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How the once 'dismal' John O' Groats is bouncing back

Getty Images A clear sky over a redeveloped hotel at John O'Groats harbour. The original white hotel now has a colourful Norse-style extension, with a blue, green, brown, yellow and red frontage.Getty Images
Locals say John O' Groats has bounced back from being branded a carbuncle in 2010

Fifteen years ago John O' Groats was given an award for being the "most dismal" place in Scotland.

Since then, the village on Scotland's north eastern tip has been transformed by a series of regeneration projects.

New businesses have opened in the village, historic buildings are being restored and new jobs have been created.

Here is how the community has bounced back.

'People were upset'

Andrew is standing next to a sign for John O'Groats. The sign points to other places including Lands End, Edinburgh and Orkney and Shetland.
Andrew Mowat, of John O' Groats Development Trust, says the award caused upset at the time

Winning the Carbuncle Award in 2010 was embarrassing for John O' Groats.

One of the reasons it had attracted the attention of judges was for having the most northerly derelict building, a hotel, on the British mainland.

The award's 'Plook on the Plinth' trophy was handed out by architecture magazine Urban Realm.

Its editorial team said John O' Groats was "notorious for being so desolate" and described it as a "bleak outpost".

Denny, East Kilbride, Inverness and Lochgelly were also nominated that year.

Residents of John O' Groats felt they had been unfairly targeted.

"People were upset about it at the time," says Andrew Mowat, of John O' Groats Development Trust.

"Nobody actually came forward to accept the award."

He added: "But I think the award kick-started the regeneration and redevelopment work.

"So, probably in the long run, it was a good thing because look how far we've come now."

Getty Images An aerial view of John O' Groats. The community is set in an area of farmland on a shore of the Pentland Firth. It is a sunny day and only a few clouds in the sky.Getty Images
John O' Groats is on the north Caithness coast

The long-derelict hotel has been brought back to life, new coastal paths have been laid out, a previously rutted car park has been fixed and new businesses and jobs have opened up.

One of the latest additions to the village is Eight Doors Distillery, which was taken forward by husband and wife Derek and Kerry Campbell.

It was also built almost entirely by local contractors.

Kerry is sitting at a long table with lights set in it. There is a display cabinet on a wall and large window behind Kerry.
Kerry Campbell says there is a positive energy around the village

Kerry said: "There's a really positive energy around John O' Groats at the moment.

"Along with lots of other local businesses we've been looking at how we can create a destination and give people a reason to stay in the area for longer.

"There's so much happening here - it's great to be part of it."

New jobs have been created at the distillery, with most filled by locals.

For Ryan Sutherland, it has allowed him to return home to the area with his wife and start a family.

Ryan is leaning over to turn a handle on part of a machinery inside the distillery.
Ryan Sutherland has returned his home area to work and raise a family

He said: "Caithness and Sutherland is our home.

"It's nice to move back and be able to move into jobs."

Meanwhile the Dounreay nuclear complex - about 30 miles away - has been the mainstay of local employment in Caithness for decades.

But the regeneration of John O' Groats has helped some people find a new future in another new business.

Former Dounreay worker John Mainprize is a co-owner of John O' Groats Brewery.

John has a hand on a beer engine handle in the brewery's bar as if about to pull a pint of beer. There are rows of bottles and glasses on the wall behind him.
John Mainprize is among those involved in creating new businesses in the village

"There are so many different things to the business. It's not just brewing," he said.

"The bar, the interactions with the customers, great banter with the locals and it's wonderful meeting people who really appreciate having us at the end of the road."

Just along the road from the village, a £4.8m restoration programme is progressing on a historic mill building.

Due to open this summer, it is being converted into a visitor attraction and community space.

Bryony Robinson is wearing a Hi-Viz jacket and is standing in front of the historic John O' Groats mill.
Bryony Robinson outside the historic John O' Groats Mill

John O' Groats Mill Trust development manager Bryony Robinson said the mill is an authentic part of the John O' Groats story.

"By opening it up it becomes a new wet-weather attraction for the area," she said.

"It widens what John O' Groats has to offer as well as preserving part of the history for the community."

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