Welcome to part 20 of my attempt to share and document treks down and around Whaligoe Steps, for each and every day from May 1st, 2023 up to and including May 1st, 2024. Enjoying and enduring depending on what’s relevant; stormy weather, sunrises, natural wonders, beautiful views and amazing experiences.
Despite witnessing several sunrises, the one thing I agree with is how each one has a unique personality. The above sunrise was captured on a trek during the morning of February 3rd, 2024.
Below is a blog which tackles coverage from Monday, January 22nd up to and including Sunday, February 4th, 2024. Hope you enjoy the first grey seal sighting this year, the sunrises, waterfall and the hints of spring as the seabirds gather on the rocky ledges around here.
Jan. 22nd, 2024: Cloudy trek meant that the sun was concealed, but it didn’t slow down any attempts to shine.
Jan. 23rd, 2024: The bend as the top flight works a route directly into the second flight. The descent down the six zig-zagging sets of stone steps is still quite something even after all these years.
Jan. 24th, 2024: Talking of that descent, it’s best to take it at a snail’s pace.
Jan. 25th, 2024: Steady intervals of showers meant the ground was wet underfoot, plus with melting snow from days earlier all around, water was abundant beside a large mass like the North Sea.
Jan. 26th, 2024: During this Friday morning trek, I found myself gazing at a splendid moon.
Jan. 27th, 2024: Windswept waterfall generously gushing down the impressive coastal cliffs around Whaligoe Steps.
Jan. 28th, 2024: The remaining boat winch located between the pebble shores and the Bink, without snow on it this time…
Jan. 29th, 2024: A wonderful time of year to hug each other in the name of staying warm. Below is a pair of fulmars which have been entertaining company in these recent weeks as they gather on the many ledges.
Jan. 30th, 2024: What a fine morning crowned with a glorious sunrise.
Jan. 31st, 2024: A breezy trek which held me in a gaze towards the shallow cave and the pebble shorelines. These are a little cumbersome to negotiate depending on your physical presence, but occasionally I see visitors down there enjoying echoes against the cliff face or generally exploring.
Feb. 1st, 2024: Both sides of the moon during the morning haze.
Feb. 2nd, 2024: I thought I saw a wabbit, I did! I did!…
Feb. 3rd, 2024: The North Sea wears many masks, but below you’ll see the softer side and the twinkle as sunlight reflects. An anchor which is broken is held in place by a large rock, moved by recent storms.
Feb. 4th, 2024: Salutations to the wonderful grey seal, first sighting of 2024. Hopefully, they’ll be a regular visitor as sadly the body of another recent grey seal was washed ashore during December.
That’s all folks for another fortnight of visits down and around Whaligoe Steps. I mentioned it before, but the thought of local folk in previous generations negotiating the steps on a regular basis, carrying containers of fish and all manner of items in all weathers really speaks volumes. I have nothing but respect and admiration for them.
All going well, the next blog entry will be covering and documenting highlights from Monday, February 5th up to and including Sunday, February 18th, 2024.
Thank you, only always, for your kindness and support. Take care and know I’m sending you positive wishes.
This is another entry showcasing my attempt to go down and around Whaligoe Steps each and every day for three hundred and sixty five consecutive days, beginning from May 1st, 2023…
Below are a series of highlights photographed each and every day from Monday, August 7th, 2023 through to and including Sunday, August 20th, 2023. All are showcasing moments down and around Whaligoe Steps, located on the north eastern coastline of Scotland.
August 7th, 2023: I found myself not only taking photographs of natural highlights during my daily treks, but also as the traffic and infrastructure issues raised their head right outside my front door, it felt appropriate to document signs of a different sort. So you get on this Monday in 2023 the great black-backed gull and a Highland Council Ranger attending to some duties.
August 8th, 2023: On this Tuesday morning trek, looking down on some coastal rock and observing the beautiful colour of the North Sea. Also a photograph of the old Salt House which has had several purposes over the years, but now remains a reminder of different times when this wee port was full of industry thanks to the Herring Fisheries.
August 9th, 2023: A beautiful sunrise was most welcoming during this visit down and around Whaligoe Steps. During this particular fortnight, I recall seeing quite a few boats. Both sailing vessels and also fishing boats were utilising this stretch of the North Sea.
August 10th, 2023: With our feet back on terra firma, we walk down the 4th flight of ‘Steps out of the total of six flights. Always worth documenting the beautiful and wild flora in this location too, mayweed taking a last breath.
