Road · United Kingdom
Stage 3 of 3 · Great North Trail (John O' Groats)← Stage 2
Watten to John o' Groats
A rolling 32 km gravel route from Watten, Highland to John o' Groats through Lyth, Lochside and Alterwall, with 209 m of climbing. The first 29 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 31.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 209 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 39 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 29 km
- Best months
- Jul to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Watten → John o' Groats
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 209 m
- 32 km
Route description
- Watten
- Lyth
- Lochside
- Alterwall
- Slickly
- Canisbay
- John o' Groats
The route starts at Watten and heads north past the villages of Lyth, Lochside, Alterwall and Slickly, before reaching Canisbay at 23.9 km. From Canisbay the route continues to John o' Groats at 28.9 km where it finishes.
The route has a total elevation gain of 209 m, with 64% of the climbing occurring in the first half of the ride. The highest point is 82 m at 19.4 km, and the lowest point is 15 m at 9.5 km. There is a notable climb just after Canisbay: over 2.3 km the road climbs 49 m at an average gradient of 2.1%, with a maximum of 3.9%. After that the route features a longest descent of 1.8 km from 22.7 km dropping 34 m.
The surface is almost entirely paved (98%) with a very short unpaved section (2%). Roads are mainly minor roads (67%), with 30% on main roads, all on main roads without cycle lanes for 9.5 km. The two longest named roads are C1037 for 13 km and B870 for 6.5 km. There is no café, shop or water available for nearly 29 km after leaving Watten. Facilities at the start include a pub, convenience store, toilets and a monument. At John o' Groats there are shops, a petrol station, and fast food close to the route.
Highlights
- Ride from Watten to John o' Groats
- Longest named road C1037 for 13 km
- Climb near Canisbay rising 49 m over 2.3 km
- Peak near route: Duncansby Head (63 m)
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 24.7 km | 2.3 km · 49 m · 2.1 % · max 3.9 % | 67 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (9.5 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 67% minor road · 30% main road · 2% quiet street · 2% track
- Main roads
- 9.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Main roads used
- C1037 (13 km), B870 (7 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 21% climbing · 24% descending · 55% flat
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 29 km, from the start. Along the route: 2 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops, 1 petrol station and 1 public toilet.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmThe Brown Trout · pub · on the route
- 0 kmWoodside Village Store · convenience store · 90 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · 100 m off route
- 28.8 kmSpicy Groats · fast food · 40 m off route
- 28.9 kmJohn O Groats Post Office · convenience store · on the route
- 28.9 kmJOHN O'GROATS FILLING STATION · petrol station · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 21.2 km — Pentland Ferries (ferry), 890 m off route
- 28.9 km — Ferry, 820 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Alexander Bain Monument (monument)
- 3.3 km — Scottag Cairn, Broch (archaeological site)
- 26.4 km — Green Hill Broch (archaeological site)
- 31.9 km — Duncansby Head (peak, 63 m)
Stay after this ride
- Puffin Cottage B&B · guest house · 2.5 km from the finish
- Seaview Hotel · hotel · 2.6 km from the finish
- Hamnavoe · guest house · 2.9 km from the finish
- John o' Groats Guest House · guest house · 3.4 km from the finish
- John O'Groats Caravan and Camping Site · campsite · 2.4 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- The Brown Trout (30 m)
- Shops
- Woodside Village Store (90 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 28.8 km from Watten
- 9.5 km on main roads without cycle lane