Lands End to John O'Groats

A journey in more ways than one

Accommodation

There are several ways to do this, the obvious three would be:

  • Camping
  • Hostels
  • Bed & Breakfast

    Or, of course, a combination of them all.

    I spent all except one night in B&B’s, the only exception being the Youth Hostel at Carbisdale Castle in Culrain as I wanted to see it.

    I chose B&B as I didn't want to carry the extra weight involved with camping & there is considerably less hassle involved compared with hostels. However, hostels would have been the cheaper option.

    The quick reviews are, obviously, nothing more than my own opinion. But then if I was shy about expressing my opinion I wouldn't be writing any of this!

    Where I Stayed

    First night: Sunny Bank Hotel
    Sea View Hill
    Sennen
    Lands End
    Cornwall
    TR19 7AR    		 £40.00 01736871278
    Quick Review:

    Strange arrangement of shower, sort of just stuck in the middle of the room. Very clean, comfortable bed, usual amenities, no complaints. Breakfast very good & host helpful.
    Second night: Polkerr Guest House
    Tintagel
    Cornwall
    PL34 0BY    		 £45.00 01840770382
    Quick Review:

    Excellent room, absolutely spotless. huge bed, very comfortable. All the usual amenities. Great breakfast, cant fault it.
    Third night: Fishers Down Farm
    South Molton
    Devon
    EX36 3QD    		 £17.50 01769572236
    Quick Review:

    True farmhouse type B&B, a little on the basic side, but more than made up for in hospitality. Not en-suite, but still excellent value.
    Fourth night: Orchard House
    Bristol Rd
    Chew Stoke    		 £27.00 01275333143
    Quick Review:

    Very comfortable, clean & well maintained. No flexibility in breakfast time, but it was early enough not to be a problem. Extremely friendly & helpful with route suggestions. Breakfast was excellent.
    Fifth night: Bowens Guest House
    Fownhope    		 £40.00 01432860430
    Quick Review:

    Another nice B&B, although not the cheapest. Excellent room & facilities, breakfast was very good.
    Sixth night: Jill Russell
    80 Rowan Rd
    Market Dreyton
    Shropshire
    TF9 1RR    		 £20.00 01630655484
    Quick Review:

    This one was a bit strange, it's basically just someone's spare room. But very comfortable for all that. Jill went out of her way to make sure I was comfortable, to the point of offering to do my washing.

    I can't complain about the way I was looked after & breakfast was lovely

    I'd recommend it, even though it seemed a little odd.
    Seventh & eighth nights: Family, Marple
    Ninth night: Pages Farm
    Woodhouse Lane
    Slaidburn
    Clitheroe
    Lancs
    BB7 3AH    		 £20.00 01200446205
    Quick Review:

    I wasn't earth shatteringly impressed with this one, the bed was very soggy, no shower, the bath tub was chipped & stained & the room was tiny.

    On the plus side, it was clean, breakfast was excellent & it's reasonably priced.

    If I was doing it again mind you, I'd try the Hark to Bounty in the village.
    Tenth night: Mary Carlisle
    Lazonby    		 £20.00 01768898268
    Quick Review:

    Another good one. Clean, tidy & reasonably priced. The only down side was a bathroom you couldn't swing a cat in.
    Eleventh night: Mr & Mrs C D Lane
    Lindores
    60 Old Town
    Peebles
    Borders
    EH45 8JE    		 £20.00 01721720441
    Quick Review:

    I was a bit put off with the immediate laying down of rules on the way in, but actually the hospitality was excellent, the food just as good.

    The highlight of this B&B was the landlord, Colin. He couldn't have been more helpful if he'd got on the bike & finished the ride for me! A marvellous chap.
    Twelfth night: Adele Barrie
    Duan Villa
    Perth Road
    Blairegowire
    Perthshire
    PH10 6EQ    		 £20.00 01250873053
    Quick Review:

    A good sized room, not en-suite, but the bathroom was just across the hall & it was all well kept, clean & tidy.

    The highlight was breakfast: Porridge, potato scones & sound route advise. All the of which helped enormously that day.
    Thirteenth night: Dunallan
    Woodside Avenue
    Grantown on Spey    		 £25.00 01479872140
    Quick Review:

    I was so glad to arrive I'd have been happy with a barn! But in fact it was a lot better than that. The bathroom was a little small, but didn't really cause a problem.

    I booked this one through the Tourist information system, and I'm impressed, I found it very useful.
    Fourteenth night: Carbisdale castle YH
    Culrain
    Sutherland
    IV24 3DP    		 £14.50 01549421232
    Quick Review:

    Major disappointment. Probably because I'd been looking forward to seeing it for ages & actually turned down the idea of a B&B in favour of staying here.

    It's just like any other YH, cheap, no frills accommodation. I'd expected so much more from something steeped in such history.
    Fifteenth & Sixteenth nights: Sea View Hotel
    John O’Groats
    Wick
    Caithness
    KW1 4YR    		 £30.00 01955611220
    Quick Review:

    Basic stuff. The place would be transformed with a coat of paint (maybe has been by now). Not en-suite, but not expensive either.

    Good food, nice fish specials & all the usual bar menu type dishes. Nothing special, but I wouldn't worry about looking for somewhere else.
    This page last updated on 15/12/2002