Whaligoe Steps

Yesterday my friend Nick and I set off for a holiday to Orkney stopping for the night in Dornoch to break the journey.
Today on the way to the ferry we had a quick look at Dunrobin Castle and since we had plenty time we stopped a few miles south of Wick to look at Whaligoe and its steps.
The steps, all 365 of them, were built around 1792 and lead down a near 250 ft cliff face to an inlet of the sea where a landing area was constructed for fishing boats and their catch of cod and haddock. These were then carried up the steps in baskets by the women to be salted or sold to the crafters.
When we reached the top we were met by a fascinating weather beaten man called Davy who's grandfather had owned the last boat and he showed us a photo taken in 1945 and preceded to tell us the history of the area.
Onward to the ferry and we arrived in Orkney still in glorious weather- will it last ?
I then headed for Kirkwall library and the family history society since one of the reasons for the trip is to do some family history research - my grandfather Rendall was born in Kirkwall in 1883 and his predecessor in Westray where we will be heading tomorrow.
Thanks to the advice I was given I found the house where my grandfather had been brought up , the lovely house where my great grandparents had been married and the gravestone in St Magnus cathedral cemetery of one of my grandfather's sisters who died when she was only 17. ( extra shows me in front of my grandfather's house)
Early ferry tomorrow to Westray and hope to see some puffins.