OceanFinds
Scotland Community guide

John o' Groats Beach

John o' Groats, Caithness · KW1 4YR

Shore by the harbour at John o' Groats, named in the official North Coast 500 sea glass article as a place for interesting finds.

Directions Tide times
Flat rocky shore and shingle at John o' Groats looking out to the Pentland Firth
Photo: “Beach at John O'Groats” by Darren Haddock, CC BY-SA 2.0

About John o' Groats Beach

The shore around the harbour at John o' Groats, at the north-east tip of mainland Scotland, looks out over the Pentland Firth to Stroma and Orkney. The official North Coast 500 article on sea glass names it, with Ullapool and Golspie, as a place where the writer found some of her more interesting pieces.

Sea glass at John o' Groats Beach

The article doesn't list colours for this beach. It says the best time to look is after stormy weather and a high tide.

Visiting John o' Groats Beach

Safety
Check the tide times before you go and head out on a falling tide, so you're never cut off. Keep away from the bottom of cliffs, wear sturdy shoes on rocks, and only take sea glass and other man-made rubbish: pebbles, sand and shells should stay on the beach.
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      Sources

      • northcoast500.com : NC500 sea glass article names John O'Groats beach (with Ullapool and Golspie) as where the writer found some of her more interesting pieces

      Last updated 23 October 2026

      Nearby

      More sea glass beaches near John o' Groats

      All beaches in Scotland
      Scotland © don cload · CC BY-SA 2.0

      Golspie Beach

      Golspie, Sutherland · 57 miles away

      Long sand-and-shingle beach on the NC500 where collectors find plentiful, very small sea glass ideal for jewellery.

      Scotland © John Lucas · CC BY-SA 2.0

      Keoldale Pier Beach

      Keoldale, Durness, Sutherland · 62 miles away

      Rocky shore by the old Keoldale pier on the Kyle of Durness, known to collectors for lots of glass including black and soft blue.

      Scotland © Colin Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0

      Lossiemouth West Beach

      Lossiemouth, Moray · 64 miles away

      Moray fishing-town beach where visitors report frosted white, pale turquoise and green sea glass, best after a high tide.

      Scotland © Ian Taylor · CC BY-SA 2.0

      Hopeman West Beach

      Hopeman, Moray · 66 miles away

      Sand and rock beach west of Hopeman harbour on the Moray coast; small pieces of sea glass collect behind the big rocks towards Burghead.