The 2026 John O’Groats Festival will kick off with a talk by Jennifer Morag Henderson on her latest work Jofrid Gunn. The event, supported by Book Trust Scotland, will take place at Waterlines on April 11.
Waterlines to host opening event in 2026 John O’Groats Festival
Jennifer Morag Henderson will give an insight into her latest work Jofrid Gunn. The 2026 John O’Groats Festival will get under way with a talk in Lybster next month by Highland writer Jennifer Morag Henderson.
Jennifer, author of the highly praised Daughters of the North: Jean Gordon and Mary, Queen of Scots, will give an insight into her latest work Jofrid Gunn. It tells the story of a woman who came from the Faroe Islands in the 16th century to marry into the Clan Gunn. The book is described as “a biography in poetry”, inspired by the glimpses of lives found in archives.
Jennifer’s talk will take place on Saturday, April 11, at Waterlines, starting at 1.30pm. The event is free as it is being supported by Book Trust Scotland. Donations may be made to Waterlines.
Other Events at the Festival
- On Friday, April 17, in partnership with John O’Groats Mill, there will be a talk on Caithness and Patagonia: The Connections. Following a recent visit to Patagonia by a group from the county, Ian Leith will look at the many links between the Caithness/Patagonian families. It will begin at 7pm in John O’Groats Mill. The event is free but bookings can be made by calling 07715 493696.
- James Miller’s book Keeping the Light On: A Highland View of Brexit and the EU will be the subject of a talk in John O’Groats Mill. Caithness-born James Miller’s latest book Keeping the Light On: A Highland View of Brexit and the EU will be the subject of a talk in John O’Groats Mill on Friday, May 22, at 7pm. James will take the audience on a journey through the events that led up to the 2016 referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union. James, a regular traveller across Europe, looks at how it impacted the Highlands. The talk is free but donations to the mill are welcome.
- Lighthouses are the subject of the June event. Sarah Kerr, author of The British Lighthouse Trail: A Regional Guide, will talk about how she managed to visit all the lighthouses across the British Isles. Some lighthouses are unique in shape and design and they are often difficult to reach. The event will be held in John O’Groats Mill on Friday, June 12, starting at 7pm. Earlier the same day, Sarah along with lightkeeper Jeri Cormack will visit Canisbay Primary School.
Published on 31 March 2026 by UKFG
