The most northerly of mainland Scottish Counties making up the fertile triangle of land at the top right hand side of maps of Scotland. John O'Groats is probably better known that the County in which it resides and well meaning people are always setting out on trips to Land's End, Cornwall (the most southerly point in the UK) in various forms of transport for charitable purposes , a trip of 873 miles. Apart from that, there is not much of note about John O'Groats except the passenger ferry to Orkney and you will probably be more impressed by the sight of the awesome power of the sea at nearby Duncansby Head. On a clear day, and there are a few of them every year, you can make out the Old Man of Hoy an isolated spire or rock lying off the Orkneys. The main towns in Caithness are Wick and Thurso. Wick is the 'county town' although the county itself has been swallowed up by the Highland Council in Inverness. Both towns were important fishing ports but no now although some ... < more >