John o' Groats facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John o' Groats
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 John o' Groats House |
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 John o' Groats
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| Population | 300 |
| OS grid reference | ND380734 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WICK |
| Postcode district | KW1 |
| Dialling code | 01955 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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John o' Groats (which in Scottish Gaelic is Taigh Iain Ghròta) is a small village in Scotland. It is located on Scotland's far north-eastern tip. This village is very popular with tourists. Many people visit because it is known as one of the furthest points on the mainland from Land's End in Cornwall, England. The distance between them is about 876 miles (1,410 km).
John o' Groats is about 690 miles (1,110 km) from London. It is also about 280 miles (450 km) from Edinburgh. The Orkney Isles are only 6 miles (10 km) away. You can even take a ferry from John o' Groats to Burwick in Orkney during the summer.
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The Name of John o' Groats
The village gets its name from a man named Jan de Groot. He was a Dutchman from the 15th century. Jan de Groot used to run a ferry service. This ferry went from the Scottish mainland to Orkney. Orkney had recently become part of Scotland at that time.
There is a local story that the "o' Groats" part of the name comes from the price of his ferry ride. People say he charged one "groat," which was an old coin. However, the name actually comes from the Dutch words de groot. This means "the large." People who live in John o' Groats are sometimes called "Groaters."
The name John o' Groats is very famous. It is often used as a starting or ending point for long journeys. These journeys include bike rides, walks, and charity events. They usually go to or from Land's End in England. The phrase "Land's End to John o' Groats" means the longest possible journey in Great Britain. It is also used as a way to describe a very long distance.
About the Village
In 2007, about 300 people lived in John o' Groats. The village is spread out. It has a main area with houses, a sports park, and a shop. This shop is on the main road that leads to the nearest town, Wick.
Tourism in John o' Groats
Many tourists from all over the world visit John o' Groats. They come throughout the year. In the past, some guides said the village was not very nice. However, a big project finished in 2013. This project helped to make the area much better.
Every July, there is a special event. It is called the Wildcat Motorcycle Rally. Motorcycle fans hold this rally at the local village hall. John o' Groats is also the end point of a long walking path. This path is called the John o' Groats Trail. It starts in Inverness and is the 14th stage of the trail.
The John o' Groats Hotel
The John o' Groats House Hotel was built in 1875. It is on or near where Jan de Groot's old house used to be. Many people consider it a very famous building in the UK. The hotel was closed for several years. It became quite run down. But then, it was completely changed by architects. It reopened in August 2013. Now it offers places for people to stay on holiday.
The Famous Signpost
A well-known signpost is located at John o' Groats. It is called the Journey's End signpost. It was put up in 1964. For many years, visitors paid to take a picture with it. They could have a message or a distance to a place of their choice on the sign.
In 2013, the land where the signpost was located was sold. The signpost was then moved to a nearby caravan park. When the hotel reopened, a new signpost was put up. This new signpost is open to everyone. You do not have to pay to take a picture with it.
Getting Around
Local buses help people travel around John o' Groats. These buses connect the area to Wick, Thurso, and Dounreay.
The closest train station is in Wick. From there, you can catch a train to Inverness. ScotRail operates three trains a day on weekdays.
Sports
John o' Groats has its own football team. It is called John o' Groats FC. This team plays in the Caithness Amateur Football Association.
Book Festival
The John O'Groat Book Festival started in 2018. It is held every year in April. Many authors have attended the festival. These include famous writers like Theresa Breslin and Christopher Brookmyre. Local authors also share their work there.
Images for kids
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John o' Groats House
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Aerial view of John o' Groats
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The famous signpost at John o' Groats
See also
In Spanish: John o' Groats para niños
