“Thank you” is the obvious place to start after battling illness in recent weeks, and receiving some welcome kind wishes and sentiment on a return to action. “Thank you” is also for the generosity of time you share when reading the blogs, visiting the social media platforms, signing up to a newsletter, participating in the ‘Postcards’ section of this humble website, and for being You.
I had low expectations when I began this venture in August, last year, due to the life we all find ourselves living. We’re all too busy to be looking at nature themed photography, or reading about community developments, or learning bits of history. But here we are, twelve months in to something which is named “Whaligoe Eye”.
August 23rd, 2022…
On August 1st, 2022, I posted a blog which contained general updates on various points of interest taking place here around Whaligoe Steps. Watch Your Step… – Whaligoe Eye
One specific aspect in that blog entry regarding the state of the single access lane to the residential carpark and the carpark itself was raised with examples of pot-holes. For those who are interested, the pot-holes have been filled in by the Highland Council. I was reliably informed that the Council Ranger was the individual who took care of these. Many thanks. Here are some photos…
Remaining in theme that this blog entry is a celebration of twelve months deciphering the ownership and maintenance, uploading and use of a website in conjunction with learning about nature and a whole host of other elements which go in to this project, it is also a chance to recognise the Highland Council have stepped up to provide a yellow grit bin for icy conditions (located in the residential carpark), a rubbish bin for the litter situation (also located at the residential carpark) and have now filled in pot-holes. So “Thank you” to all who had a part to play in these welcome additions to the Whaligoe Steps area.
Reflecting over this first year which has really flown by like a seagull swooping in the air, there have been some beautiful natural moments documented and captured. Here’s a shameless gallery for your perusal.
Fulmar (Fulmarus Glacialis) in flightGrey seal (Halichoerus grypus)Highland cowLion’s mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata)
There was a prize giveaway late last year which was fun and a newsletter subscriber was selected at random and received this in the post.
Well, the good news is that it’s happening again! I am currently preparing prizes and if you’re an individual who signed up to receive a newsletter or if you’re a follower on Facebook, then keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks as developments take place for a celebratory freebie giveaway.
Going to share a gallery of wildflowers which I photographed over recent months around Whaligoe Steps.
Over the past year since Whaligoe Eye began, I’ve slowly been adding content to the ‘Postcards’ section where visitors are kind enough to have their photograph taken during a visit to Whaligoe Steps;
the ‘Nature’ section is constantly being updated with new images (which reminds me, I have plenty of new ones to add!);
there’s been blogs about congestion and highlighting the situation of an unsuitable infrastructure here for visitors and residents alike;
Press & Journal coverage…
a prize giveaway; coverage of a seal puppy encounter;
Baby grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)Baby grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) – One of my last photos of a grey seal pup after monitoring it for 13 days…
updates on traffic incidents; updates about an animal rescue attempt; updates on stonemasonry on the first three flights of Whaligoe Steps thanks to Charles Juhlenski;
Stonemason, Charles Juhlenski
coverage throughout June of my ’30 Days Wild’ (an initiative inspired by the Wildlife Trust in understanding and appreciation of our natural world); a little hint of the wealth of historical content (much more to come!); plus on social media some frivolity with Easter, Halloween and Christmas…
All going well, I’m buckling up for the next twelve months to continue posting blogs, adding images to ‘Postcards’ and ‘Nature’ plus making a concerted effort to get this historical content I’ve been researching and reading, to you in some form via WhaligoeEye.co.uk
The issue thankfully is not having the lack of content to share, it is merely juggling the time and resources to share it with you. A blessing in disguise.
The learning curve never ends.
Take care for now, stay safe and sending you positive wishes.
This blog entry was going to share some history themed content as two overflowing and interesting collections of information lay in the wings. Instead, visitor numbers and developments of one sort or another have been taking place.
August 1st, 2022…July 31st, 2022…
I’m always learning as I keep telling you, and despite hearing nothing from the head of the local Highland Council, Raymond Bremner or any other Council ward representatives for that matter, I did find myself speaking with the local Highland Council Ranger/Warden today. He’s called Derek and to state the obvious, the guy has a lot on his plate!
