

The John O’Groats Trail is reckoned to have boosted the local economy of the north Highlands by around £900,000 in 2024.
And the charity behind the 147-mile coastal route, the Association of Northern Trails of Scotland (ANTS), says the figure is projected to surpass £1 million this year.
Newly released statistics show the JOGT attracts in the region of 1000 walkers annually. They are able to enjoy views of the sea and countryside from shorelines, cliff-tops, lanes and footpaths along various stages between Inverness and John O’Groats.
The trail was launched by Jay Wilson in 2016 and has been run by ANTS since 2019.
The charity says the JOGT has proved to be a popular destination for walkers from around the who are bringing important benefits to the region.
The economic contribution was calculated using trail people-counters located near Wick and Berriedale, as well as a “sign-in book” that recorded visitors passing through. This showed a 60 per cent rise in visitor numbers since 2021.
Walking tourism spend was estimated at £65 per day, using comparable figures generated by a NatureScot study into outdoor tourism.
The “slow tourism” venture has been growing in stature with the appointment of a trail development manager, Kenneth McElroy, in 2022 and, in 2024, a second trail development manager, Laura Gray, to lead on the development of a new route known as the North Coast Trail.
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