Welcome to my challenge of venturing down and around Whaligoe Steps for each and every day for an entire year. As my adventures continue, I’m accumulating quite a few photographs and also documenting a lot of activity. Therefore, I felt it only appropriate to provide you with links from my previous blogs…
Here are some links to previous blog entries showcasing my visits from May 1st, 2023, up to and including Sunday, November 12th, 2023…
The first fourteen blogs covering my daily treks down and around Whaligoe Steps since May 1st, 2023 up to and including November 12th, 2023.
I hope you find it interesting, maybe beautiful and also stimulating. To focus attention on one specific location and watch it evolve and change over the seasons thus far, has proved most intriguing.
Nature continues to share changes and new revelations. I’m currently in the process of sorting two more blogs bringing us up to speed with the calendar as I have successfully maintained my daily treks to this very point in time.
Thank you, only always for dropping by and supporting my endeavours and for being You.
My daily treks down and around this engineering marvel, located along the coastline in Caithness continue. This blog entry shares with you another fortnight, dated from October 30th, 2023 up to November 12th, 2023…
The skies were notable at this time for being spectacular, adding a precious ambience to the experience of capturing nature here in this picturesque location.
Oct. 30th, 2023: Clouds were sauntering through rich blue skies, whilst the ‘forgotten’ flight of Whaligoe Steps juggled with rain and hints of grass.
Oct. 31st, 2023: Sunrise wrestled with more clouds during this Tuesday trek.
As I ascended the steps, I was greeted by my first sighting of the robin this autumn.
Nov. 1st, 2023: Ventured into the shallow cave on the pebble shoreline.
Since storm Babet, I’m still discovering the changes within the landscape around here. This includes how the rusty broken anchor has been moved and partly covered.
Nov. 2nd, 2023: It doesn’t happen every morning, but it’s a treat to witness both the sun in one direction and the moon in the other. The photos below show how prominent the moon was during this particular trek.
Nov. 3rd, 2023: Unsettled weather was captured as waves whipped up into gusty symphonies.
Nov. 4th, 2023: Star was attentive and delightful as she always is.
A clattering of jackdaws enjoy the sunshine which coats a roaming fence.
Nov. 5th, 2023: Two faces of the North Sea captured in one trek. Waves excitable reach for the skies, and then a little later there were tranquil waters.
Nov. 6th, 2023: A wild rabbit plays peek-a-boo.
I found that Whaligoe Steps has a heart of stone.
Nov. 7th, 2023: Landscape moments where perception is captured from a distance. Looking down on the Bink where the North Sea shares a clarity.
The waterfall here continues to flow with abundant energy.
Nov. 8th, 2023: Ambience of another cloudy autumnal day.
Nov. 9th, 2023: On this Thursday trek, I was fortunate to see two versions of a sunrise. A softer glow behind swaying flora was the first encounter.
Then a little later, a fire sandwiched between well defined clouds.
Nov. 10th, 2023: Standing beside the old Salt House down on the Bink gives a sense of history within this coastal environment.
During this trek, I pondered over the vastness of the enduring tides of the North Sea.
Nov. 11th, 2023: Temperatures fell during these treks down and around Whaligoe Steps, but still the sun watched from afar.
Pleasant ambience on this early Saturday afternoon.
Nov. 12th, 2023: Silhouettes.
Wrap up warm and know you’re appreciated. Thank you for your generosity of time and for your support, they mean a lot.
Since May 1st, 2023, I have been tackling a trek to Whaligoe Steps each and every day for six months thus far, on my personal challenge to witness and document the changing of the seasons and to understand better what it’s like living so close to an engineering feat set in a cliff on the coastline of Scotland.
My aim is to finally share with you, all three hundred and sixty five days of natural wonders and beauty which can be found in this rustic location.
This blog entry covers Monday, October 16th up to Sunday, October 29th, 2023…
Everything from a weather system called ‘Storm Babet’ to some beautiful sunrises and dramatic skies took place during this fortnight, as I went down and around Whaligoe Steps in Caithness. Not far from here is the most northerly tip of the U.K. mainland, and with the coldest sea on the planet as your neighbour, you can count on some interesting and breath-taking views from day to day.
Oct. 16th, 2023: Sightings of both the grey seal inspecting the coastline, and rabbits on top of Whaligoe Steps sunbathing in the glow of another sunrise greeted me this Monday I ventured outdoors…
Oct. 17th, 2023: I was up promptly to catch what I felt would be a wonderful sunrise, and was not alone. Visitors tackling their own journey also captured the sunrise on this particular Tuesday morning.
Oct. 18th, 2023: What a difference a day makes. After sharing a peaceful morning with strangers and discussing all manner of fascinating topics to a backdrop of a stunning sunrise, the following morning as you can see below, cast a cold and grey shadow over the North Sea and Whaligoe Steps.
Beatrice, the off-shore wind farm would have trembled if it too knew what was to come over the next few days…
Photographs of the shallow cave, and the unrest wielded by the tides of the North Sea.
Oct. 19th, 2023: Storm Babet, a weather system which showcased true ferocity in strong winds and remarkable waves.