During the tourist themed online meeting the Council held on September 29th, 2021, they were complimenting themselves about the introduction of their Rangers who were speaking to the respective local communities and gathering data. It has taken several months, but contact has now been made with the Ranger Derek who seemed in the dark over several issues. Fingers crossed that further communications may continue and some steps are taken as a result.
The reason the Ranger and I were talking to each other, came about due to a visitor to Whaligoe Steps falling in a hole where degradation is evident. I witnessed a similar stumble a few weeks prior, but with nobody returning my communications at the Highland Council, I was not able to progress any enquiries before this recent incident.
Hole near residential car park…Pot-hole in access lane to residential car park…Road decay near residential car park…Pot-hole in centre of residential car park…
These examples of pot-holes and degradation of infrastructure are just part of the issues which are witnessed by those who visit and live in this neighbourhood. Congestion on a fairly regular basis, my close encounter of nearly being run over ( Student of Life (Part 2) – Whaligoe Eye ), vehicle and property damage due to the inadequate parking facilities here, etc.
The photo where you see a red cone is the point where more than one visitor has fallen, so please be aware when walking from the residential car parking area down to the Whaligoe Steps.
Let’s have some wildflowers now as they look stunning at this time of year here around Whaligoe Steps…
Whilst taking photographs of the wildlife around Whaligoe Steps, I zoomed in on a large seagull and found out to my dismay that it had a yellow tag wrapped around the left ankle.
Great black-backed gull…
After some valiant research, I found out how many seabirds were being tagged and surveys conducted by some interested organisations. The British Trust for Ornithology were the first point of contact and sent back some data regarding this specific seagull.
It was initially tagged back in June, 2011, in Badbea, Berriedale. Nearly nine months later it was sighted in Lowestoft Harbour, Suffolk!! Then after a few months we find ourselves in Helmsdale in 2014, sightings taking place around the harbour area.
Jump forwards to 2016, and a sighting placed the great black-backed gull in Albion Landfill, Albert Village in Leicestershire!
On July 18th, the stonemason heard in the early hours of the morning a tremendous crash as a significant sized object made contact with the north sea. Not necessarily unusual as rocks and debris fall from the overhanging cliffs.
Photograph taken from the Bink of the cliffs…
But this sound was something different and after closer investigation, a deer was sighted surviving the 250 foot fall and somehow scrambling to the safety of the shallow cave on the pebble shoreline.
After a valiant attempt at rescue and assessment, the deer was nowhere to be found. There were hopes that through adrenaline and the fact only one exit and access point down to the Bink were available, that the deer had found a way out. It was spotted by a boat tour on the coastline and it is thought the deer made an escape later during that same day.
July 22nd, 2022…
There is a memorial located at the top of the Whaligoe Steps which is dedicated to Etta Juhle.
Memorial to Etta Juhle…
This local lady cared for the Whaligoe Steps for many years and was fondly thought of by many. In the winter of 1975, she cleared away a large landslide using a shovel and a bucket from a fireside companion set throughout the entire season.
Etta’s son Charlie is the stonemason who has been single-handedly restoring the steps and has been mentioned previously in earlier blogs, and has given Whaligoe Eye a peek at a wonderful new plaque which can be found on the bend where the second flight meets the third as you descend.
With the continued sterling and professional workmanship on display, this addition really is stunning. It is still worth noting that three flights of the steps are getting slowly but surely in a state of disrepair and should be approach with caution.
As well as the danger of falling rocks/debris from higher ground, the steps themselves are a little cumbersome in places, so please be aware of this if you’re planning a visit.
Charlie very kindly shared some photographs of the state in which Whaligoe Steps was in a few years ago, and the remarkable transformation in recent times is quite something to behold. More on this subject in later blog entries.
Birdwatcher…
With those updates dusted off and shared, I hope as always this blog finds you safe and well. As visitors and wildlife enthusiasts of all interests converge on this area, I too intend on keeping my eye out for further unfolding developments and observations worthy of your time. There will be blogs about the history too! After all, we are going back over several centuries to the first mention…
Take care and know I’m sending you positive wishes only always. Until the next time, thank you for your continued interest and support. If social media is anything to go by, you are enjoying the content whether it be natural, historic or political.
