View Full Version : Whaligoe steps and bay
Went for a visit today for the first time ever and it was beautiful.
Anyone know if it's safe for swimming? It looked just right for dip.
George Brims
19-Apr-03, 01:13
Safe? What about hypothermia?!?! I suppose you could swim there in the sheltered bit, but I hate swimming near rocks like that. I always imagine some unexpected wave, or the wake of some passing oil tanker.
I thought we'd all acclimatised so well up here we couldn't get hypothermia! :D
Seriously though you're right about the waves and rocks but it was just so calm yesterday, it seemed to be saying jump in.
Did find a lovely bit of driftwood for the garden. Weighed about 40lbs. The wife and I carried it back up. I was just about ready for cpr when i got to the top. In agony today!
George Brims
20-Apr-03, 02:17
I wonder how much a basket of herring used to weigh when the fishermens' wives used to carry the catch of the day up those steps in baskets on their backs. I bet you would have found it easier to carry if you had been able to get it across your shoulders. Still quite a climb though. Of course they built them tougher in those days. Or was it the diet of herring and tatties?
Anonymous
21-Apr-03, 12:59
I must be on the PC too much - I misread the title, thought it said Whalagoe Steps on Ebay!! Was thinking of putting in a bid [lol]
I must be on the PC too much - I misread the title, thought it said Whalagoe Steps on Ebay!! Was thinking of putting in a bid [lol]
hehe :D
George Brims
21-Apr-03, 19:38
I would have bid on that too! My great-grandfather used to fish out of Whaligoe. Would have been nice to own it. I wonder who does own it. Anybody know?
I would have bid on that too! My great-grandfather used to fish out of Whaligoe. Would have been nice to own it. I wonder who does own it. Anybody know?
Don't know but they could do with some tourist agency getting behind them to help with the upkeep.
Bill Fernie
24-Apr-03, 00:37
If anyone want to see the steps go to this link http://www.caithness.org/atoz/whaligoe/allthesteps/index.htm Sorry they are not in the new gallery format. They will go into that format one day when we take all the pictures again on a brighter day.
An article on the harbour and steps is at http://www.caithness.org/caithnessfieldclub/bulletins/1982/april/whaligoe.htm
Amazing that the cost of the steps was £8. Quite amazing even for those days and the words Slave Labour spring to mind.
In recent years the Wick society have ben responsible for making repairs to the steps a duty taken on I understand at their own volition under the leadership of Iain Sutherland. There was a small contribution box there a while ago and it is probably stlil in place at the start of the path before the house at the top of the steps. So cheap labour paid for the steps and in recent years free voluntary labour has helped to maintain them. A look through the web site will if you think about it show that the huge number of voluntary groups n the county are responsible for much more than just the Whaligoe Steps. But that is one of the reasons I like the place - folk just get on with lots of things.
The donation box is still there.
They've did a fantastic job and I am glad there are people looking after it and keeping it open to the public but it does show signs of needing £investment which is why I suggested some tourist agency should get behind them.
Either way, thanks to those who are working to keep this and other such areas available to us all.
The big problem about doing anything at Whaligoe is that the Ayatollahs of health and safety would tell you to shut the place down unless you provide a safety rail and disabled ramp for wheelchairs!
Seriously it is as bad as that. The government agency Historic Scotland would need to be consulted and they would further tie you in knots with special permissions and also involve the archaeologists and the listed building expert at Highland Council.
Then any insurance company for the sponsoring body and the contractor would want to have their say plus the Health and Safety planner for the contractors would want his pound of flesh.
The best answer is for people like Ian Sutherland with a healthy disrespect for authority to go in and simply do what needs to be done and let the public proceed at their own risk. The regulations around any slightly risky and unusual building operation do not serve the best interests of locations like Whaligoe.
if you have to use one probably the best choice of external contractor would be one of the mountain path building specialists but there are not many people left with the skills to lay flags like they used to.
We elect Councillors like Bill Fernie to grapple with problems like this on our behalf! Do we want fewer bends at the Ord or are historical sites like Whaligoe Steps more important?
How do you get to them, though..............I had visitors who wanted to see them...........but despite a map, they couldn't work out how to get there!
They carried on and went to Dunnet Head instead, but they had seen the photos of the steps on the Org, and were disappointed not to see the real thing!
I said I'd try and find out before they came back. So http://www.oddquine.co.uk/emoticons/th_please.gif
whaligoe steps are on the way to Lybster on the left hand side, signposted, just pass a large house with a pond, turn left there where there is a row of council houses, park at the end, then walk down the steps.!
porshiepoo
25-Apr-06, 00:44
It is confusing though cos it seems as though you're going through someones garden to get to the steps. If you get lost though theres a guy in one of the council houses that would be happy to show you the way and tell you the history of the place - he walks the steps everyday.
The place does look like a great place to swim. I had a swim in the cove at Lybster in the summer though and those rocks have those really sharp shells attatched to them, our legs came out shredded.
Bet it would be fun to take the dinghies down there though.
George Brims
25-Apr-06, 01:15
Tsk tsk Fran, those are terrible directions! On the way to Lybster from *where*? It's no good saying something is on the left hand side of the road unless you say which way you're travelling! Oh well, at least you didn't say "You can't miss it". That's usually a bad sign.