August 11th, 2023: Keeping the mayweed company amongst the grass verges and shrubbery have been a plentiful presence of new thistles. Despite the wren being absent or hidden from sight and sound during these recent treks, Star, the resident cat at Whaligoe Steps has been an entertaining companion. (Most of the time she doesn’t look this annoyed, but I think I was a distraction from her prowling for wild rabbits on this specific occasion!)
August 12th, 2023: Starved of the flowers I witnessed throughout the summer, I focussed my attention on these wee beauties.
August 13th, 2023: White-lipped snail on one of the Whaligoe Steps, plus a couple of wild bunnies skipping about amongst the tufts of grass.
August 14th, 2023: Sneaking an appearance below a band of cloud, the sun takes a look at the coastline across the North Sea. Star on the other hand, decides a bit later in the day to take a walk on the wild side…
August 15th, 2023: Post of seagull has already been filled by this feathered survivor, in what has been a sad presence of Avian flu impacting the seabird population here at Whaligoe Steps. A bird’s eye view of the Salt House and Bink adds some context to this sheltered and remarkable port.
August 16th, 2023: Views from around this location are plentiful. Coastline which provides jagged formations also weave their own narratives. Meanwhile, a fishing boat in the foreground adds height to the wind turbines of the off-shore wind farm called Beatrice.
August 17th, 2023: Visitor numbers over the past three or four months have been consistent and many. On this particular Thursday afternoon I mingled among some tourists and then noticed below me was a drone hovering just above a jellyfish! This was a first for me. Have you ever seen a jellyfish and a drone in the same photograph before? I think this is a Lion’s mane jellyfish.
The other photograph offers up some flora, gently swaying in a soft breeze on this afternoon trek.
August 18th, 2023: Another afternoon-based visit down and around Whaligoe Steps.
Depending where you get your facts, I found out the North Sea is around six hundred miles long and three hundred sixty miles wide. It is also considered the coldest sea in the world with average temperatures of about six degrees Celsius during the winter, and seventeen degrees Celsius in the summer.
August 19th, 2023: Rose-Bay Willow Herb is abundant at the base of the landfall, which can be found tucked away in a corner between the pebble shore and the Bink.
A view of the North Sea disappearing into the yonder from the pebble shoreline.
August 20th, 2023: Below is another wild rabbit. It was fascinating watching it stretch for a tasty bit of vegetation.
A sunrise captured for posterity. There are more of these to come which I’m excited to share in my next blog entry.
Thank you for the well wishes from both the online poetry community and also those who follow Whaligoe Eye via social media platforms. Your kindness, concerns and general interaction are appreciated and welcome.
I’ll leave you with this lovely photo taken of the wren during an early morning trek during Sunday, August 13th, 2023.
Thank you for your company and precious time as you join me for a trek down and around Whaligoe Steps every day for twelve months.
Yes, a way to capture a moment or moments for every day of the year in a location which boasts wildlife, beautiful wildflowers, rich coastal history and interesting characters – from May 1st, 2023 and hoping to eventually reach May 1st, 2024.
The photo of the moon above was a wonderful point as I glanced upwards during my morning trek on Monday, 10th of July, 2023. At that moment I had no idea what was going to transpire over the next fortnight and what would end up being published in this next chapter, sharing the world down and around Whaligoe Steps.
The last four days from Wednesday, the 19th of July, 2023 to Saturday, 22nd of July, 2023… The time of year for visiting Whaligoe Steps is well and truly upon us. I’ll explain why I’m sharing this abundance in traffic here in the tranquil landscape of Caithness in a moment as I share each day from the 10th of July to the 23rd of July during my attempt at walking down and around the ‘Steps for a whole year. Suffice to say that a lot of traffic descending on an area which was designed for a handful of residents is going to have some sort of fallout.
July 10th, 2023: During a mild sunrise on this specific Monday morning, all seemed calm. Jackdaw spotted surveying the scenery from a fence post.
Much later in the day, during the evening I observed plenty of boats moving around on the North Sea from Whaligoe Steps. This cruise liner I believe is German.
July 11th, 2023: During my trek in the morning I negotiated a drizzly beginning of the day. Sadly, things got worse when I arrived home in the evening to find my outer wall had been destroyed (again!) I believe the security camera image in the middle shows someone who may know a lot about how my wall was knocked down.
