Wick, Highland
Wick_-_Highland_dot.png
Wick (around grid reference ND368506) is a coastal town in Caithness, Highland Scotland, on the main highway (the A99-A9 road) linking John O Groats with southern Britain. The town is a royal burgh and the traditional county town of Caithness.
The town straddles Wick River and extends along both sides of Wick Bay. Wick Harbour is established on the south side of the river esturary. A railway links Wick with southern Britain and with Thurso, the only other burgh in Caithness, and Wick Airport is on the town's northern outskirts.
The main offices of The John O Groat Journal and The Caithness Courier are located in Wick, as are Caithness General Hospital, Wick Library and area offices of Highland Council. Wick Sheriff Court hears cases arising in Caithness and Sutherland.
South of the river much of the town was developed by the British Fisheries Association during the 19th century herring boom, and this area is known as Pulteneytown. The Old Pulteney whisky distillery is in this area. So was the first Caithness Glass factory. (Caithness Glass has now left both the town and Caithness).
During the herring boom Wick became a major European herring port and kippering centre, and history of this era is preserved in the collections of Wick Heritage Museum.
WickCaithness.jpg
Wick's history stretches back, at least, to the era of Norse Orcadian rule in Caithness, which ended, conclusively, in 1266. The name Wick appears to be from a Norse word meaning bay. The Castle of Old Wick is on the coast of Caithness about one kilometre south of the town.
Wick Academy play in the Highland Football League.
Districts of Wick include Louisburgh and Pulteneytown. The population is about 9000 people. Wick Airport is situated on the north of the town it has three runways and offers flights across the country.