The famous Signposts at Lands end and John O groats attractions :
John o' Groats not the most northerly point in the UK Mainland
These famous signposts and the sites themselves at either end are both owned by the same business “Heritage Attractions Limited” or is it “Heritage UK” ? at either end of the country, a name designed to make a private company try to sound like it’s a national government backed agency or something, and in opening hours during the tourist season there is a charge of £10.00 per person to take your photograph next to the infamous signs at either end of the journey, for this you get an an 8 x 10 print posted anywhere in the UK and they put the lettering up on the sign etc, which is ok value, but to be honest, admiteadly its not more than thorpe park would charge for a photo on a log flume or something, but I dont think that either end of the “end to end” should be turned into some kind of themepark ? and since practically every one has a digital camera these days, this service in my opinion is just milking it too far, and after hours and out of season the sign is reduced to a plain post as both directional fingers and the roundel on top are removed to prevent people from getting their evidential photograph standing next to the sign for free, which seems to me demonstrate something of the kind of highland welcome they should not be promoting in their tourist industry ? I should not get too aggressive at John Carter who I believe is still the photographer in question ? as many have said he’s a nice enough guy ? but I cannot vouch for what goes on at John O Groats, no doubt there some local/familial and private investor squabbling that goes on, that can often turn, once lovely locations like this into somekind of hotbed of powermongering and plotting to control some ailing tourist cash register, as is the case with most private ownership in this country.
John o Groats no fingers no roundel
This seems uncivilised, that both these sign locations are privately owned, they should obviously be free as when people come to these uk furthest points, they will spend money in the facilities on site and the nearby area anyway, therefore people should be able to freely take their own photograph next to the signs, or perhaps english heritage should purchase them ? as currently this charge sadly bookends what by foot is a personal and epic pilgrimage of britain, with a really touristic tacky experience at either end, quite unpleasant, and not british in nature.
Dunnet Head
Dunnet Head the real most northerly point on the UK mainland
Dunnet head is in fact the geographically most northern point on the UK mainland, and John O Groats is the grockle cash register they built at a convenient ferry crossing point, they want you to visit to spend your cash, which apart from it being geographically incorrect, wouldn’t be so bad if they hadn’t run to the extent of charging you to stand next to the sign ? which is egregiously money orientated, after all tourists would no doubt spend money there, but to be charged for standing next to a sign is just plain cheap and gouging ! My advice get your journey stamped in the post office > take your photo next to the dunnet head sign, and visit john o groats for a bit to eat and drink, and you if you feel the necessity of the sign itself being in your photo album then pay for that also, as regardless of how crass it seems to pay for a photo with a sign, its no worse than any other horrifically over commercialised places in the UK.
to resume :
toilets are 20p (sadly most of the public lavatories have gone) I blame cottaging and weak councils)
a cup of tea at John O groats ? no idea anyone got any experience on that front ?
take your photo with the sign > £10.00 larger photos cost more. once youve paid you can also take digital photos too.
I have recently completed LE to JOG with a couple of my pals raising money for Cancer Research. Our Final destination, JOG, I was truly delighted on our final stretch with friends and family making the 22 hour round trip to meet us at the finish line. Nothing could have us down as we were all on such a high from finishing our 11 day bike ride. Unfortunately, the guy who was manning the JOG sign…. must….have had the worst day of his life. He couldn’t be bothered changing the sign for us, so instead allowed us to take a picture with the sign if we all put a donation in his charity bucket. (we all gave generously) Fittingly, we had a splash of the bubbly, to which he was very adamant we do not get any on his precious car. (we didn’t) No less than a minute of standing up by the sign, the following pictures are of him taking his sign away from behind us. This was all before 5PM. Humorous as we all thought this was at the time… I think this guy is in the wrong job, or at the very least, should move his car. Rant over!
Thanks! ;)
if you arrive somewhere between 10am till 4pm you have the best chance of getting your photo with the sign dont leave it any later or earlier in season
doubt it just need to make sure you arrive within opening hours in the season in which the signpost operates
Do I need to book a photograph slot . My Team of Five cyclists should arrive on 10/09/12 having cycles from Land’s End Via Southern and Northern Ireland for three charities. If so who do I contact and what will the cost be….
Many thanks Mrs Sue Support Team.
HI gordon I edited your comment so as not make your address and phone number publicly available to anyone on the web as this is not wise, you obviously dont mind the charge at lands end for standing next to a sign ? So I decided to help your request along, So I have sent your request to the appropriate contact for for the lands end attraction who should contact you re the extra photos you desire sometime this week I would have thought.
We purchased 2 Photo’s on 26 July 2011 Which we recieved, we wish to order 2 more but we have mislayed your phone number. The group of 8 of us under the Lands end sign post Reading Stowmarket 426. Taken probably about midday. Please are you able to help. Gordon
Many thanks in advance
Hi Pen, yep im afraid this is modern britain for you, sad and depressing, on a lighter note … John O groats is not the most northerly point, in fact “Dunnet Head” is in a purely geographical sense, and perhaps we should take our end to end photos there ? next to the stone that marks it, in revenge for this mean spirited attitude of the attraction owner ?
sadly the end to end societys have the end point in the wrong geographical location, I suggest people take their photo at dunnet head and get your end to end certificate at john o groats and forget the groats sign. and spend the money saved on at a john o groats cafe / shop or something, for some vittels to reward yourself for the slog in getting there.
OK so it is several months since your rant appeared but I am not sorry for raking over old coals. Yesterday an end to ender walking with his dog to raise money for and the profile of Hounds for Heroes was unable to have a photograph taken at the world famous sign post because – and I quote ‘he’s on holiday’ according to the signpost owners as it was raining, actually it was blowing a gale and sleeting, the photographer wouldn’t have opened up anyway because no-one would be out there. They charge a ridiculous sum for a crappy photo and then don’t do the job.
Rant over – for now