The reason why I leapt in and made a website called WhaligoeEye.co.uk was because nobody was doing anything about the large volume of visitors to the area. The infrastructure was designed for the residential area and is maintained by the Highland Council. Due to the significant increase in traffic and presence of people, my outer wall has been knocked down twice now, I’ve nearly been run over, and many other examples you can imagine living with such a situation have taken place.
It’s very stressful living here, yet also very beautiful too.
July 12th, 2023: I found the trek the following morning rather cathartic. Cloudy and calm, wet and wild.
July 13th, 2023: Cliff face which overlooks the Whaligoe Steps. It is roughly 250 feet up from the North Sea. The other photograph shows that despite being just over eight miles from the mainland coastline, the Beatrice wind farm is still quite visible.
July 14th, 2023: During this month I noticed the razorbills and guillemots had departed this bit of the northern Scottish coastline, and also how the young shags were keen to spread their wings and move further out to sea. Despite the abundant wildflowers starting to disappear from view, there were still splashes of colour to find among the vibrant green shades.
July 15th, 2023: I stumbled across a dandelion which was alone, yet full of life. As my trek on that particular Saturday morning continued, I found myself on the far side looking across at the slim but steady waterfall. Sir Billy Connolly made a joke about the waterfall back in the 90s, saying something akin to “It’s the only waterfall I’ve seen that goes up the way!”
July 16th, 2023: Mustn’t forget about the wild rabbits around here. Also on Whaligoe Steps when the rain has been busy, you may see plenty of snails lurking along the verges. In this instant, I witnessed one actually negotiating the Whaligoe Steps. I’m not a snail expert but I pride myself on being an individual who keeps learning all the time. After some research, I believe the snail is a white-lipped snail (Capaea hortensis).
July 17th, 2023: Local resident moggy, Star, is a welcome companion, but since May 1st, 2023 when I took it upon myself to try out this challenge, the singing wren has also been most enjoyable. In full song in the photograph below. Also, wearing a delicate coat of raindrops and possibly dew too, a wild rose which grows right alongside a flight of the ‘Steps.
July 18th, 2023: Below is an example of the young shags getting more courageous and venturing further out within the North Sea. At this time of entering my blog, I can say that this morning I only witnessed three lone young shags on a rocky island. Maybe the others have now left?
The other photograph is a moment where the the gushing water right at the top of Whaligoe Steps is approaching the point where it descends down the cliff face. If you look at July 15th, that’s the point where the water just drops into the North Sea, but just before that point you can see the momentum as it negotiates the wild flora.
July 19th, 2023: A slightly wet and gloomy Wednesday morning trek which provided me with a fabulous opportunity to photograph a great black-backed gull quite closely. Also, during a muted sunrise, I noticed how the fire speckled artistically behind some wild vegetation.
July 20th, 2023: The sunrise on the morning of the 20th here at Whaligoe Steps was delightful. The rabbits certainly enjoyed it as they were out and about with a flurry.
July 21st, 2023: During these later days of July I’ve noticed the newer thistles bursting into flower and looking rather striking at the top of the ‘Steps. The other photograph is of a gull chick. They’re becoming more courageous too and seem to be growing up at a hasty rate.
July 22nd, 2023: The remaining boat winch has a presence here at Whaligoe Steps. There was at least one other back in the day, when this was a bustling harbour during the successful herring fisheries.
Mayweed has stayed true as the daffodils and other flowers have gone over. This large daisy-looking wildflower really provides the environment with some personality.
July 23rd, 2023: This very morning (Sunday, when I’m assembling this blog for you), the sunrise was very curious. Cloud formations made the light fierce in one specific part of the sky. As it settled, I then witnessed it glisten on the surface of the North Sea ripples.
There you have it, another fortnight of moments captured on each of the days from the 10th of July, to the 23rd of July, 2023.
If you’re wondering about my outer wall, the question is really about whether it’s worthwhile spending money and time getting it rebuilt (again) only for another visitor to crash into it? If you’re new to this story, then let me also remind you that the Highland Council relatively recently advised they were investing £90,000 in expanding the residential car park here which will most certainly make a difference.
The sooner they can get on with the job in hand, the better for my mental health.
I’ll sign off with positive wishes and gratitude to you and yours, until the next fortnight when I hope to continue my challenge incorporating images from each and every day. Maybe more boats from the coastline, or stunning views, wonderful wildlife, breath-taking beauty, stories of adventure?
