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Anger as dumping near Caithness castle causes damage to footpath


By Alan Hendry

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Some of the soil, rubble and building waste – including a section of sewerage pipe – just across from the historic Castle of Old Wick, photographed on Wednesday afternoon. Pictures: Alan Hendry
Some of the soil, rubble and building waste – including a section of sewerage pipe – just across from the historic Castle of Old Wick, photographed on Wednesday afternoon. Pictures: Alan Hendry

A section of footpath near an ancient Caithness castle has become "a complete disaster" following an apparent act of fly-tipping.

It has left a wide expanse of ground in a badly churned-up state, with a large pile of rubble and building waste deposited over a cliff-top close to the 860-year-old Castle of Old Wick.

The damage to the South Head path – which was upgraded two years ago by a team of volunteers – provoked outrage at a meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council this week.

Chairperson Joanna Coghill told members: “A big vehicle has been driving over it and dumping stuff over the side of the rocks, and it has churned up the path – it’s just a complete disaster now and I’m really disappointed, disheartened and angry that somebody has done that.

“It’s like a big dumper truck or something has come along and has dumped a whole lot of rubble and soil and building waste over the side of the cliff.”

She said she had brought the matter to the attention of Highland Council.

Local Highland councillor Raymond Bremner was similarly dismayed.

“It’s an absolute disgrace, when you think of the amount of work that so many volunteers are putting in throughout the community," he said. "These folk that are doing this just don’t care.”

Councillor Bremner asked if it would be possible for a barrier or bollards to be put in place restricting access onto the path for vehicles.

Community councillor Wendy Campbell suggested contacting the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the environmental regulator. "It’s an environmental subject,” she said.

Photographs of the affected area, beside the old rifle range, show a mix of rubble and waste scattered on a sloping section of cliff across from the castle, while on parts of the path and verges the tyre marks of a large vehicle are clearly visible.

Waste is scattered down a slope just below the South Head footpath.
Waste is scattered down a slope just below the South Head footpath.

The Castle of Old Wick, built by Harald Maddadson around the 1160s, is one of the oldest castles in the country and is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland.

The footpath is popular with local walkers and forms part of the John O’Groats Trail.

In January 2019 members of Wick Paths Group joined forces with Friends of the John O’Groats Trail to carry out improvements to the area.

Paths group secretary John Bogle said this week: "The Wick Paths Group put a lot of time and effort into upgrading this section of path which forms part of the John O'Groats Trail and is very well used at all times of the year by local walkers and runners. It is also used by visitors to access the Castle of Old Wick.

Volunteers from Wick Paths Group who carried out path improvement work near the Castle of Old Wick two years ago. Picture: DGS
Volunteers from Wick Paths Group who carried out path improvement work near the Castle of Old Wick two years ago. Picture: DGS

"The illegal dumping of waste in the countryside really annoys me, and this spot in particular is in an area of outstanding coastal scenery and of great historical interest. Facilities exist within the county for the proper safe disposal of waste – there is no reason to spoil our countryside with no regard to other users or wildlife.

"The access road to the site should be securely locked off to prevent any further dumping."

A spokesperson for Historic Environment Scotland said: “We were disappointed when made aware of this incident on the public path to the Castle of Old Wick, which is a property in our care. The path, which is managed by Highland Council, is extensively used by the public both as a coastal walk and as a route to the castle.

"As fly-tipping is a criminal act we hope that the public will be able to assist the police with any enquiries.”


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