Serviced Apartments in Wick

Discover the best activities and attractions Wick has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Wick Heritage Museum
Wick Heritage Museum preserves and interprets the town’s fishing, herring‑boom and social history, with displays on Pulteneytown, herring trade, and local life. As a community hub it helps sustain local identity, supports school learning and volunteer engagement, and draws heritage tourists who then spend at cafes, shops and B&Bs — helping the small local economy and independent businesses.

Old Pulteney Distillery (Old Pulteney Visitor Centre)
The Old Pulteney distillery, home of the famed “Maritime Malt,” offers tours, tastings and a visitor shop/café that showcase a product closely tied to Wick’s seafaring heritage. The distillery is a high‑profile draw for whisky tourists, creating jobs in production, hospitality and retail, and increasing overnight stays and spend in the town — a significant boost to the local hospitality sector and to supplier businesses across Caithness.

Wick Harbour and Pulteneytown waterfront
Wick’s working harbour and waterfront area combine an active fish market, seafood restaurants and independent shops in historic Pulteneytown. The harbour keeps fishing and seafood processing economically viable, supplies local eateries with fresh product, and attracts visitors who come for harbor walks, boat trips and dining. The waterfront’s mix of commerce and tourism supports fishermen, restaurateurs and retailers, and preserves an authentic coastal working environment that’s central to Wick’s character.

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe (near Wick)
The dramatic cliff‑edge ruins of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, a short drive from Wick, are among Scotland’s most striking ruined castles. As a cultural and photographic magnet, the site draws history enthusiasts and day‑visitors, boosting local accommodation and tour businesses. Conservation and visitor activities also engage volunteers and heritage organisations, helping protect Caithness’s historic landscape while funneling tourism revenue into the wider community.

Coastal walks, wildlife watching and the North Coast 500 stopover
Wick’s sweeping coastal walks, cliffs and sea‑watching points (including routes toward Noss Head) are popular with walkers, birdwatchers and wildlife tour operators. As a frequently used stop on the North Coast 500 route, Wick benefits from increased visitor numbers, longer stays and spending on food, fuel, guided trips and local crafts. These outdoor attractions promote active tourism, encourage conservation awareness, and sustain businesses from outdoor outfitters and guides to cafés and B&Bs.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Wick, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail — Far North Line (ScotRail) - Wick is served by Wick railway station on the Far North Line, with direct services to Inverness (and connections south), and a branch connection toward Thurso; services are regional/long-distance in character and typically run a few times daily, providing an important link for passengers and freight to the Highland rail network.
- Bus — Stagecoach Highlands and local bus services - Local and regional bus services connect Wick with nearby towns (Thurso, John O'Groats, Lybster) and longer-distance routes to Inverness and other Highland centres; frequency is higher for local links and lower for longer rural journeys.
- Air — Wick John O' Groats Airport (HIAL) - A small regional airport serving general aviation, charter and occasional scheduled flights (operator activity varies); it provides the fastest link to other Scottish centres when services operate.
- Taxi and private hire - Local taxi firms operate from Wick for on-demand travel within the town and to surrounding areas; taxis are commonly used for last-mile connections from rail/bus.
- Community transport and demand-responsive services - Volunteer driver schemes, community buses and local dial-a-ride services provide supplementary transport for rural residents, medical appointments and shoppers where scheduled public services are limited.

Major Highways
- A99 - Main trunk road running from Latheron (junction with the A9) north through Wick to John O'Groats and coastal Caithness destinations.
- A9 - Principal north–south trunk road for the Highlands; accessible from the A99/A882 junctions and provides the main route south toward Inverness and the Central Belt.
- A836 - Northern coastal and cross-highlands route providing links west from the northern Caithness/Thurso area toward Durness and west Sutherland, important for longer local journeys.
- A882 - Short connector road linking Wick town centre with the A99/A9 corridor and local settlements, useful for accessing the wider trunk road network.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle routes and facilities - Wick has a mix of signed on-road cycle routes, sections of the National Cycle Network (coastal/long-distance routes in the area), bike parking at key locations (station/town centre) and local shared-use paths/quiet-road options; dedicated segregated cycle lanes are limited, but active-travel improvements and coastal trail links support recreational and commuter cycling.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Rail infrastructure and service enhancements - Ongoing and planned works by Network Rail and ScotRail for track renewals, signalling improvements and rolling-stock refreshes on the Far North Line aim to improve reliability and journey times, plus periodic timetable adjustments to better serve communities.
- Road maintenance and safety schemes on trunk routes - Transport Scotland and Highland Council undertake regular resurfacing, safety upgrades and minor realignment/visibility works on the A99/A9 corridors and local roads to improve safety and resilience in winter conditions.
- Airport and harbour works - Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) and local authorities periodically invest in airfield resurfacing, navigational/terminal upgrades and port/harbour improvements in Caithness to support connectivity and local economic activity.
- Active travel and town-centre projects - Highland Council and community partners have been implementing active-travel schemes (footway/cycle path upgrades, improved crossings and signage) and coastal trail improvements to boost walking and cycling options within and around Wick.
- Bus service reviews and community transport funding - Ongoing post-pandemic service reviews and targeted funding support for rural/community transport aim to stabilise and restore bus frequencies, demand-responsive services and concessionary travel arrangements for local residents.