Where’s nice to stay to break journey between Preston and Orkney?

[ErrolTheDragon]

We’re planning a trip to Orkney late spring, using the shorter ferry route. Now working out where else to stay on the way there and back - I’ve recently retired so we’ve the luxury of time. I guess we should plan on staying in or near John O’Groats on the way up.
The route looks obvious (unless someone knows otherwise - up the m6, keep going till near Glasgow, then across the belt to the m9 and a lot of A9.
We’ve not really explored the A9 side of Scotland much at all. So, recommendations would be welcome. Thanks!

Pitlochry is a pretty town. It’s close to Queen’s View, Black Spout wood (impressive waterfall and stunning in autumn) and Blair Castle. It has a distillery which does tours and there’s normally something good on at the theatre.

That might work well for the way up.

Sorry, interrupted before I’d said thanks! I’d vaguely had Pitlochry in mind, my parents went several summers in a row for the theatre.

Agree that Pitlochry's super. (And enjoy Orkney. If they're still doing guided tours up to the cathedral roof, I'd recommend that.)

What about Dornoch? Lovely architecture, history, lots to see and do.

Thanks!- I’d never heard of the place, really don’t know the top right corner of Scotland at all and it’s hard to tell from a map whether a place is a gem or best avoided.

Also, if you want a coffee break on the journey, consider Helmsdale. They have a terrific museum with a nice coffee shop, adorable garden, view of the historic Telford Bridge and easy parking. https://timespan.org.uk/

Helmsdale's generally nice too - riverside walks, sweet harbour, etc.

Golspie is lovely and has a really interesting castle. About an hour South of John o'Groats

The Kelpies near Falkirk are worth seeing, you can get food there etc so a nice place to stop for a couple of hours for a driving break.
Stirling is also nice
Aviemore and surrounding area
Visit Loch Ness/Urquhart castle if you fancy

Thanks for more great suggestions. We visited Stirling a few years ago, and Loch Ness /Urquart castle last year (We hired a boat and did the whole length of the Great Glen from sea lock to sea lock with DD and her BF - pretty much perfect weather all week so it was a great trip!)

If you go to Golspie (on the A9 - about 15 mins north of Dornoch), Dunrobin Castle is well worth a visit. And crossing Loch Fleet you can see lots of seabirds and seals if you turn off the A9 and drive just a few minutes along the south shore of the loch. Have a great trip.

Looks like we would do well to plan on a few days in that area near Dornoch.

I did this trip last year, from Preston I would say Perth is a reasonable place stop. Cheap fuel at Tesco in Cumbernauld. The A9 is a nightmare, 50 mph with average speed cameras all the way to Inverness, loads of drivers who seem to have never read the highway code or taken a test, quite frightening in places, I stayed in Thurso, not that is has much to offer, ferry Gills Bay to St Margarets Hope. On the return I stayed at Inverness, which was as far as i wanted to drive in a day, then Berwick the following day. Brilliant trip, hotels and eating out was expensive. Highlights the Italian Chapel (check when it's open) and the Ring of Brodgar. The neolithic village at Skara Brae (or Scarey Bear according to my phone), is probably not worth a trip to Orkney specifically, but if you're their it's ok. The Scapa Floe museum is well worth a visit, leave your car at the ferry terminal and go as a foot passenger, very short walk at the other end

@Somersetbaker said "Highlights the Italian Chapel (check when it's open) and the Ring of Brodgar. The neolithic village at Skara Brae (or Scarey Bear according to my phone), is probably not worth a trip to Orkney specifically, but if you're their it's ok."

Yes to the Italian Chapel and the Ring of Brodgar! But IMO Scarey Bear is better than both of them. Plus we saw a seal on the nearby rocks! 😀

PS OP, if you get seasick, be warned the ferry crossing can be bouncy. Get good meds.

Wick's a nice proper town, comes as a surprise up there. We just stayed right by the ferry as it left very early in the morning, a rather interesting hotel, but they did give us some bacon sandwiches in lieu of being too early for breakfast!

If time is no problem spend a couple of days in Orkney and then go on to Shetland for a few days, love Shetland.