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The Old Man of Wick - the ruins of one of the oldest buildings in Caithness
The far north eastern Highlands coastline around Wick
Cormorants on the rocks around WickWick Tourist Information Airport Caithness North East Highlands Scotland
Wick was once the administrative centre for all of Caithness and the busiest herring port in Europe. Those days waned but Wick still remains an important centre for Caithness along with Thurso.
There are a variety of walking routes around the town and Wick Heritage Centre and Old Pulteney Distillery are visitors attractions within the town. North of the town centre is Wick Airport from which you can fly to the Orkney Islands or down to Edingburgh or Aberdeen.
Wick Tourist Information
Wick is another town originating from a Viking settlement called "Vik" meaning bay and was the administrative centre for Caithness for over 500 years. It was originally two towns - Wick and Pultney across the river that was planned by Thomas Telford in 1806 when the British Fisheries Society were encouraging evicted crofters to become fishermen. In the 19th century it was the busiest herring port in Europe. As such the older parts of town have some interesting and somewhat grand 19th century buildings.
In Pultneytown is the Wick Heritage Centre which puts across the fishing heritage of the town through a wide mix of artefacts shown in period rooms, a working replica of Noss Head Lighthouse and a photographic collection dating from the 1880s. There is also a display of Caithness Glass that was produced in the town until 2005. Open Easter to end October Mon-Sat 10am-3.45pm. Wick Heritage Museum, 8-27 Bank Row, Lower Pulteneytown, Wick. Tel/Fax: 01955 605393. Email: museum@wickheritage.org
The Tourist Information Centre is in the Norseman Hotel, Riverside, Wick, Caithness KW1 4NL. Tel: 01955 602596. Wick has a train station and bus station which are conveninently located next to each other south and west of the bridge crossing Wick River in the centre of town.
There are several walks around Wick along Wick River and the coast particularly to Wick Castle, the Old Man of Wick, south of the town. Check the links right for more information and routes.
Wick Airport
Wick Airport is on the north of the town itself. Destinations served by Wick Airport include Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Kirkwall on Orkney. Other destinations can be picked up by connecting through Aberdeen. Both Eastern Airways and British Airways have scheduled services to and from Wick.
There is a cafe in the terminal building selling refreshments and newspapers. There is a free car park at the aiport with a couple of disabled parking spaces.
Old Pulteney Distillery Wick Malt Whisky
Gone are the days when the town supported 45 pubs, a brewery and a distillery, but the distillery has kept going. Pulteney Distillery, named after Sir William Johnstone Pulteney, is located on Huddart Street in Wick and is the most northerly distillery in mainland Britain.
Old Pulteney Distillery makes a range of single malt whiskies from 12 to 21 year matured whisky. The whisky is said to have the nose and faint taste of sea air. The Distillery is open for guided tours of the malt whisky making process - you can call in to book or ring on the number below. There is also a warm, welcoming shop on site where you can purchase a range of items from miniatures to full size bottles.
Pulteney Distillery Visitor Centre, Pulteney Distillery, Huddart Street, Wick, Caithness KW1 5BA. Tel: 01955 602 371. Fax: 01955 602 279.
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