Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

John O Groats Trail and Northern Pilgrims' Way Meeting

29th October 2019

Photograph of John O Groats Trail and Northern Pilgrims' Way Meeting

Report of meeting on 24th October 2019.

Trustees of the The John O Groats Trail and members of the steering group for the Northern Pilgrims' Way had a joint meeting on the 24th October at the Bannockburn Inn, Helmsdale. The main item for discussion was how they could co-operate to further the aims of both groups. The Northern Pilgrims' Way is a fairly new group who are working to re-establish the ancient pilgrimage route between St Duthac's, Tain and St Magnus Cathedral, Kikwall. As parts of the pilgrimage route overlap with the JOGT,which follows the coast from Inverness to John O Groats, it seemed sensible for both groups to work together. The NPW will benefit from the greater experience and higher profile of the more-established JOGT and the JOGT will benefit from the added historical interest in the places on their route and, hopefully, an increase in the numbers of people walking the route.

For the moment, the co-operation will take the form of having a presence at each other's meetings, sharing information and joint projects to improve the accessibility of the routes.

Long distance walks, and pilgrimage walks in particular, are increasing in popularity and it is hoped that these two projects will both encourage more visitors to the North of Scotland and give existing visitors a reason to spend even more time in the area.

The John o' Groats Trail had 126 long-distance walkers so far in 2019 and many times that number of local walkers.  Trail use has more than doubled each of the last three years and walkers have been using local accommodation, restaurants, and shops in increasing numbers.  One shopkeeper noted "We have more trail users in here than NC500 drivers."  Founded in May 2016, the Friends of the John o' Groats Trail is a registered Scottish charity.

The steering group for the Northern Pilgrims' Way have been working together since April of this year, following a meeting organised by the Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum. They are a constituted, not-for-profit group. The JOGT is a registered charity, under the name of the Association of Northern Trails, Scotland. Both groups have members drawn from across the Far North and would welcome more members to get involved with their projects. They can be contacted via the the John o' Groats Trail website at jogt.org.uk and northernsaints@yahoo.com respectively.

PHOTO
from left to right:
Charlie Bain, Jay Wilson (chair of the JOGT), David Hannah, Matthew Reiss (Councillor), Karl Rosie (councillor), Jon Jenkins, Alison Smith, Jane Coll, Penny Kane (minute-taker).

All but the last three are trustees of the JOGT. Karl Rosie is also the chairman of the Northern Pilgrims' Way.

Alison Smith is the treasurer and Jane Coll is the secretary of the Northern Pilgrims' Way.

 

Related Organisations

 

Related Articles

5/10/2023
Association of Northern Trails Scotland AGM 2023
Please note that this year's AGM will take place at the Norseman Hotel in Wick on Thursday 26th October 2023, at 7pm.   For those unable to attend in person, there will be an opportunity to attend online via Zoom.  
27/8/2020
New Signs For John OGroat TrailThumbnail for article : New Signs For John OGroat Trail
The John o' Groats Brewery has provided signs to mark the start/finish of the John o' Groats Trail just outside the brewery location near the harbour in the village.   The John o' Groats Trail is a charitable project to develop a coastal trail in Caithness and Sutherland with additional links in Easter Ross to connect to Inverness, allowing a continuous trail walk to or from as far away as Land's End.  
27/3/2020
John O'Groats Trail Spring 2020 NewsletterThumbnail for article : John O'Groats Trail Spring 2020 Newsletter
News vol 6 no 1: Spring Update 2019 was a big year for the JOGT.   Numbers on the trail were way up, and a pilot ranger programme was a success.  
23/2/2019
Walks In March 2019Thumbnail for article : Walks In March 2019
For anyone wondering what they are like: Basically we walk, stop, look, discuss the scenery and history of the things we are looking at, walk on a bit, stop for lunch, eat some homemade biscuits (these are also free), walk on again, repeat.  These are not aimed at stomping along the cliffs trying to break records and we walk as fast as the slowest (or most scenery fixated) walker.  
27/3/2018
John O'Groats Trail Group Install New Footbridge at OusdaleThumbnail for article : John O'Groats Trail Group Install New Footbridge at Ousdale
Jay Wilson Chair, Friends of the John o' Groats Trail, gives an update he new bridge they have built at Ousdale.   Today (25th March 2018) marked one of the key moments in the history of the John o' Groats Trail.  
18/3/2018
The John O'Groats Trail Group Moving ForwardThumbnail for article : The John O'Groats Trail Group Moving Forward
Since its inception by Jay Wilson the John OGroats Trail group of volunteers have kept moving forward.   With a daunting prospect of marking out 147 miles of trail From Inverness to John O'Groats they have created a viable route.