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Scotland 2010

Dunnet Head & John O’Groats – Most Northerly Point & Tourist Trap! – Scotland 2010

Motorhome Planet

Our ferry to Orkney wasn’t until the evening, so we spent the the day visiting various north-easterly landmarks. Our first port of call was the most northerly point in mainland Britain – Dunnet Head. This is a beautiful, peaceful spot with a fantastic 360 degree panorama of the area – quite unlike John O’Groats, which isn’t the most northerly point in mainland Britain but is a horrendous tourist trap that draws in visitors by the coachload.

Dunnet Head lighthouse
The lighthouse at Dunnet Head, which is also popular with bird spotters and has an RSPB hut in season.
The view from Dunnet Head
Views from Dunnet Head are excellent
Row of coaches parked at John O'Groats
Alternatively, follow the hordes and go to John O'Groats...
Mileage sign at John O'Groats
...where you can pay to have your photo taken by this sign.

Duncansby Head is a headland at the north-easterly corner of the mainland and is also well worth a visit – like Dunnet Head, it’s beautiful, peaceful and offers amazing views. We whiled away an afternoon in the sun at Duncansby Head and then headed down to Gills Bay to catch the ferry.

Duncansby Head views
The view along the coast from Duncansby Head