Caithness Wick & East Coast
Caithness is the home of big skies and dramatic seascapes, and the east of the county offers some of the best. The principal town of Wick takes its name from the Old Norse vik, meaning bay, and has a rich maritime tradition.
The lively town developed around the harbour, which was once the busiest herring port in Europe. It remains a hive of activity today, with leisure craft jostling for space on the new marina.
Wick is divided north and south by the expansive Wick River. To the south is the historic Pulteneytown area, designed by Thomas Telford to house the merchants and workers who steered the port to commercial success. North of the River is the original Wick settlement, with fine Georgian buildings lining the flagstone streets of the historic town centre.
Top three reasons to move to Caithness Wick & East Coast:
Legendary community spirit
East Caithness has won national awards for its thriving community groups, who work together on everything from environment, regeneration and family support, to social clubs, sports and events. Wick Gala brings a carnival atmosphere every summer and markets, fairs and live music are a regular occurrence.
Ideal family base
East Caithness provides an exceptional environment for raising a family, with safe surroundings, endless activities and easy access to the outdoors. It also benefits from a brand new community campus in Wick, offering modern education from nursery to secondary level, alongside a popular public swimming pool and library.
Rich cultural heritage
Caithness has been inhabited for thousands of years, its landscape dotted with numerous historic castles, brochs and archaeological treasures. Visit Wick Heritage Centre for a fascinating glimpse into the history of one of Europe’s most prominent fishing ports.
Discover Wick and East Caithness
The Riverside itself is a picturesque spot for walking and fishing, and forms the backdrop to popular community events such as the annual summer Gala, firework displays and Christmas lights parade.
Beyond Wick, east Caithness is punctuated by small harbour villages clinging to the coastline, and bounded by open countryside to the west. Lybster, Dunbeath and Keiss are the largest villages, each enjoying their own distinct history and identity.
Regardless of where you choose to settle in east Caithness, you will find a Highland home with a big heart.
Wick
Wick, one of the two main towns in Caithness, is a warm and welcoming community with a big heart. Steeped in maritime history, the town’s fishing heritage lives on in its historic harbour, traditional buildings, and the fascinating Wick Heritage Museum. This rich past is matched by a strong sense of local identity and a thriving community spirit, with events like Wick Gala Week bringing residents together throughout the year.
The town offers everything needed for daily life, including supermarkets, independent shops, cafés, restaurants, healthcare services, and a local vet. Wick High School, a range of primary schools, and early years centres ensure great educational options for children of all ages.
Outdoor living is part of everyday life in Wick, with beautiful parks, play areas, and the wide golden sands of Reiss Beach close by. There are scenic clifftop walks, coastal paths, and a for those feeling adventurous, there are two outdoor tidal swimming pools, The Northern Baths and The Trinkie, maintained by dedicated local volunteers. Back indoors Wick has a modern leisure centre and swimming pool, with gym – along with a variety of sports clubs for all ages.
East Coast Villages
Tucked along Caithness’s dramatic east coast, these harbour inlet villages offer a lovely mix of natural beauty, local heritage, and a strong sense of community. Each has its own personality, but they all share a slower pace of life and a close connection to the land and sea. You’ll find them dotted along a particularly scenic stretch of the John O’Groats Trail, a 147-mile coastal route from Inverness to John O’Groats, weaving its way along shorelines, cliff tops, quiet back roads and winding footpaths through the Highlands.
Dunbeath
Dunbeath is a peaceful, picturesque village with strong cultural roots. It’s best known as the birthplace of Scottish author Neil M. Gunn, whose writing was shaped by the surrounding landscapes. There are lovely coastal walks and good fishing spots nearby, plus the beautiful Dunbeath Strath, a wooded river valley that’s full of wildlife and local history. The village has a handy local shop, primary school, heritage museum, nearby cafés, and active community groups that bring people together for events and projects.
East Coast Villages
Lybster
Lybster is a welcoming village with a proud maritime past. Once a busy herring port, it’s still shaped by its connection to the sea. The harbour is full of charm, and there’s a local museum – famed for its fresh crab rolls, café, hotel, and a community centre. Lybster is well-equipped for family life, with a primary school, early years provision, medical practice, post office, and a small selection of shops.
Berridale
Berridale is a postcard-perfect spot, tucked between steep hills of the Berridale Breas and the shingle shoreline. It’s surrounded by a mix of moorland, croft land, strath, and sea—ideal if you’re after peace, quiet, and inspiration. The village has a creative spirit, a delicious tea-room and breathtaking scenery that make it a special place to slow down and enjoy nature at its best.
John O'Groats
John O’Groats might be best known for its iconic sign and as the end point of the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats journey, but for the people who call this area home, it’s so much more than a bucket-list photo-op. This coastal village has a strong sense of identity and a welcoming community that makes it a genuinely lovely place to live.
The village itself has a small but growing number of local businesses, including independent shops, a post office, a brewery, a distillery, cafés, and places to eat and stay. There’s a buzzing atmosphere during the summer months with visitors heading out to explore the nearby cliffs and wildlife, including puffins, seabirds, seals, and passing orca.
John O’Groats has a primary school nearby, access to early years provision, and strong links to Wick for secondary education and healthcare. Broadband and mobile coverage have improved in recent years, making home working and business connectivity more viable than ever. The area has very active community projects, local groups and events, including the John O’Groats Book Festival, Orca Week and Mey Highland Games, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in community life and meet others.
Wick: Around 6,000 in Wick and 2,000 in surrounding area
Fishing, farming and energy have long provided employment to east Caithness, and the rapid growth of onshore and offshore renewables is providing new economic opportunities. There are a number of successful local engineering and haulage firms clustered around the harbour.
Tourism is also a major growth sector fuelled by the NC500, and the region offers a number of high-quality hotels, restaurants, bars, distilleries and visitor attractions.
There is particular demand for teachers, social workers, medical professionals and carers across Highland Council and NHS Highland, two of the area’s biggest employers.
East Caithness is also a strong base from which to start a business, offering a range of support services and affordable rates and premises.
Each village in east Caithness offers a local primary school with small class numbers and a safe, close-knit community. Secondary level schooling is provided in the new Wick High School, set within an attractive community campus featuring a public library and swimming pool. Further and higher education is provided just 20 miles away, at UHI North, West and Hebrides.
East Caithness offers a range of new build and historic housing, including many fine Listed buildings within the Wick conservation area. House prices are more affordable than the rest of the UK, making this an ideal opportunity to find a ‘forever’ family home in a safe area with easy access to the great outdoors.
East Caithness is linked to the south by the A9 and A99, with the A836 connecting to the north of the county. Regular train services run on the Far North Line railway, and there are also ferry routes to Orkney. Unusually, Wick has its own airport within a 20 minute walk of the town centre. The airport offers a regular passenger service to Aberdeen, with affordable ticket prices supported by subsidy. These flights enable daily return travel to the central belt.
There are several GP practices within east Caithness, and two hospitals in Wick providing maternity and gynaecology, outpatients, surgery, chemotherapy and dialysis and palliative care. Physiotherapy services are also provided in Wick and there are healing centres including an MS Therapy Centre and Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber. Specialist healthcare services are provided in Inverness and by teleconference appointments where appropriate. There are several private and NHS nursing homes as well as care at home provision. Wick has two opticians and two dental clinics providing private and NHS care.
East Caithness is steeped in maritime history and a rich fishing heritage.
John O’Groats, image by John Baikie
Embrace the warm community spirit of the North Nighlands
