Wick access road saved from being washed away by sea

The access road to Wick’s North Baths has been saved from being washed away by the sea following swift action by volunteers from Wick Paths Group.

This part of the coast suffers from coastal erosion, particularly when easterly gales drive big waves into Wick Bay. The access route – which is part of the John O’Groats Trail and North Head path, and also leads to the restored World War II pillbox – was in imminent danger of being swept away, with the sea scouring out the beach to within a metre of the road.

The paths group, which has been maintaining and upgrading a number of paths around the town, had earlier this year cleared the road of large boulders thrown up by the sea. The group informed Highland Council of the perilous state of the road but it did not fall into the local authority’s priority list for coastal erosion protection.

Not to be outdone, the group applied successfully to the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council for a Beatrice micro-grant to hire a large excavator and driver from local firm GMR Henderson. The group was able to secure a discounted hire rate because the company was working close by at the old dry dock.

The operator, who had previous experience of repairing eroded areas, was briefed by Wick Paths Group’s project lead, Willie Watt, and large boulders were pulled up from the shore and strategically placed to protect the road from further damage by the sea.

Mr Watt said: “We are very grateful to the community council for providing the funding and Gerry Henderson for the discounted hire rate which enabled this well-used path to be stabilised and protected from the sea."

Related stories:

• Wick volunteers praised for work on North Baths access

• Wick Paths Group praised by community council for 'amazing efforts'

• Award for paths group after upgrading of Wick riverside footbridges

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.