I agree George, my directions were bad. I should have said going south from wick for about 12 miles.
It is confusing though cos it seems as though you're going through someones garden to get to the steps. If you get lost though theres a guy in one of the council houses that would be happy to show you the way and tell you the history of the place - he walks the steps everyday.
The place does look like a great place to swim. I had a swim in the cove at Lybster in the summer though and those rocks have those really sharp shells attatched to them, our legs came out shredded.
Bet it would be fun to take the dinghies down there though.
O.M.G I remember that place very well . Thought you were going to disapear on your blow up, what a laugh that was !
O.M.G I remember that place very well . Thought you were going to disapear on your blow up, what a laugh that was !
Pity she didna! [lol] [lol]
I agree George, my directions were bad. I should have said going south from wick for about 12 miles.
Your distance estimates are even worse, it's about 7-8 miles from wick to the whaligoe steps.
Pity she didna! [lol] [lol]
nice one sharp i say lol
pultneytooner
25-Apr-06, 13:37
I wonder how much a basket of herring used to weigh when the fishermens' wives used to carry the catch of the day up those steps in baskets on their backs. I bet you would have found it easier to carry if you had been able to get it across your shoulders. Still quite a climb though. Of course they built them tougher in those days. Or was it the diet of herring and tatties?
They not only carried them up the steps but also carried them into wick.
Definitely a hardier generation as most folk would find it hard to take themselves up those steps nevermind with a basket of herring on their backs.
On a similiar subject has anyone been across the rope bridge in Berriedale? Great when the river is high... :)
On a similiar subject has anyone been across the rope bridge in Berriedale? Great when the river is high... :)
yes i have but not when the river was high though love the two cottage's there on the sea front
also great time of year to go there is about june july time you see the grilses going up through the river .
Whaligoe must be one of the most undervalued treasures of Caithness.
People come from all over the world to visit the location and get a great reception from Dave Nicolson, who acts has an unpaid guide.
Whaligoe is also one of the best locations in Caithness for seeing Dolphin, Minkes, Porpoise and Killer Whales.
I recorded 9 minkes and 12 Orcas from the top of the steps during July and August last year.
Orcas were also seen by Dave on numerious other occasions.
My wife with a visiting friend on her first visit to Caithness also saw one very close to shore.
It makes me sick that a tourist attraction like whaligoe struggles to get funds when Manchester united are given £30,000 from the lottery fund to help their staff keep fit.
Manchester united being one of if not the most wealthy football clubs in the world.
On a similiar subject has anyone been across the rope bridge in Berriedale? Great when the river is high... :)
Even better if there's a howling gale. Not for the faint hearted in poor weather. And dont walk in front of somebody thats twice your weight and has a sick sense of humour.
How do you get to them, though..............I had visitors who wanted to see them...........but despite a map, they couldn't work out how to get there!
They carried on and went to Dunnet Head instead, but they had seen the photos of the steps on the Org, and were disappointed not to see the real thing!
I said I'd try and find out before they came back. So http://www.oddquine.co.uk/emoticons/th_please.gif
They are oposite the sign to "hill o many staines". Instead of turning landward, you turn seaward.... I think there is a phone box on the corner of where you have to turn?
Ju your not helping lol. Its not the hill o many staines ,its opposite the sign for cairn o get.
pultneytooner
25-Apr-06, 20:28
It's in ulbster on the left hand side of the row of white houses.
Tugmistress
25-Apr-06, 20:36
oh fudge trying to decipher all these directions, who lives on the route from Thurso to there and wants to go tomorrow? i'll pick you up!
I have never been but heard a lot about them, and would like to take some pix :)
Niall Fernie
26-Apr-06, 09:43
Google map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&sll=58.345047,-3.1499&sspn=0.026891,0.079393&q=whaligoe&ll=58.345047,-3.1499&spn=0.026891,0.051413&om=1)
It is tricky to find, but if you follow the map, and take pultneytooner's advice to watch out for the little row of white houses, you should be OK.
If coming from Wick, the houses are on your left and you turn off just before them. Then drive past the houses and there is a wee car park at the end of them.
Once you've parked your car, go down the hill and I think there is a house/building with a walled garden that you need to go around, but I might be making that up!
Don't expect to see a sign for it.
Squeezy is about right.
It might help to Know that if you come from Wick once your past the Mill pond on the left -its the next left, it has a phone box on the corner of the road.
As for finding the steps if Dave is on the ball he'll be on you before your out of the car, and show you the way. ( he'll even show you his old pictures of the steps)
If you are going soon give him my regards and i'll see him when the sea is a little calmer.
Colin
Thanks, everybody.............I'm pretty sure I'm going to be able to direct them when they come back up.
I think part of their problem was that they did expect to see a sign.
I've been there dozens of time in the last three years.
I think this answers your question. What Goat?
Who was it that appeared on Billy Connolly's World Tour of Scotland video at the Whaligoe Steps?
Alice in Blunderland
01-May-06, 21:33
Who was it that appeared on Billy Connolly's World Tour of Scotland video at the Whaligoe Steps?
I think it was Daves neighbour from a couple of doors down I can only remember his nickname which I better not say formally he is called James I think.
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