Category: Infrastructure

Welcome back, and welcome to another year – 2025.

This blog entry hopes to bring you updates regarding a few points of interest which have taken place around Whaligoe Steps since my last blog on June 2nd, 2024 – Misty Magic of Success and Sorrow – Whaligoe Eye

*** BE AWARE*** that the residential car park is not designed as yet, for the volume of traffic which visit this local landmark. When the sun is shining or roughly from Saturday through to Tuesday (late April through to September), it can periodically get VERY busy!

The photos above show that on Saturday, May 17th, 2025, the evident volume of visitors to Whaligoe Steps. Not only were they parking in the residential car park, but also overflowing down an access lane and on grass verges due to lack of infrastructure. Please be aware of the time you visit and the various frustrations which may be encountered.

The reason I took the plunge with this humble blogging website, was to raise awareness for visitors and the Highland Council regarding how precarious and even dangerous things were getting due to the lack of unsuitable immediate infrastructure.

Above, are two photographs showing remains of a local resident’s outer wall which is located directly beside the residential car park area. The first impact by a campervan (Photo on the right) took the entire outer wall down (September 6th, 2020), while the second occasion (photo on your left) took place when a small van knocked down a partial section (July 11th, 2023)…

On September 16th, 2024, a silver car driven by a visitor to Whaligoe Steps collided with a metal gate which is right beside a local home wall…

This is the THIRD incident of property damage to be experienced due to an inadequate infrastructure here. Please be aware, and please be careful.

The latest I heard from Janet McEwan (dated October 9th, 2024) (Councillor Jan McEwan | 03 Wick and East Caithness Ward | Scottish Liberal Democrats Party | The Highland Council), is that “…there is ongoing considerations regarding extending the car park and re-routing the entrance road” plus adding, “This is still at early stages…”

Since August, 2022, the Highland Council have been sitting on £90,000 of tourist related funding from the government. They stated it would take up to five years in which to determine how best to spend it and to resolve this issue.

Now for something completely different…

When you visit the Whaligoe Steps for a moment of exercise, just a few yards further along the A99 heading toward Wick, Caithness, you’ll see to your right a field with alpacas quite possibly.

Home – Ulbster Alpaca Trekking

Last year, I had the opportunity and the pleasure to visit this wonderful local alpaca farm. A wonderful experience for my family and I. We were treated to a friendly insight and a depth of knowledge regarding all of the animals in this very hospitable site. Highly recommended.

If you do make an appointment and choose to take the family to Ulbster Alpaca Trekking, then share some creativity before you leave. (There were so many delightful hearts displayed on a wall beside where we were able to buy some souvenirs).

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Below, a photograph of a pile of wood…

Why share a photograph showcasing a pile of curious wood?

Well, let me tell you. The folk at John O’ Groats Trail have been busy since my last blog post. For those who wish to know more about this trail and all the benefits of such a journey along the coastline in the outdoors, their website can be found here: The John o’ Groats Trail – Coastal Walking Route from Inverness to John o’ Groats

Meet Andy, or as I called him, Handy Andy! The above photo was captured on June 17th, 2024.

Andy worked over many visits designing and building a wooden walkway through a gully, located at the top of Whaligoe Steps. Below are some photographs I took, beginning on April 12th, 2024…

Really impressive skills were incorporated along with experience by Andy in this welcome aid for visitors, who may now venture along the top of where Whaligoe Steps is situated and follow a trail which leads to spectacular views. (Not just coastline scenery, but also the streamlined waterfall which is hidden behind some coastal rocky cliff face).

This waterfall was given some attention by Sir Billy Connolly during his visit for the BBC during the 90s. He said something along the lines of “It’s the only waterfall I’ve seen which goes up the way!”

The above image shows the waterfall before the new walkway was completed. My photo was taken on April 20th, 2024.

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Another reminder of health and safety related aspects concerning this landmark.

Let me share the above clip with you.

On September 26th, 2024, a security camera picked up this wee bit of footage as emergency vehicles were leaving in the aftermath of an accident down the Whaligoe Steps.

There were a couple of local news orientated web sources which covered this incident. Here’s a link to one of those sites, the Press and Journal: Person rescued after 30-feet cliff fall at beauty spot near Wick

Thank you to those who reached out around this time, wondering if the man who had fallen whilst trying to climb at the Whaligoe Steps was me. My activity is generally of the trekking variety when it comes to this local region, so I can reassure folk it wasn’t me.

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Before I sign off, I took the photo below on February 13th, 2025… In the sunshine, a little feathered flair from Whaligoe Steps.

