The line is OpenStreetMap's mapping of the route (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), via Waymarked Trails, with heights from a 30 m terrain model. Check the current official route before a long trip: diversions and permitted paths change. See the source.
Stages
A suggested split into 11 days of about 22 km (13 mi). Each day ends at the town or village on the way nearest to an equal share of the distance, or at a hotel or hostel where there is none. These are not the official stages: check where you can stay before you book.
- Day 1 Inverness to Culbokie 25 km · 25 km from the start
- Day 2 Culbokie to Alness 14.9 km · 39 km from the start
- Day 3 Alness to Tain 21 km · 61 km from the start
- Day 4 Tain to Dornoch 14.0 km · 75 km from the start
- Day 5 Dornoch to Golspie 22 km · 97 km from the start
- Day 6 Golspie to Portgower 26 km · 123 km from the start
- Day 7 Portgower to Berriedale 18.6 km · 141 km from the start
- Day 8 Berriedale to Lybster 25 km · 167 km from the start
- Day 9 Lybster to Wick 31 km · 198 km from the start
- Day 10 Wick to Keiss 18.2 km · 216 km from the start
- Day 11 Keiss to John o' Groats 22 km · 238 km from the start
Summits on the way
- Ord Hill 191 m · 5.8 km from the start
Tops within 300 m of the line. Lists from the Database of British and Irish Hills; other summits from OpenStreetMap.
Start and finish
Start: near Inverness, Highland. 57.47580, -4.22550
Finish: near John o' Groats, Highland. 58.64406, -3.06962
Places to stay
Rooms in the towns and villages along the way:
- Inverness, Highland · The start Booking.com → Expedia →
- Culbokie, Highland · After day 1 Booking.com → Expedia →
- Alness, Highland · After day 2 Booking.com → Expedia →
- Tain, Highland · After day 3 Booking.com → Expedia →
- Dornoch, Highland · After day 4 Booking.com → Expedia →
- Golspie, Highland · After day 5 Booking.com → Expedia →
- Portgower, Highland · After day 6 Booking.com → Expedia →
- Berriedale, Highland · After day 7 Booking.com → Expedia →
- Lybster, Highland · After day 8 Booking.com → Expedia →
- Wick, Highland · After day 9 Booking.com → Expedia →
- Keiss, Highland · After day 10 Booking.com → Expedia →
- John o' Groats, Highland · The finish Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line comes from the source named under the map and the heights from a terrain model, so treat the figures as a guide. Check for diversions before you go, take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
