In 1999 when Tina Irving and Brian Sparks bought the Dunnet Head Tearooms and Bed and Breakfast, they immediately saw the potential for developing the walking market. Tina used her IT skills to develop the first Ordnance Survey Maps for the area. This map was much later, but by using .gpx files she uploaded them to Ordnance Survey and created the first maps. Then she worked with Walking World to develop routes walkers to subscribe to. Maps to the North Highland Way were developed and are for sale to bring an income to the North Highland Way project which has never received any public cash. Some funds have been raised using Just Giving, and there has been sponsorship from generous businesses, such as Northlink. Time has been spent with the community champion at Tesco in Wick to see how they can help, and they do, as they provide inspiration for new ways at looking at things. The community is at the heart of the project and always has been. A specification for the North Highland Way was drawn up in 2014 which aligns with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and its update in 2016. A book was written about the walking market which looks at the how the walking product in Caithness and Sutherland developed from nothing to a buzzing atmosphere of walkers enjoying the great outdoors. There were no maps or signage just people wanting to walk, and not knowing where to. From no maps to technology, this book guides you through the history and towards the ambition to reach NetZero.
The route is now a World Trail and on 7 June 2025 our first World Trail Ambassador will lead a walk at Forsinard. On 8 June 2025 long time sponsor Natalie Oag of Horsin Around will lead a small group of walkers and her horse from John o Groats to the Old Mill to raise money for the Seaview Care Home. OutdoorActive sponsors the North Highland Way and can be used in a wider context. Komoot also sponsors the Way and provides vouchers. We have come a long way, and, with no public funds. As the Core Path Networks, which are monitored by The Highland Council, are not being updated at the moment, we remain in contact with the landowners to identify any problem areas, especially around Dounreay. We focus on the important https://greentourismonline.uk/travel-agent/ and look at the environmental protection there while starting to develop a network of Friendship Trails with the North Highland Way in the centre.
Help us protect the environment.