Thanks as always for reading this and checking out photos, etc… Thank you also for your interest and invaluable time. It all means a lot and I appreciate you.

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At long last, I’ve found a window of spare time to present the final bit of my 365 day trek challenge which saw me tackle a trip down and around Whaligoe Steps for the duration of a year! Each and every day since May 1st, 2023, I ventured around this local hotspot and captured my sightings with my trusty camera.

There’s also some sad tidings within this blog entry as I address a car accident which took place on June 1st, 2024.

To recap quickly, here are some links regarding my trek challenge if you’re in the mood for contemporary fauna and flora of the coastline along the northern Scottish Highlands…

Recap for Whaligoe Steps 365… (Parts 1 to 14) – Whaligoe Eye

Recap Magic for a Second Time! – Whaligoe Eye

April Full of Primrose Promise and So Much More! – Whaligoe Eye

Sunshine Blossoms with Petals of Beautiful Cloud – Whaligoe Eye

From April 29th, 2024 up to and including May 1st, 2024… Thank you for your support and kindness on social media during this whole exercise, it’s meant a lot. To my knowledge, I’m the only person to have ever taken on such an experience. It was such a joy to complete, and to share the sightings with you too.

April 29th, 2024: Cute baby rabbit enjoys some early morning sunshine, plus the winding nature of the fifth flight of Whaligoe Steps.

April 30th, 2024: The sixth and final flight of Whaligoe Steps takes you down onto the Bink (grassy platform), and a radiant glare from an optimistic morning sun.

May 1st, 2024: Slight haze in the air during this trek. Below are a couple of fine examples of the birdlife which is settling in at Whaligoe Steps. Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) on the left, and a razorbill (Alca torda) on the right.

Due to the larger numbers of visitors to this area since the North Coast 500 enterprise, an overflowing residential car park being utilised for campervans, motorbikes and cars, plus the fact there’s only one access lane have seen congestion, property damage and other accidents.

On August 20th, 2021, shortly after I began to sort this blogging website for public consumption, a car accident took place at the end of this lane near the phone box. Traffic leaving and entering via this route have to negotiate a few challenges when times are very busy.

On June 30th, 2019, the amazing local coastguard were called in as a visitor had issues down Whaligoe Steps.

On July 12th, 2022, another car incident unfolded within the confines of the residential car park here in Ulbster.

Sadly, as we await the Highland Council’s implementation for their Government-approved £90,000 for extending and improving the immediate infrastructure, another car accident occurred on June 1st, 2024.

Personally, I’ve not witnessed so many police vehicles in attendance, and can only hope that those involved are finding some sort of positivity in the aftermath.

On March 4th, 2021, the Highland Council announced they’d received a substantial tourism investment from the Government, and were reviewing their spending plans.

August 25th, 2022, the local newspaper tipped me off about their announcement to spend £90,000 on the car parking facilities here. The idea was that the Council had five years in which to tackle this project.

Fingers remained firmly crossed folks.

Regarding the tourist-themed conversation here in Caithness, a fabulous author called Gail Anthea Brown has impressed on many occasions with her intelligent and sensitive narrative on all things North Coast 500, and the general impact on this beautiful location. More About Me & Contact · Gail Anthea Brown

I highly recommend subscribing to her email newsletters. The latest example of this articulate expression arrived in my inbox on May 31st, titled “The Golden Goose – tourism and tension in the north”

So success found in tackling three hundred and sixty five consecutive days of treks down and around Whaligoe Steps, but also the shadow of sorrow for those who have experienced accidents in recent years.

Traffic has been steady and at times overwhelming here in recent weeks, so please be careful and aware of the hazards.

It is a modest residential car park, with one small access point leading off the main road. This infrastructure was NEVER designed for the volume of vehicles negotiating it.

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Notice: This blog entry is going to focus on the infrastructure issue which some people are still unaware of here at Whaligoe Steps. When you visit Whaligoe Steps, you may well encounter congestion, frustration, logistical challenges and many other things.

What will you find if you visit Whaligoe Steps during busy times?

You’ll find a residential car park designed with residential activity in mind. This consists of eleven parking spaces in total with a modest lane running alongside a pavement utilised by pedestrians as the only access point.

The authorities (Highland Council) are aware of the congestion, frustration and the need for creating a better and more suitable infrastructure here. Thanks to a government funding scheme directed at tourism, the Highland Council have reviewed at length their budgetary requirements and allocated £90,000 for investment in increasing the car park size here in Ulbster.

