John o’ Groats Trail
A 141-mile long-distance walk in northern Scotland following the east coast of the country from Inverness to John o’ Groats. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: NH 666 449
Distance: 141 miles (226 km)
Time: 65–75 hours
Duration: 10–14 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
416 Inverness, Loch Ness and Culloden
432 Black Isle, Fortrose, Cromarty and Dingwall
438 Dornoch, Tain, Alness and Invergordon
441 Lairg, Bonar Bridge and Golspie
444 Helmsdale and Strath of Kildonan
450 Wick and the Flow Country
451 Thurso and John O’Groats
Summary
The John o’ Groats Trail (JOGT) is a coastal walking route under development along the eastern shores of the Moray Firth from Inverness to John o’ Groats, traversing back lanes, footpaths, shorelines, and cliff-tops of the Scottish Highlands. Accommodation, meals, and shops are available at the end of most stages of the walk, and it is listed by the Highland Rangers as an official virtual trail.
The route is a work in progress. All of it is walkable and regularly walked by both local and long-distance walkers, though ongoing improvements are needed to bring the trail up to standard—such as marking footpaths, installing stiles over barbed wire fences and stone walls, and building infrastructure like bridges in select places. The Friends of the John o’ Groats Trail help build and promote the route with volunteer support; visit their website for trail updates, events, volunteer days, and related walks. (Source: JOGT)