Category: car parking

People are an integral ingredient when it comes to life here at Whaligoe Steps. You would find on a visit to this location an immediate neighbourhood comprising of six households in total situated near or around the residential car park. These people live here and go about their daily business.

Thinking about the Whaligoe Steps, you have those people passing through (visitors) and you have people in the responsible roles of decision-making, who are at the time of this blog post attempting to negotiate the best strategy to improve the infrastructure and empower a positive experience for the visitors and residents alike.

I sat through two and a half hours of a meeting regarding the topic of tourism in the Highlands of Scotland, with decision-makers saying how impressive they had been so far in relation to tackling the evident surge and overwhelming arrival of visitors to varying popular destinations.

Nobody related to this significant meeting had reached out to me or anyone I know who is directly connected to the Whaligoe Steps, so it is with pure good luck (and continued humble thanks to Margaret Meek from the “NC500 The Land Weeps”) that I can now share my more informed thoughts on developments.

The committee were smitten with their campaign of communication with communities and visitors but as I sit here, after emails were sent to all members of the Council Ward: 03 – Wick and East Caithness, only Councillor Jill Tilt has made overtures of interest and enthusiasm toward understanding what local people perceive to be improvements to the infrastructure. It was very much appreciated and I wish to share a humble THANK YOU.

Councillor Jill Tilt in her capacity as a new member to the Council Ward visited me today to better gain insight to the logistics for residents and visitors negotiating the access and car parking. This Councillor is the only one to have sent a reply to my initial email, and I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed with her approach which was both professional and sympathetic.

Due to various reasons, Willie Mackay did not email me but has dropped by in person to visit the Whaligoe Steps where it was evident he was assessing the location. Not one syllable has been sent my way from Andrew Sinclair (emailed on the 29th of August) or Raymond Bremner (emailed on the 1st of September) who are the other two Councillors for this Ward.

I like to dwell if at all possible on positive aspects that go on behind the scenes. With this in mind and if you’re happy to indulge me I would love to share my gratitude to the many individuals who have made this new “Whaligoe Eye” experience so rewarding.

I mentioned the good lady earlier, but THANK YOU to Margaret Meek once again as without her experience in matters relating to infrastructure and politics, I would have still been twirling about like a lost sheep!

This website has grown so much in just six weeks and one section I really enjoy sharing is the “Postcards” area. The above photograph is a memory of an encounter with visitors who spent some time talking and listening and it is merely one example. They were lovely strangers to meet, and what a location to meet new people!

Holding a camera and capturing a moment out to sea, this visitor managed to negotiate seaweed and slippery pebbles and made it look easy! His fiancée stood watching from a distance and the two of them were so kind and interested in the area.

I would like to say THANK YOU to George Walker for emailing and sharing his photography of the Whaligoe Steps, and his advice relating to the art of photography. If you have a moment, check out georgewalkerphotography.co.uk

I have received quite a few emails in recent weeks and I know some of you would rather I did not mention you by name, but this is a THANK YOU for your feedback regarding all manner of aspects connected to Whaligoe Eye.

Here are some overdue moments of gratitude to some folk who I emailed a few weeks ago regarding quotes for a future piece I am working on…

THANK YOU to Catherine over at Where To Stay, Eat, Shop & Explore, Highlands Of Scotland (truehighlands.com)

THANK YOU to Susan over at A Highland Blend – | Promoting the north Highlands of Scotland

THANK YOU to Tim over at Scotland Off the Beaten Track – An honest travel guide to the best of Scotland (sobt.co.uk)

Before I go, here is a bit of fun I had with some art-based software. I had an old photograph of Whaligoe Steps which I played with…

THANK YOU for your time and as always, take care and be safe.

The first blog was posted on August the 15th, 2021. In all honesty, this website was motivated by a perceived apathy from the Highland Council regarding the overwhelming traffic visiting this wee coastal corner of the Highlands of Scotland, and their lack of concern or to a slightly more alarming degree, even their awareness of what was taking place. The sheer volume of visitors was so bad that property damage was inevitable and sure enough, cause and effect unfolded.

A photo above is a moment in time where the rear end of a campervan demolished an outer wall. The feeling of the wall crashing on to the path was felt throughout the foundations of the residential property. On reflection, it reveals how vulnerable the residents are from further accidents as the outer wall was only a path-width away from being the actual home wall.

Check out further reading as accounts of congestion and evidence of increased volumes of visitor activity created tension, frustration and elements of risk to vehicles and properties in this immediate area.

Previous blogs: “Jam…” – Jam… – Whaligoe Eye

“Deja Vu” – Deja Vu – Whaligoe Eye

“Never Judge a Book…” Never Judge a Book… – Whaligoe Eye

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To give you an insight in to what other productivity has been undertaken to this modest and still evolving online source, there have been two well-received sections showcasing natural photographs and the “Postcards” area.

Check out this link for the ever-growing ‘Nature’ gallery – Nature – Whaligoe Eye

Check here to see photographs of visitors to the Whaligoe Steps – Postcards – Whaligoe Eye

Many thanks to all of you who were happy to strike a pose in and around this beautiful location.

Other blog posts added to this site included content about stones and creativity, a sentimental connection to the Whaligoe Steps, unfolding situations in general, a trip down the coastline with Caithness Seacoast, the arrival of a litter bin to the residents’ car parking area and observations of nature around here. More on these topics as time goes on plus a wonderful rich collection of historically researched materials which I think you may find interesting

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So for now, I will bid you a fond farewell and let you know that there is plenty going on behind the scenes which will surface on this website in due course.

Take care and many thanks as always.

Books are fabulous! One downside though of possessing books in these recent times which I feel slightly conflicted about sharing, is how they accumulate to the point of invading precious physical space. I need more room for stuff!

