Walking the John o' Groats Trail

Discover the John o’ Groats Trail, a strikingly remote and challenging long-distance walk across northeast Scotland. Stretching approximately 233km (145 miles) from Inverness to John o’ Groats, this coastal route leads you through wild Highland landscapes, along sandy beaches, cliff tops and quiet shorelines, and past attractive towns and villages that offer a welcome break from the solitude of the open coast.

Far less well known than many of Scotland’s established long-distance trails, the John o’ Groats Trail offers a true sense of adventure for seasoned walkers seeking solitude and variety. While the terrain is fairly level overall, the northern half of the route is challenging and remote, often following rough ground, exposed cliff edges and uneven coastal paths that require sound navigation and good fitness. Best walked in the Spring, the trail takes around two weeks to complete.

This comprehensive Cicerone guidebook provides everything you need to plan and walk the trail in either direction, with detailed route descriptions broken into 14 stages (each 10–25km/6–16 miles) from south to north, plus summary notes for walkers heading southbound.

• Stage-by-stage mapping keeps you oriented from Inverness to John o'Groats through hazards along the coast like crumbling cliff edges and gorse thickets
• Downloadable GPX files are also provided for all 14 stages of the John O'Groats Trail, a digital navigation option for use on smartphones and GPS devices
• Accommodation, public transport and facilities are detailed for each day’s walk, ensuring you can plan stops in towns and villages such as Tain, Helmsdale and Wick
• Practical planning advice helps you prepare for the Trail’s challenges, from the northern sections' rough ground and exposed cliff-top walking to considerations around land access and equipment
• An alternative start from Drumnadrochit is included, ideal for those walking the Great Glen Way or taking on the LEJOG challenge

The John o’ Groats Trail is an ideal choice if you’re drawn to remote coastal walking and dramatic scenery. From scenic estuaries and expansive beaches to ancient towns and the far-northern tip of mainland Britain, this lesser-known route rewards those who seek solitude and wild Highland views. With this Cicerone guidebook as your companion, you’ll have reliable directions, planning tools and local insight to walk the Trail with confidence and make the most of every step along Scotland’s northern coast.

Seasons

Spring is the best time for this walk, with a lot of daylight. There is more undergrowth in the summer, and more visitors means accommodation may be harder to find.

Centres

Inverness, Tain, Dornoch, Brora, Helmsdale, Wick, John o' Groats

Difficulty

The northern half of the Trail is challenging, mainly following rough clifftops, often close to the edge and across rough ground. There are also fences to cross. The southern half is relatively straightforward, but overall this route is not recommended for less experienced walkers.

Must See

Some of the most spectacular sea-cliff scenery in Britain, with many sea stacks, sea arches and caves; ruined medieval castles perched on the cliff edges; vast empty beaches and sand-dune systems; seals, ospreys, eider ducks and large numbers of other seabirds; varied woodland

Overview map

Key to stage overview maps

Key to stage maps

Route summary table

Introduction

The terrain in more detail

The hazards of the Trail

Transport links

Access considerations

Accommodation

Equipment

Wildlife

Climate and day length

Geology

Using this guide

The John o’ Groats Trail

Stage 1 Inverness to Culbokie

Stage 2 Culbokie to Alness

Stage 3 Alness to Tain

Stage 4 Tain to Dornoch

Stage 5 Dornoch to Golspie

Stage 6 Golspie to Brora

Stage 7 Brora to Helmsdale

Stage 8 Helmsdale to Berriedale

Stage 9 Berriedale to Dunbeath

Stage 10 Dunbeath to Lybster

Stage 11 Lybster to Whaligoe

Stage 12 Whaligoe to Wick

Stage 13 Wick to Keiss

Stage 14 Keiss to John o’ Groats

Bonus tracks

Stage A1 Drumnadrochit to Beauly

Stage A2 Beauly to Dingwall

Stage A3 Dingwall to Alness

Appendix A Useful contacts