Did you know
A terrible spot.
Thomas Telford, surveying for harbours, called Whaligoe a terrible spot.
Caithness
Whaligoe Steps
A stone stair of some 330 steps zigzagging down the sheer cliffs south of Wick to a tiny harbour where herring boats once landed their catch.
Welcome
Seven miles south of Wick, a narrow road leads to the edge of the land, and there a flight of flagstone steps drops over the cliff and zigzags down, some 330 of them, to a little platform of rock far below.
The Whaligoe Steps are one of the strangest and most wonderful sights on the north coast.
They were built for herring. In the boom of the late 1700s every cove was pressed into use, and even this sheer geo, which Thomas Telford called a terrible spot, became a harbour for two dozen boats. The fishermen landed their catch on the bink at the bottom, and it was carried up the steps in baskets, to be sold at market. The iron winches that hauled the boats out of the water are still there.
Going down is easy; the climb back up is harder.
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Before you go
Open at any time and free.
The steps are steep and can be slippery; take care, and leave time for the climb back.
- Steps
- About 330.
- Cliffs
- 76 metres high.
- Park
- Opposite the Cairn o' Get sign.
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Did you know
Twenty-four boats.
At its height, the tiny harbour at the foot of the steps supported 24 boats.
Ben Lerwill
From our guide to Caithness
Three hundred and sixty five handmade steps still form a precipitous, zigzagging route between the natural harbour of Whaligoe Haven and the clifftop above. They’ve been in use for more than 200 years, chiefly by local fishermen and fisherwomen hauling their catch up to market – herring, salmon and shellfish have all traditionally been abundant.
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What is new across Caithness, day by day.
New places, news and stories, as we find them.
What is on in CaithnessWhere it is
At Ulbster on the A99, seven miles south of Wick; take the road to the coast opposite the Cairn o' Get sign.
Close byWick.
Hill o' Many StanesAncient stone rows nearby.3 miles 4 min by road
Puldagon Farm ShopA family farm near Wick with a farm shop and a restaurant, serving its own Highland beef, lamb and pork, farmed by the family since 1925.6 miles 12 min by road
Lybster6 miles 8 min by road
Lybster Harbour and Lighthouse6 miles 8 min by road
Wick Heritage CentreWick's herring story.8 miles 12 min by road
Grey Cairns of CamsterNeolithic tombs inland.10 miles 18 min by road
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