Nearby Duncansby stacks
It will form the centre piece of ‘Transform’, a weekend of community celebration at the start of July at John O’Groats featuring street art, video projections, ceramic firings, story-telling, and music. The hotel, which has been a derelict and rotting backdrop to many visitor’s photos, will be madeover by street artists using spray paint to create massive pictures as well as a huge 3D Rubiks cube.
Last year John O’Groats got the dubious accolade of being awarded the annual Carbuncle award, by the architecture magazine Urban Realm for the most dismal and depressing townscape in Scotland.
Building work on a £6million investment in the hotel and surroundings is planned to start later this year. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has now invested £50,000, which has been matched with £58,500 of European LEADER funding, to deliver a range of projects to ensure that creative involvement is an integral part of the future design. Local and national companies are also investing heavily in the long term redevelopment of a number of key businesses at John O’Groats.
Carol Gunn, head of transformational projects with HIE, said: “We have appointed a group of artists to kick-off the redevelopment through a range of exciting new projects, many involving the community as contributors. This community work has already started and the artists’ projects will culminate in this weekend of arts activity for all the family with temporary works, events and an arts ceilidh.”
With building work starting in the Autumn of 2011, the various projects will address long term design elements and the ‘Transform’ artists are creating temporary works that reflect and celebrate the changes about to take place.
Carol commented: “The transformation of John O’Groats is so important socially and economically to the local area. We are delighted that by kicking off our arts project now we can raise awareness both locally and nationally about the changes which are taking place here – and can invite people to be part of the process as it unfolds. We will be working with local schools and groups and we hope visitors at John O’Groats will enjoy seeing the Transform arts projects come together.”
Local influence is an important part of the projects according to Arts Programme Manager Sue Pirnie. She said: “Local people will recognise the significance of the ‘Groatie Buckies’ project. This is named after the small cowrie shells from the local beach which, if kept in your purse, will ensure that you will never be poor. Artists will work with the community to celebrate the wealth of the area as a place to live – its natural and cultural heritage.”
From the autumn, the derelict John O’Groats hotel will be redeveloped and turfed roof lodges built nearby in the first phase of improvements. Renovation work at the Last House Museum and the Journey’s End Cafe are also included in the initial stage of planned work. Three other phases of upgrades and redevelopment will follow, with the overall project running to a £6 million investment.
The project will run by the tourism company Heritage GB, with the hotel and outlying chalets being converted into self-catering residences by the firm Natural Retreats, which specialises in self-catering centres in English national parks. The owners of the nearby Seaview hotel and Caberfeidh restaurant have raised £580,000 to upgrade their facilities.
The number of ‘end to end’ challenges either arriving or leaving at John O’Groats are increasing every year, the popularity of the Queen Mother’s former home the Castle of Mey, and the nearby ferries to Orkney as well as the recognition of the John O’Groats name means it remains a very popular stopping point for visitors. Many visitors however leave without seeing some of the amazing natural scenery nearby, details of a stunning walk from John O’Groats to the true most north-westerly point at Duncansby Head and on to the spectacular nearby sea stacks can be found on Walkhighlands and local walking books.