The northern beauty spot was described as “naff”.
The popular tourist destination has been named among the “most naff” in Europe(Image: grafxart8888 / Getty Images)
A popular beauty spot and village in Scotland has been named among the worst tourist attractions in the whole of Europe. It was included on a new list of the “most naff attractions” across the continent according to The Telegraph newspaper.
On Sunday, December 21, The Telegraph published a roundup of the 10 tourist spots across Europe “where no discerning tourist would be seen dead”. Coming in at number 10 on the list, and described by the newspaper as “the most undeserving tourist attraction of them all”, is John O’ Groats in the Scottish Highlands.
John O’ Groats is a small village situated in the historic county of Caithness, along Scotland’s northeastern tip. It is a popular tourist destination thanks to its breathtaking scenery and remote location that is said to be the northernmost point on the country’s mainland.
John O’ Groats is known for being home to popular attractions such as the Duncansby Head Lighthouse and the Duncansby Stacks. The former is an operational lighthouse that was built in 1924 and sits on a picturesque spot atop scenic cliffs, while the Duncansby Stacks are regarded as among the most beautiful sea stacks in the whole of the British Isles.
At the centre of the village is the John o’ Groats Signpost, which is one of the most photographed signs in the UK. Situated near the old John O’Groats hotel, it was erected in 1964 to mark the tip of the UK mainland and was previously operated as a paid visitor attraction before the fee was later scrapped.
The village is also known for being the starting point for those heading out on the famous ‘End to End’ journey to Land’s End in the south of England. The lengthy 874-mile route takes cyclists between 10 and 14 days to complete on average, while off-road walkers typically take two or three months to cover the distance.
The famous John o’ Groats Signpost(Image: Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Getty Images)
The Telegraph criticised John O’ Groats for being “a lie”, with the newspaper describing the nearby Dunnet Head as the true most northernly location on the Scottish mainland. The village was also slammed for its “appalling” gift shop and its toilets.
The Telegraph wrote: “And finally, the most undeserving tourist attraction of them all. The entire concept of John O’Groats is a lie. It is not, and never has been, the most northerly point on the British mainland. That accolade goes to Dunnet Head a few miles along the road.
“Persevere with this parvenu excuse of a ‘must see’ and you’ll be ‘rewarded’ with a car park, an inevitably appalling gift shop and a toilet block.
“But at least you can now take a free picture of the fabled signpost (in previous years you had to pay) which tells you exactly how many miles you are from Land’s End, a similarly dispiriting tourist experience, though with a slightly nicer toilet block.”
John O’ Groats previously received the Carbuncle Award from architecture magazine Urban Realm in 2010 for being “the most dismal place” in Scotland. At the time, it was criticised by Urban Realm for its “reliance upon tourist tat” and for being home to “Britain’s most northerly derelict building”.
However, in the years since, the village has seen a number of redevelopment and regeneration projects. New businesses have opened their doors in the village, while historic buildings have been restored—such as the John O’ Groats Mill that recently opened as a not-for-profit heritage visitor attraction and community venue.
The John O’ Groats Mill(Image: Google Maps)
Other destinations featured on The Telegraph’s list of the worst tourist destinations in Europe include Leicester Square in London and The Blarney Stone in Ireland. The former is the centre of London’s entertainment district and was described by the newspaper as “a vision of what Las Vegas would be like if it was run by Michael O’Leary”, while The Blarney Stone is a supposedly magical block of limestone built into the battlements of Blarney Castle that was criticised by The Telegraph for being unhygienic.
Further afield, The Telegraph also criticised The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. The Little Mermaid is a bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen that depicts the classic fairytale of a mermaid becoming human, which was noted by the newspaper for its small size, while the Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa that was blasted for its crowd density.
The full list of Europe’s “most naff attractions where no discerning tourist would be seen dead” can be found on The Telegraph website.