This was part of an ambitious plan incorporating a great many sites and situations in other areas too. As a consequence, it will take from the time of this blog entry, anywhere within the next four years or so.

Yes indeed, that means currently there will remain further possible property damage, vehicle damage, frustration and congestion and generally unwelcome feelings being negotiated by both residents and visitors alike.

Let’s have a pause before we head into photographic evidence of the traffic activity here, and realise that the Highland Council are doing what they can with what they have. A Council Ranger periodically drops by and picks up litter around the car park and monitors things. Below, they tackle some of their chores.

Pot holes which were becoming prolific due to the traffic, and wear and tear of the lane. These have been attended to. Some light to the shade.

I was thrilled to hear from a representative for a Member of Parliament (MP) recently who really had a good grasp on the infrastructure issues here. It was somewhat comforting that despite the Highland Council not communicating with me about anything, that someone else was quite happy to converse about the situation.

There are no facilities here for visitors/tourists. You may witness an individual in need of a toilet and this can create awkward situations, as with the above example caught for posterity via a security camera.

The above photograph is the car park completely full and the campervan closest is going to end up reversing candidly due to the lack of space. The principle of cause and effect is going to be most evident. Only eleven spaces, and a constant stream of vehicles coming and going is bringing about congestion, frustration and hampering the experience of driving to a popular location.

Being a resident is also stressful. Traffic cones are set out to protect spaces which has proved futile.

The residential lane runs along the front of the properties here. It was never designed for the traffic flow which currently takes place due to tourist promotion and the increasing popularity of the Whaligoe Steps.

The Whaligoe Steps are situated on private land but have public access rights. So keep in mind if you owned the land, what sort of cost would it take to make them safe for visitors and tourists who wish to walk down and around them.

Fancy investing an amazing amount of money creating a safer and healthier environment for everyone coming here? Examples to make it a safer environment for all may include netting to keep overhanging cliffs safer?, providing fencing and barriers across a vast expanse of coastal terrain to provide safer infrastructure for unaware visitors. Constantly maintain the six zig-zagging flights of stone steps so they’re safe to walk on. Maybe with hand rails to assist mobility throughout the 250 feet drop from the top of the cliffs too? Provide toilet facilities and cater to those who set up tents and camp overnight?…

The reason I ventured into making a website regarding life down and around Whaligoe Steps in the first place was due to a need for raising awareness. These included issues of safety concerns, recognition for the increase in visitor numbers which impact residents, each other, vehicles and property in this location.

On July 11th, 2023, part of my outer wall was knocked down (again!) by an unsuspecting visitor. Stress therefore on the unsuspecting traveller and on me. Please be mindful of the car park being designed for local residents, and also be aware of the lack in health and safety, facilities and the surrounding environment.

Thankfully, my sister found a note left by the visitor, and we hope to get things resolved in due course.

Just a reminder of earlier times regarding the traffic issues captured in archive photographs which showcase my concerns, as I talk with visitors and residents about the unsettled nature of the busy months around this region in these present times too. Thus far, nothing has changed, just plans made and motions behind the scenes to improve things as logistically as possible.

Here are some sights captured by a security camera in recent weeks…

A quick comparison for you if you’re not familiar with this location. A sensible and contained photo of a parking space where visitors are walking in a relaxed manner (on your left as you look below) – Then another photo showing me doing a vigil of my outer wall surrounded by traffic (on your right as you peruse below).

Whilst walking home after a shift at work, I heard clearly a resident raise his voice and explain to someone how we need the pot holes looked at and the car park isn’t an issue. I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea.

Well, the Highland Council have dealt with the pot holes around here and I think they’re in the loop with the congestion and evident traffic issues.

When I hear this local individual say out loud how things are not going to change, I cannot help but wonder why they’re so negative? The individual concerned even holds up the traffic adding hindrance to what is already quite a fragile situation.

I try my very best to share positivity where and when I can. That’s another reason why this blog entry was so difficult to declare. I enjoy the natural beauty here and the historical discoveries I’m uncovering as I research in the background, so it saddens me to present a blog with such observation.

There are so many reasons to remain hopeful, and I will remain vigilant in the face of further possible intimidation, to share my daily challenge taking photographs of nature and interesting observations down and around Whaligoe Steps.

Thank you to YOU for your generosity of time and understanding. The next blog entry will be coverage of another fortnight of my treks down and around Whaligoe Steps. The sunrises and mayweed are keeping me company in conjunction with a rustic and versatile ambience.

Take care and stay safe.

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