If I’m watching a television series and there is a gap between watching the episodes, I find myself thankful when the creators of such a show provide a recap. That magical reminder of the characters and their story arc, the prompt to pick up where I left off whilst watching avidly on prior occasions.
So here it is for those of you who are new to the “Whaligoe Eye” project (and there has been a significant increase of visitors to this humble website), covering life on and around the remarkable Whaligoe Steps, here in the north Highlands of Scotland.
This recap also applies to those who have dropped by in the past thanks to my coverage of Stonemasonry undertaken by Charles Juhlenski on the Steps; the blogs covering my thirteen day monitoring of a grey seal pup here at Whaligoe Steps; the coverage of ongoing congestion and overwhelming traffic issues which have plagued the local infrastructure here causing a significant amount of anxiety and stress for visitors and locals alike, or general curiosity after the welcome social media interest in my poetry and promotion of this website.
Although the history of Whaligoe Steps can be dated back via documented sources to around 1640, the Steps we can witness at the time of this blog entry are commonly associated to the sterling investment of Captain David Brodie. He commissioned around 330 Caithness flagstones to be set in the cliff face to provide a robust pathway down to what is known as the Bink, which is situated at the base of the zig-zagging descent. The year most commonly associated with Captain Brodie and his intent on creating a better walkway is around 1791.
I’m not going to enter into a whole chronological history lesson right now, that can wait for the book which I’m researching and constantly working on. Just know that living here for over thirty years, I count my blessings being entertained, stimulated and marvelling at the world around me regarding Whaligoe Steps. So let me take this opportunity to share the story thus far dating back only a few months when I kickstarted this modest blogging website.
(Social media screenshot) Coverage at the time of the dangerous numbers of visitors overwhelmed the immediate infrastructure at Whaligoe Steps
Due to the frustrating lack of acknowledgement by the Highland Council to the plight facing residents and visitors to Whaligoe Steps over the past five years (!), I took the plunge and paid for this website in August, 2021. For one reason or another, nobody else was in a situation locally to provide a sensible and socially aware approach to bringing attention to the evident health and safety risks of residents and visitors here.
After being informed by other residents of constant minor vehicle-related incidents in the residents carpark, or near misses to pedestrians in relation to the significant increase to traffic either mounting the kerb, or trying to negotiate a singular access point which was not built for purpose of this magnitude, I decided to do something about it! The proverbial cherry on top of the cake arrived nearly a year prior, when in September, 2020, my outer wall was knocked down by an impressive sized campervan! My stress levels hit an all time high.
Residents carpark totally full in August, 2021 – No space for residents or anyone wishing to visit residents…
As of the middle of January, 2022, I’m sad to update one and all with how nothing has changed regarding this specific concern. Mind you, in fairness to the Highland Council they did eventually provide a well-used dustbin for refuse collection as we had at that point no facilities other than a yellow grit bin! The rubbish bin is a silver lining to what has been a huge disappointment thus far.
I took a screenshot of a relevant online meeting the Highland Council orchestrated regarding significant increases to tourism in the Highlands and the impacts thereof. This meeting was held on September 29th (2021) and apart from their back-slapping over providing wardens to assess and data-collect, they also recognised that lessons in social media would be beneficial.
Despite only one local Councillor venturing out to meet me and discuss or listen to my woes, I have emailed all others from the local Ward to no avail. The warden I witnessed on a couple of occasions who visited the carpark and immediate area when no traffic and disruption was unfolding, made no overtures of communication or data-collection from myself or those who I have spoken with.
Sharing this with you is surprisingly cathartic, so I extend my humble thanks to you for listening.
So the first blog entry was on August the 15th, 2021, reporting on the chaos of another year busy with visitors to Whaligoe Steps, and tales of being unable to park in allocated spaces as they were full. As the days rolled by in a blur of constant monitoring and anxiety, the website began to take on other elements of what makes this community so interesting and precious.
Photo taken thanks to a trip with Caithness Seacoast in 2021… From the perspective of the north sea looking under the Bink.
