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Town in Highland, Scotland
Photo: Noudbijvoet, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Wick is a town in Caithness in the far northeast of Scotland, with a population of 6870 in 2020. The name comes from Norse vik, meaning a bay. The town first grew up north of the river: in the 19th century the fishing port of Pulteney was established to the south, when herring shoals moved away from the Hebrides to the seas around here, and initially only a rickety footbridge connected the two settlements. Caithness Glass originated in Wick in 1961, though production has now moved to Crieff in Perthshire. Wick (along with Thurso) is a good base for exploring the rugged northern coast around John o' Groats, or as a stopover for the Orkney ferries.
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Main collection shows life and times of bygone Wick. It also includes Johnston photography collection, Wick Voices oral history and Isabella Fortuna fishing vessel.
Ruins of a castle dating from 1100, a stronghold of the medieval Norse Earls of Orkney. It was abandoned in the 18th century. Built with four storeys, only the stump of a tower remains. The interior is unsafe to enter but you mostly come for the sea views.
Castle Girnigoe was built late 15th century, then Castle Sinclair on top of it from 1606. In 1680 rival branches of the Sinclair clan fought so furiously to own it that it was left a shattered stump.
French restaurant serving quality food.
The distillery was founded in 1826; it ceased production in 1930 but resumed in 1951 and is now part of InterBev. It has an annual capacity of a million litres and produces a rangle of single malts; they're described as somewhat peaty, but more distinctly smoky and salt-tinged.
Open Apr-Oct, this is a friendly well-run site by the river, 5 minutes walk from town centre. Height limit 2.89 m on the access lane, high vehicles phone ahead for alternatives.
Good family-run hotel with bar food.
Trad hotel, welcoming and well-run.
48 room motel with restaurant (mains £10-25).
By plane: Wick John o 'Groats Airport has flights by Eastern Airways from Aberdeen, Su-F taking 40 min. Loganair no longer flies here.
Read in the guideBus 82 takes 55 min between Thurso, Halkirk and Wick, hourly M-F, every two hours Sa, only four on Sunday. You can also take Bus X99 or the train to reach Thurso.
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Wick · Regional · WIC
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