Olrig is a coastal parish, which lies in Highland Council Area, some 5 miles (8 km) east of Thurso and 14 miles (23 km) northwest of Wick in Highland.
It is located in the old county of Caithness, which disappeared following the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1974.
The parish has an area of 40.5 sq. km (15.6 sq. miles). Olrig has Bower, Dunnet and Thurso as its neighbouring parishes.