The reason for mentioning this topic is on a sunny morning I put out a box of books at the top of the Whaligoe Steps for visitors to take. Giving them away for free was an interesting experience and you may have thought that I would have seen the entire batch removed. You thought wrong.

As I observed visitors which had turned out in respectable number sauntering around the area here, it became apparent that the congestion issue was still highly relevant. At the time of this blog, it may be at the halfway point of September, but visitors are still making the most of their spare time by experiencing the Whaligoe Steps.

The Highland Council at the time of this blog still say there are no plans to extend the car park.

Thanks to Kirstin Tait Kirstin Tait – Journalist – Home | Facebook of the ‘Press and Journal’ for the recent coverage – Home – Press and Journal

The amenities/facilities here around the Whaligoe Steps. Exhibit A.

Either right at the very end of 2017 or the turning of 2018, this salt grit bin made an appearance. When the ground gets too icy and dangerous the contents can be used to make conditions a lot safer.

As I meandered back up from the Whaligoe Steps this morning, I walked over to the grit salt bin which is the only (at the time of this blog post) sign of Highland Council presence within their residential car parking area regarding amenities/facilities.

But I digress. I wanted to share with you the continued traffic situation here when it gets busy.

With the car park full, a car on the left is waiting patiently for some sensible and safe way to park. As they wait a resident tries to leave their lane (the silver car). Meanwhile a campervan hesitates in the only access point to the residential car parking facility due to an oncoming Jeep squeezing by.

In a recent local newspaper article, residents or visitors were recommended by the Highland Council to call 101 – I quote “Obstruction is a police matter. Residents experiencing obstruction or damage to their property/vehicles should contact the police on 101.”

“The council has no immediate plans to extend the car park at Ulbster but is willing to work with communities where need is identified and funding can be found.”

The article can be found here: Ulbster resident talks of ‘nightmare’ parking problems at Whaligoe Steps on NC500 route (johnogroat-journal.co.uk)

Naturally, with the volume of visitors increasing and the residential car park being full, individuals seek out other parking locations.

Take care, and as always thanks for your time. Be safe.

Beautiful sunrise this Saturday morning as I took a stroll down the Whaligoe Steps. All was calm but there was plenty to reflect on. I want to say thank you to David Scott (NOSN) for the recent articles which appeared in the Northern Times and the John O’Groat Journal. If you are interested, I will share the links with you.

Ulbster resident talks of ‘nightmare’ parking problems at Whaligoe Steps on NC500 route (johnogroat-journal.co.uk)

Ulbster resident talks of ‘nightmare’ parking problems at Whaligoe Steps on NC500 route (northern-times.co.uk)

…And now for something completely different! I named a herring gull I keep witnessing down the Whaligoe Steps “Henry”, and at long last I captured some footage of an oystercatcher. So in the naming tradition of a herring gull, I have used very little imagination and named this oystercatcher “Ollie”. Say hello to Ollie.

As I learn about blogging and shamelessly confess to be completely new to this, I stumbled recently across Gail Anthea Brown who is an experienced local and respected blogger. Check out her link below if you have some time.

Wellies on the School Run · From Caithness Author Gail Anthea Brown

The reason I am sharing the link is that Gail shared an excellent observation in a recent blog post about a side to tourism which is easily forgotten.

Poo, Potholes and Park-Ups – Why Highlanders Are Tired of Scotland’s North Coast 500 Route · Wellies on the School Run

Thank you as always for your time, take care and be safe.

Back on the 30th of June in 2019, I witnessed the amazing local coastguard in action outside my front door. An accident occurred down at the base of the Whaligoe Steps and if memory serves me right, there were three road-based vehicles in attendance in conjunction with this marvellous example of their helicopter.

If you are interested in keeping up to date with this essential emergency service, you can visit their social media profile here HM Coastguard – Highland – Home | Facebook

I mention this incident to highlight my concern with the current (at the time of composing this blog entry) logistics of vehicles negotiating this place. If you check my previous posts there are examples of the busy moments around the Whaligoe Steps where traffic builds up and tailbacks, frustration and what can only be described as congestion is evident.

It is not a stretch of the imagination to know that the full weight of the emergency services could well be hampered if they are required to attend an emergency during a busy time at this residential area.

Thank you as always for your time reading this, I really appreciate it.

I don’t know how you feel about strawberry jam, but on the right slice of bread it is a wonderful guilty pleasure! Please don’t tell my Mum as she enjoys a piece of cake more, and may take offence to me singing the praises of the humble slice of bread with jam combination.

On this website I would rather be talking about this type of jam, but at the time of composing this blog and reflecting on yesterday around the Whaligoe Steps I feel I need to share these photographs…

I find myself battling my internal tensions and stress from Friday morning right through to Tuesday evening at the time of this post, as I live right in the eye of the storm so to speak. Visitors are welcome as I too love this location, but if I can inform any of you that at this current time and place you may be presented with inadequate access to the resident’s car parking facilities, plus no litter bins, dog waste bins, toilets, etc. then I feel I can offer a service.

It is good to talk.

Take care and be safe.

Below is an example of the busy times outside the front door. Thankfully the congestion shown in this edited video clip does not happen all the time, with many visitors to the Whaligoe Steps finding themselves able to negotiate the parking facilities without mounting the kerb, causing property damage or having any other accidents. (Check out earlier posts).

Nevertheless, as someone who may be considering seeing the Whaligoe Steps, please keep in mind that the access via the resident’s lane was not designed to cope with large amounts of traffic. Timing of your visit at the moment this blog was composed is a serious consideration to make in order to have a positive experience.

As always, take care and be safe.