relatively new acquisition by Scotland.
Most of the guidebooks are unflattering about John o' Groats. And yes, it is true, Jungle and I, like many first time visitors, thought "Is this it???" Yup....pretty much - but at least we can say we've "been there, done that".
The sign above the harbour at John o' Groats says it's 874 miles from Land's End. And while Dunnet Head to the west extends further north, and Duncansby Head to the east is probably a mile or two more distant from Land's End, John o' Groats is the place you start or finish if you want to cover the length of Britain playing hopscotch or pushing a pea with your nose.
The rather imposing John o' Groats House Hotel has been shuttered for a few years now as the planned renovations never eventuated, such a pity as I would have loved to take a look around the impressive structure.
