Whaligoe Steps,Caithness

The second and final capture of the last day of our Orkney Trip, a stop at Whaligoe steps in rather wet weather - although a break in the rain afforded a chance to fly Mighty Midge the second, who performed admirably.
Due to the wet wether we declined the walk down and back up - although it is something I would like to do next time, weather permitting. The house at the top of the steps is currently for sale, imagine living with that view and the walk on your doorsteps - I would have to walk it daily in remembrane of the women who carried baskets of fish from the small harbour up the steps several times a day...
Drone - 'Mighty Midge' - DJI MINI3 Pro
Edited using - DaVinci Resolve 18 (beta)
Music - Blackbird (Lon-dubh) - Julie Fowlis
From Wikipedia
Whaligoe is a small port which was prospected by Thomas Telford in 1786 during his tour of northern fishing harbours for the British Fishing Society. His judgement of the place was that it was a "terrible spot". However, undaunted, Captain David Brodie spent £8 to cut the famous 365 steps. His confidence was rewarded in 1814 with the harbour supporting 14 herring boats.
The Whaligoe Steps is a man-made stairway of 365 steps that descend to what was a naturally formed harbour between two sea cliffs - once a landing place for fishing boats. The steps are located just south of the town of Wick in Caithness on Scotland's most northeasterly coast. They date originally from the mid-18th century and were once used by fisherwomen to haul up the creels of herring landed at the harbour beneath. Crews of women, some in their early seventies, would gut the fish - Herring, cod, Haddock, or Ling - and would carry them up the steps in baskets to be taken on foot to be sold in Wick, some 7 to 8 miles away. Barrels made in the cooperage at the top of the cliffs were taken down for salted herring to be stored in then taken away by schooner. Although a popular attraction today, 'Whaligoe Steps' is notoriously difficult to find as the steps are not signposted on the main road. Sea birds such as oystercatchers and terns nest in the cliffsides and circle on the wind down to the water. A sea cave provides another opportunity for exploration.
The steps were repaired early in the 19th century and again very recently. The late Etta Juhle cleared about 30 tons of rubble by herself in 1975 after a landslip and David Nicolson of Ulbster has worked continuously on the steps with local historian Iain Sutherland and many other volunteers since 1998, repairing the barking kettles, quarrying stone, manually carrying it up or down the cliffs and grass-cutting about every three weeks during the summer season. 'Whaligoe Steps' has won the Shell Best of Britain award twice. In 1808, seven boats worked Whaligoe. By 1826 their number had risen to twenty four, but thereafter declined rapidly.
#scotland #landscape #cinematic #epic #djimini3pro #djiair3 #chillout #relaxing #landscapeandmusic #drone #highlands #albiondrones

[@ladyintheskyuk]

Stunning footage my friend 👏 👍 spectacular scenery and flying 👌 love it❤

[@albiondrones]

Many thanks, I wanted to get closer, but too many birds to try at this visit - in nesting season - and the wet weather was an issue, but happy with what I got, have some ideas for the next time I am there though, whenever that may be :)

[@martywolfman]

Just looking at those stairs makes my knees hurt! Great video though, beautiful scenery!

[@albiondrones]

Thanks for the visit and comment... YYeah, we went about a 1/4 of the way down, but it was wet and slippery, so decided not to go any lower on that trip... The people who lived there used to carry baskets of fish up those steps several times a day, hardy folks..

[@rsmickeymooproductions4877]

I think I would be stopping a few times when climbing those steps. Great footage mate.

[@albiondrones]

You and me both, we forewent the climb down and back as it was treacherously wet, but I will do it at some point... The house at the top is for slae, would love to live there, but would make it a daily pilgrimage to climb down and back...

[@eyeintheskydrone4k]

Excellent footage. I've read about them but never seen them, Thanks for sharing

[@albiondrones]

Many thanks, glad it was enjoyed :)

[@Irishherbs]

Great footage,and lovely music..Interesting story of the steps..How dependent we were on the sea,and not so long ago. . thank you

[@albiondrones]

Thank you, glad it was enjoyed... We should live in a more sustainable way with the world around us, and the sea should be a part of that, but it needs time to recover form overfishing... Perhaps we have much to learn from our predessors...

[@stardrone]

Incredible area, would love to fly a drone somewhere like this. Great job, new sub here!

[@albiondrones]

Thanks for watching commenting and subscribing IIRC I am already subbed to your channel Whalligoe is an amazing place just a shame the weather was soo wet and we couldnt go down to the bottom of the steps Next time I shall have a larger drone and really try and get something extra to what I captured at this visit :) Hope you get the chance to catch some of the other video's on the channel :)

[@johnnymac26]

Brilliant work as always mate and an impressive flight of a flight of stairs lol but what i find amazing is who built them thats an impressive feat

[@albiondrones]

Thanks Johnnymac, 365 steps down 300 ft, I would say one of the most imipressive flights of stairs in the UK for definite! Details on the history - Telford refused to build them, another architect did though - are in the YT Notes :)

[@discover-montenegro]

Awesome stairs! 🥰 They had some purpose? Aside descending down seaside? Lovely shots👍🤗

[@albiondrones]

Yes, they were for a small group of fishermen who docked their boats there and sailed daily for the Herring, about 6 to 8 boats. The womenfolk came down and unloaded the catch, carrying them up the stairs in baskets before gutting and then taking them to markey... Harsh times and hardy people... Glad the video was enjoyed, thanks :)

[@discover-montenegro]

@@albiondrones Ahh yes different times, must been a lovely scene, love how strong these old roads are.