An actual photograph taken of a North Sea wave climbing up a cliff which is around two hundred and fifty feet tall!!
In the aftermath of these few days of Storm Babet, the landscape has been physically changed in a few locations. The base of the Salt House has a little difference, as does the base of the landfall tucked away in the corner; plus on the pebble shores – bare rock can be seen which was once covered in shingle and small stones.
Oct. 20th, 2023: Storm Babet continued into the following day…
Trying to stand still in ferocious winds to take accurate and precise photographs is something I haven’t experienced to this degree before. Below you can see the top of the waterfall, but winds blew the water upwards into the air.
Dramatic liquid monsters carved shapes in the waves as the roar of wild energy filled the skies. It quite literally took my breath away and will be an experience I won’t forget for a long, long time.
I must reiterate that my thoughts for those who lost their lives during this devastating storm are in my mind. The impact of this weather system on some has been something I cannot fully imagine. Sincere condolences to those who have been severely effected.
Oct. 21st, 2023: Marked by some as ‘day 3’ of Storm Babet, the North Sea continued to growl and toss ‘n’ turn…
Oct. 22nd, 2023: What a relief to feel some sunshine as a battered sunrise found ways to ease fingers between clouds, and to tease open those dark grey skies and share some blue and gold…
Oct. 23rd, 2023: A beautiful and calm trek in which a proper assessment of landscape-related damage could be deciphered. Below you have a photograph of a relieved pebble shoreline.
Also, a tranquil sunrise bathes a background for some curly silhouettes to gently sway in the coastal breeze.
Oct. 24th, 2023: Striking colours shimmered on the surface of the sea. The waterfall was generous as it gifted the North Sea plenty of abundant rain water.
Oct. 25th, 2023: Gloomy yet exhilarating with prominent winds. The waterfall continued to flow but created new shapes due to the presence of the gusts.
Oct. 26th, 2023: Hypnotic beam of sunshine caught my eye during this particular Thursday trek down and around Whaligoe Steps. Getting a bird’s eye view of the off-shore wind farm known as Beatrice.
In the evening I noted the moon, so below you get to see it too.
Oct. 27th, 2023: Such fun was had when nature conspired with a hint of frivolity. Foam parties thanks to the build up of rough seas for several days.
Foam globules littered the lower two flights of Whaligoe Steps and standing beside the boat winch meant being a potential recipient to floating foamy companions! The name ‘foam-nado‘ was circulated on this day…
Oct. 28th, 2023: The autumn can be an unpredictable season, but one thing you can rely on is some rain and a drop in temperature. Silhouettes and wet ground were abundant companions.
Oct. 29th, 2023: Foam parties were the theme to unfold during this Sunday trek. To be honest, I hadn’t witnessed this much foam accumulating on the pebble shore like this on prior visits.
Waves were rife as my friend balanced on a rock only to be greeted by a foamy compliment.
As always, I look forward to sharing the next fortnight all going well.
This first six months have been amazing, full of new-to-me sightings and experiences. If things work out, I look forward to sharing the next six months with you and sharing a whole year of life down and around Whaligoe Steps with you.
Known by some as ‘Storm Babet’, to others as a ‘weather system’; strong winds and relentless showers bombarded parts of the United Kingdom to varying degrees.
Here at Whaligoe Steps from Thursday, October 19th, 2023 and continuing through to Saturday night (Oct. 21st), the North Sea expressed remarkable turmoil in dramatic waves and a roar so loud as the coastline was battered.
The wave below ran up to the very top of a two hundred and fifty foot cliff face…
The video clip above was filmed at around 13:20 British Standard Time on Thursday afternoon… The microphone was being abused by the harsh weather, so remember to mute your speakers.
It was difficult to stand up and film this clip due to the ferocity of the weather during the first day of Storm Babet being active, but you can see the extreme swelling of the tides and the North Sea and you can get a real ambience of this thankfully irregular weather experience.
On Saturday (October 21st, 2023) afternoon, I tentatively ventured down Whaligoe Steps which was a partial waterfall and the rain was prolific – Video clip above.
The photographs below were taken during Friday, October 20th…
The waterfall was behaving in an unusual way, defiant of gravity and what the eyes normally witness… It went up the way instead of down!
Now for something I filmed this Sunday (October 22nd, 2023) morning during my daily trek down and around Whaligoe Steps… A clip from the pebble shoreline with a notably diminished wind factor and raging storm in the rear view mirror!
Nature’s very own foam party!
During my daily trek this Sunday and assessing the damage and change in landscape after the weather system had ravaged the coastline for three days, here are some photographic highlights of what I witnessed.
Foam was abundant on the pebble shore and I was pleased to see Star out and about…
My thoughts go out to all those who are confronting the fallout from this severe natural weather condition. I’ve personally never experienced the ferocity of wind which I encountered when I ventured out over these past few days, and I’m another statistic looking at property damage as a result of the devastating weather system.
Until my next blog entry documenting my ‘Whaligoe Steps 365’ challenge, I’m sending you positive wishes as always. Thank you for your continued support, generosity of time and for being You.
