Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the mid-nineteenth century, Wick was the busiest herring port in Europe, with a fleet
of more than 1100 boats, exporting tons of fish to Russia, Scandinavia and the West
Indian slave plantations. Robert Louis Stevenson described it as “the meanest of man's
towns, situated on the baldest of God's bays”. he demise of its fishing trade has left
Wick down at heel, reduced to a mere transport hub. Yet the huge harbour in
Pultneytown and a walk around the surrounding area - scruffy rows of fishermen's
cottages, derelict net-mending sheds and stores - gives an insight into the scale of the
former fishing trade.
Wick Heritage Centre
Bank Row, Pultneytown • Easter-Oct Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, last entry 3.45pm • £4 •
T
01955 605393,
W
wickheritage.org
he volunteer-maintained
Wick Heritage Centre
is the best place to evoke the heyday of
the fishing boom. Larger than it looks, it contains a fascinating array of artefacts from
the old days, including fully rigged boats, boat models and reconstructed period rooms,
plus a superb archive of photographs captured by three generations of a local family
between 1863 and 1975.
Old Pulteney Distillery
Huddart St • Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, May-Sept Sat 10am-4pm; tours at 11am & 2pm or by arrangement (from £6) •
T
01955 602371,
W
oldpulteney.com
Until city fathers declared Wick dry in the 1920s, fishermen consumed three hundred
gallons of whisky a day. he last distillery in town - and most northerly in Scotland -
distils more refined malts nowadays; most are light or medium-bodied, with a hint of
sea salt. Much is made of maritime character on tours which end, needless to say, with
a dram or full tastings.
12
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
WICK
The
train station
and
bus stops
are immediately south and west of the central bridge.
By plane
Wick Airport (
T
01955 602215,
W
wickairport.
com), just north of town, has flights to and from Edinburgh
(Mon, Wed-Fri & Sun 1 daily; 1hr) and Aberdeen (Mon-Fri
3 daily; 35min) with Flybe and Eastern Airways respectively.
By train
Trains from Inverness (Mon-Sat 4 daily, 2 on Sun;
4hr 15min) make a long but scenic journey via Lairg,
Helmsdale then the Flow Country inland.
By bus
Local buses run to John O'Groats then Thurso; long-
distance routes to and from Inverness involve a
co-ordinated change at Durneath.
Destinations
John O' Groats (Mon-Fri 6 daily, Sat 4 daily;
30-35min); Inverness (Mon-Sat 4 daily, Sun 3 daily; 3hr);
Thurso (Mon-Fri 6 daily, Sat 4 daily; 30-35min).
ACTIVITIES
Caithness Sea Coast
T
01955 609200,
T
caithness-
seacoast.co.uk.
Harbour tours (30min; £10) plus longer
tours to spot wildlife and admire the high cliffs south (from
£17) in a fast RIB. The operator also runs longer trips to
Lybster (3hr; £45), including one-way trips in either
direction (£28). All April-Oct.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
The Clachan
13 Randolph Place
T
01955 605384,
W
theclachan.co.uk.
A four-star B&B on the main road
south of Wick, a 5min walk from the centre. So, easy to find
and easy to enjoy, in spotless modern rooms in a private
section of the house, all simply but tastef
ully
furnished by
an owner who goes the extra mile to help.
£80
Mackays
River St
T
01955 602323,
W
mackayshotel
.co.uk.
On-going renovation has introduced fresh
contemporary cool - oversized headboards, streamlined
oak furnishings and iPod docks. First-floor rooms are
brightest. Its
No.1 Bistro
serves the likes of lemon-and-
garlic roast chicken with Moroccan spices
plus
fish and
chips (mains average £14).
10.30am-9pm.
£107