"The Far North"

[Chapeltom]

I'm looking to head to the far north of Britain In a couple of months, do the Far North Line, do the most Northerly senior football club in Britain on 7th September (Wick Academy) and of course, do the most Northerly bit of Britain.

I went to Lands End as a kid, if you were going to the most Northerly part of mainland Britain would you consider John O'Groats to be sufficient or would you go to Dunnet Head?

 

[radamfi]

I personally would go to both (and indeed I've been to both). Have you been to the Lizard?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

If you were serious about the most southerly point you'd have gone to Lizard point and not Land's End :P In light of that, go to John O'Groats

 

[Buttsy]

While you're up that way, it may be worth considering doing the furthest west point on the mainland, Ardnamurchan Point...

 

[Liam]

While you're up that way, it may be worth considering doing the furthest west point on the mainland, Ardnamurchan Point...

Ardnamurchan Point is a long long way from Inverness or the Far North. A good four hour drive, on a good day.

 

[Buttsy]

Ardnamurchan Point is a long long way from Inverness or the Far North. A good four hour drive, on a good day.

There is that, but also consider the distance from, say, Glasgow to the Point, you're looking at similar timings I'd wager (Glencoe is a good 2.5 hours from Glasgow).

 

[Liam]

There is that, but also consider the distance from, say, Glasgow to the Point, you're looking at similar timings I'd wager (Glencoe is a good 2.5 hours from Glasgow).

Depends how fast you drive

 

[Butts]

I personally would go to both (and indeed I've been to both). Have you been to the Lizard?

I have been to both - and the Lizard

O'Groats and Dunnet Head are not that far apart.

I have not been to John O'Groats for a few years , last time it was a bit of a dump with a boarded up Hotel. However there was a good little museum if I remember correctly.

 

[181]

The real opposite to Land's End is Duncansby Head, a couple of miles along the road from John O'Groats -- J. O'G. is strictly speaking just a place near the north-east corner of Britain, not the corner itself.

 

[Johnuk123]

I have been to both - and the Lizard

O'Groats and Dunnet Head are not that far apart.

I have not been to John O'Groats for a few years , last time it was a bit of a dump with a boarded up Hotel. However there was a good little museum if I remember correctly.

John O'Groats is still a real dump.

 

[Eagle]

No one's mentioned Lowestoft.

 

[Johnuk123]

No one's mentioned Lowestoft.

Ok, Lowestoft's a dump as well.

 

[Bedpan]

I really don't get the John O'Groats thing at all! Its so obvious that Duncansby Head is further from Lands End than John O'Groats Harbour, and yet John O'Groats is always referred to as the furthest point.

It can't be because John O'Groats is a the furthest settlement, because Lands End itself isn't a settlement, so the only thing I can think of is that its simply because of the quirky name.

And another thing, the signpost at John O'Groats says its 874 miles to Lands End, but Google Maps says its only 838!

 

[crispy1978]

I take it Thurso FC don't count in your equation?

 

[Requeststop]

I really don't get the John O'Groats thing at all! Its so obvious that Duncansby Head is further from Lands End than John O'Groats Harbour, and yet John O'Groats is always referred to as the furthest point.

It can't be because John O'Groats is a the furthest settlement, because Lands End itself isn't a settlement, so the only thing I can think of is that its simply because of the quirky name.

And another thing, the signpost at John O'Groats says its 874 miles to Lands End, but Google Maps says its only 838!

Ah there is a difference. The Google Maps distance is correct but it uses motorways. This makes it difficult for walkers, cyclists, bed-pushers, three-legged racers etc etc etc making the journey both ways to cover the sections by motorway from which they are banned. so the 874 miles is the "official" distance for those who cannot use motorways and so can travel the largest direct distance within the Island of Great Britain. Hope that clears that matter up, but guess there will be people who'll dissent.

 

[anti-pacer]

The FAR NORTH my friend is Muckle Flugga just off Unst, in Shetland!

That's well worth a trip! Train to Aberdeen, overnight ferry to Lerwick, then hire a car, taking advantage of Shetland's extremely quiet roads and efficient inter-island ferry services!

Once you've done that trip, then you can say you've been to the FAR NORTH!

I'll second an earlier comment that John O' Groats is a bit of a dump too!

 

[Chapeltom]

I take it Thurso FC don't count in your equation?

I did say, most senior football club. I''m a ground-hopper anyway, there's plenty (hundreds) of fenced off pitches in England still to do never mind Thurso on the north tip of Scotland.