Connected by air, land & sea
Unusually for a rural region, the North Highlands benefits from a strong and resilient transport network that supports both economic development and sustainable growth. Air links provide regular connections to Scotland’s central belt, ferry services connect the region to neighbouring island communities, rail infrastructure supports essential freight and cargo movements, and the trunk road south provides a vital arterial link to the rest of the UK. Together, these connections help businesses operate efficiently, strengthen supply chains and ensure the North Highlands remains open, accessible and competitive.
Key figures
A region ready to grow
Annual investment in PSO flights to Aberdeen
Wick John O’Groats Airport offers flights six days a week to Aberdeen, thanks to a Public Service Obligation (PSO) deal funded by Transport Scotland and Highland Council.
Investment in Scrabster Harbour
Scrabster Harbour, Britain’s most northern mainland port, has benefited from £38m investment as the gateway to the north. Neighbouring Wick Harbour is the maintenance base for Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm, kickstarting an ambitious expansion plan.
Investment-ready sites and property
Alongside strong connectivity, the North Highlands offers affordable, well-located commercial property and development land at a scale rarely available elsewhere in the UK. On the east coast, Highlands and Islands Enterprise has invested £4 million in Wick Business Park, delivering high-quality new units suitable for retail, storage and industrial use. Additional development opportunities exist around Wick John O’Groats Airport and Wick Harbour, as well as a range of affordable town centre sites.
On the west coast, Forss Energy Park provides serviced accommodation for energy and industrial uses, with further land available near Scrabster Harbour. NRS Dounreay also offers 148 hectares of land, benefiting from clean power options and subsea connectivity via FARICE.
In Sutherland, Orbex holds a long-term lease at Sutherland Spaceport, with wider opportunities emerging in manufacturing, launch services and data as part of a developing space cluster.
Together, these sites position the North Highlands as a compelling location at the heart of the UK’s green economy – offering space to grow, competitive land values and strong strategic connections.
Ports
Scrabster Harbour
Scrabster is a deep-water trust port on Scotland’s north coast with a long history of supporting diverse maritime industries – from fishing and ferry services to freight and energy logistics. Its sheltered, deep berths and strategic location close to North Sea energy assets provide an efficient base for vessels serving oil, gas and burgeoning offshore wind markets.
In recent years, significant infrastructure investment – including an £18.9 million redevelopment of St Ola Pier – has expanded capacity to accommodate larger vessels and new opportunities in energy and cruise markets.
Scrabster continues to position itself as an operations and maintenance base for offshore wind, complementing its established role in traditional maritime sectors and strengthening its appeal as a multi-purpose gateway for the North Highlands’ energy economy.
Wick Harbour
Wick Harbour is a strategically located trust port on the northeast coast with a proven track record in supporting energy and marine industries. It has served as the long-term operations and maintenance base for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd (BOWL) since 2017, with BOWL’s investment in harbour facilities acting as a catalyst for wider regeneration and renewed confidence in Wick as an energy hub.
Alongside its offshore renewables role, the harbour supports fishing, cargo and oil and gas activity, and has recently expanded its offer with a modern leisure craft marina. Looking ahead, Wick Harbour has ambitious long-term plans to further develop the river harbour, creating new capacity for marine services, logistics and future energy opportunities.
Together, established operations, recent investment and a clear development vision position Wick Harbour as a flexible, growth-ready asset for investors.
latest projects
Browse our blog for news on the latest infrastructure developments.
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