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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