Wick

WICK HERITAGE MUSEUM

Wick Heritage Centre is located near the harbour. It deals with the herring past and general history of Wick and has museum exhibits as well as recreations of significant every day life.

There are a number of fully furnished household rooms, as well as exhibits on Caithness Glass, an Art Gallery and Photographic Gallery, lighthouses, and Wick Radio which may have been the first to pick up the SOS from the Titanic.

OLD PULTENEY DISTILLERY

Known as the Maritime Malt due to its location and heritage, this distillery was founded in 1826. It produces single malt whiskies including 12 year, 15 year and 18 year old, using water from nearby Loch Hempriggs and local un-peated malt barley. It closed in 1930 due to the Temperance (Scotland) Act 1913 which allowed for local areas to vote on going 'dry'. Prohibition ended in 1947 and production resumed in 1951. It was winner of the 2016 World Whiskies Awards and offers a range of tours.

EBENEZER PLACE

Visit the world's shortest street at 2.06 metres. It has just one address -  No. 1 Bistro, Mackays Hotel.

CAITHNESS SEACOAST BOAT TRIPS

Caithness Seacoast runs powerboat trips from Wick Harbour from between 30 minutes to 3 hours, taking in castles, sea stacks and caves, wildlife, lighthouses and even a wind farm and oil rigs.

SWIMMING - OUTDOOR AND INDOOR

If you enjoy outdoor swimming there are two seawater pools: North Baths and The Trinkie, which is considered among Britain's best sea swimming pools. Please note there are no lifeguards, showers or changing facilities. Check the Facebook pages linked above for closures due to storm damage or maintenance.

If you would rather swim in an indoor pool, there is a six lane pool at the East Caithness Community Facility.

OLD MAN O WICK

About one and a quarter mile walk south of the town is the Old Man o Wick, or Castle of Old Wick, which is a square tower and the remains of Wick Castle. It is situated on dramatic cliffs overlooking Sinclair Bay.

Although little remains it is a very historic site being the 12th century mainland base of Norwegian Earldom of Orkney. Unfortunately there is currently no access to the site, however, you can see it from a distance.

COASTAL WALK TO DUNCANSBY HEAD

Walk along the coast path from John O' Groats to Duncansby Head, the most north easterly point of the British mainland. Here you will see the Duncansby Head Lighthouse and the impressive two sea stacks slightly further on.

You will be treated to amazing views on this walk of around 2.5 miles each way, slightly further if you want to extend it for more views.

JOHN O'GROATS BREWERY

Founded in 2015, this brewery produces a range of beers, some named after powerful local tides. It is housed in the oldest building in John O’ Groats, “The Last House”.

The building is older than 1700 and boasts a Caithness slate roof as well as part of a ship's ribs in the wall. There is a visitor experience audio tour (no booking required), tasting room and shop.

8 DOORS DISTILLERY

Founded in 2022, this is the most northerly distillery on the UK mainland, and the first in John O’ Groats for over 180 years. They produce independent bottlings of single malt and blended malt whiskies while waiting for their own single malt whisky to mature.

They use water from the on-site borehole and un-peated traditional Scottish distilling malt. There are various tours on offer as well as a lounge available for tastings, cocktails, coffee and cake, and a fill your own bottle experience.

The name comes from the 8 sided house built by Jan De Groot, the man that the name John O' Groats allegedly comes from.

JOHN O'GROATS MILL

This is the last working watermill in Caithness. Milling has taken place on this site for around 1,000 years, and the current building dates from 1901. It ceased milling in 2001 and was restored and opened to visitors in 2025 by a local trust.

You can reach it by following the ‘John O Groats Mill Trail’ footpath from the centre of the village. 

FERRY TO ORKNEY

The nearest crossing is now from nearby Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope in South Ronaldsay and is run by Pentland Ferries. See Stagecoach service 80 for the 10 minute bus journey - alight at stop 'Gills, Ferry Terminal' or 'Gills, Ferry Terminal Road End'.

St Margaret's Hope is Orkney's third largest settlement. There is a bus connection with Kirkwall, the largest town in Orkney - see Stagecoach service X1. See our Guide to Orkney for places to visit.

Unfortunately the John O'Groats Ferry which ran passenger day trips from John O' Groats to Burwick in South Ronaldsay closed in 2023.

Page last updated 8 September 2025