Feckoffthelottayouse!
A9 From Golspie up to John O'Groats is a pretty damn decent road.
JOG itself is a very small place, just a few houses, couple of caffs and tourist shops. It's worth going, just to say you've been there and grab a coffee.
If you're expecting MickeyDuckLand and performing Killer Whales...go to Florida....our Killer Whales don't do stunts for the grockles.
JOG has
never claimed to be the most Northerly point.
That's an ill-informed myth bandied about by people who know no different. Something anyone who lives in JOG will be quick to point out to you if you ask.
That honour goes to Dunnet Head a few miles West. JOG has always been the traditional finishing point from Lands End - this dates back to at least the 1930's. Simply because there was a convenient settlement and ferry point already there.
Get there on a good day and the views across the Pentland Firth are stunning, it's a pity most people don't have the time to explore the backroads in Caithness. It's certainly a good part of the world to own a GS.
On the 'popularity' front...there's a bike rally takes place every year in Groats. They don't have to advertise as it is always fully booked in advance by bikers who come back year after year...draw your own conclusions from that....
Sleepy, if you do make it up here, give me a shout beforehand and I'll try to show you around if you want.