Whaligoe Steps

The Whaligoe Steps are the only access to Whaligoe Haven, an ancient harbor in the north of Scotland. The steep stairs are bounded on three sides by cliff faces that reach some 250 feet into the sky. The steps themselves are hewn into the rock, with some recent repairs to allow safe access.

Around 1793, Captain David Brodie paid a local stonemason to cut stairs in the side of the cliff, to provide easier access to the harbor. The steps wind a zig-zag pattern that follows the shape of the cliff. Different sources estimate different total numbers of stairs—some say 330, while others say 365.