Category: Campervans

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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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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