There was a trip taken with Caithness Seacoast in 2021 which added to the learning curve regarding the relationship of Whaligoe Steps in context to the coastline leading to Wick. During this time I was learning about the abundant wildlife around Whaligoe Steps, and raising awareness regarding the ominous situation on my doorstep with congestion and volume of visitors by talking to some local newspapers…
Another highlight for me was getting the opportunity to talk to the Stonemason Charles Juhlenski and see him at work. For several months he worked hard repairing and maintaining a couple of flights from the total of six which make up Whaligoe Steps.
Before the end of 2021, on my regular treks down the Steps I was privileged to discover a baby grey seal on the pebble shore. For thirteen days I monitored the transition as the white fur gave way to a grey coat, and the general confidence the pup developed as it became aware of its surroundings. Two blogs covered this experience and even now I am so warm-hearted by the whole encounter.
Baby grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
Me with a salvage of plastic pollution
Baby grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) – One of my last photos of a grey seal pup after monitoring it for 13 days…
I think that will do for what was supposed to be a condensed recap of the past few months here at Whaligoe Steps.
The positive feedback and support from local folk as well as those beautiful people from around the globe, from Australia to Africa, Canada and the U.S., to many other interesting parts of the Earth, have been at times sincerely overwhelming. I thank you one and all.
It would be remiss of me not to say that your continued support simply visiting and reading some of the content; following the various social media enterprises associated with this website; and those who subscribed to this venture via the online form, are very much appreciated and add to the unity of cultural insight and awareness of this area of the Highlands coastline in Scotland. You also get to peek behind a curtain and relate to community impact in the face of a perceived apathy and uncomfortable political situation. I share my humble gratitude with you and look forward to sharing more of this unfolding true story with you.
This year, 2022, is looking like it will be one truly insane time! Where unassuming visitors and residents already battle-weary, will be confronting another dangerous and chaotic arena of feverish activities. Not only is access for emergency services in question, but sadly the constant call for updates within the infrastructure here to cater for toilet facilities, better signage, safer conditions for pedestrians, better parking allocation, and perhaps some communication/transparency from the Highland Council with the residents regarding intentions or plans which may be ahead.
Be assured that it’s my intention to continue working on updates for this website throughout 2022. Covering as much of the evolving landscape, wildlife, revealing the history as I research it, and capturing the carnage which is to follow as the months creep forward.
Thank You again, you’re amazing. Take care and stay safe.
Hello again! I bet you thought I had been out with my camera around Whaligoe Steps taking my photographs of the wildlife, and perhaps fallen in to the north sea?! Well, as you may witness, I am still kicking around!
I have been busy with my general surveillance of nature around the Steps, with updates of activity appearing on social media. It is a blessing to recognise I have a full life. As a consequence, squeezing in what I wish to achieve is most challenging but rewarding when all is said and done.
Photo taken on December 15th, 2021
Firstly, I wish to share that those keen-eyed visitors to WhaligoeEye.co.uk who took the plunge and subscribed are in for a treat. Tomorrow there will be a draw from the names of subscribers I have, and I will then send out an email during Saturday the 18th of December announcing the winner.
I was very nervous trying to compose my first ever subscription email, and I know how sometimes these things can get mislaid. So, to reiterate, those who have subscribed (including recent additions) will automatically be put in to this giveaway draw. The winner who is chosen at random will hear from me via email to organise where and when to send them a cosy hat…
My first ever giveaway prize draw for subscribers
The plan is to sort out two more blog entries in the coming weeks which will address a recap of life around Whaligoe Steps for those who are new to the unfolding story, plus a blog post covering a natural wonder with a (hopefully) positive ending. I don’t wish to elaborate on this as it might bring about some negative presence and unwelcome influence. Mother Nature after all, is a wonderful and powerful entity which will perform as it does.
Photo taken on December 16th, 2021
Not only do I juggle family, my job, downtime and poetry scribbles, but I also find time on my regular trips down Whaligoe Steps to pick up litter! In recent days I noticed as a result of some over-zealous storms, a collection of plastic-based pollution washing up on the pebble beach here. Fear not, after about an hour I had gathered it up and on two visits it was cleared away.
It doesn’t clean away itself apparently…
The final thing to add just now, is simply have yourself a contented Festive time! I sincerely hope it brings many positive memories during what for some can be a bittersweet time of year. My positive wishes and thoughts go out to you all, take care as always and stay safe!
