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Wick has its origin as a Viking settlement, its name coming from the Norse Vik meaning bay. It became a Royal Burgh in 1589 but enjoyed its greatest prosperity in the 1800s when it developed as a thriving herring port, becoming the busiest in Europe.
Wick and Pulteneytown, respectively on the north and south banks of the River Wick, together make up what is generally now known as Wick. The former has a busy shopping centre and many of its buildings show their Victorian origins, while the latter was the heart of the fishing industry.
South of the town are the ruins of Old Wick Castle dating from the 1100s. Three miles to the north-east of Wick are the ruins of Sinclair and Girnigoe castles.
The history of Thurso echoes that of Wick. Its name also comes from the Norse, from Thorsa meaning Thor's River and in Viking times it was an important gateway to the mainland. Much of the economy of Thurso today is tied up with the presence of the Dounreay Nuclear Power Development Establishment, located on the coast eight miles west of the town.
Thurso has an interesting old town, to be found near its harbour. Here are the ruins of Old St Peter's Church which dates back to 1220 and the Thurso Heritage Museum which exhibits the intricately carved Pictish Skinnet Stone.
Just to the west of Thurso lies Scrabster, the main ferry port for Orkney, whose outline can be seen rising from the sea to the north. A further vehicle ferry is now operated by Pentland Ferries to Orkney from Gills Bay, near John o' Groats.
John o' Groats is possibly the most visited location in the area: the starting point for many a long distance walker en-route to Lands End. On the well-trodden tourist trail of north-east Scotland, the village offers a range of facilities for its many visitors. A seasonal passenger-only ferry makes the short crossing from here to Orkney. Two miles further east from John o' Groats is the lighthouse and spectacular cliff scenery of Duncansby Head.
Between John o' Groats and Thurso you can find Dunnet Head, a windy, lonely spot: and the most northerly place on mainland Scotland. Just to the west of Dunnet Head is the planned village of Castletown.
South of Wick the main A9 tends to stay close to the east coast, and passes through a series of attractive settlements and villages. These include Latheron, where the roads north to Wick and Thurso diverge, Lybster, Dunbeath with its attractive harbour and spectacular castle, Berriedale with its very steep descent and ascent on the main road, and Helmsdale.
Inland from Helmsdale, the Helmsdale River flows down through Strath Kildonan, the focus of Scotland's very own gold rush in 1869 at Baile an Or, or town of gold.
