Old Lifeboat station and Lighthouse at Wick Harbour, Caithness,Scotland.UK. cover photo - 6656332

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Photo title: Old Lifeboat station and Lighthouse at Wick Harbour, Caithness,Scotland.UK.
Author: Loinshoes

Cover photo description:
Old Lifeboat station and Lighthouse at Wick Harbour, Caithness,Scotland.UK. John O'Groat's is close to Duncansby Head, the parting of the ways of the forbidding northern and eastern coastlines of Caithness. Go west from there and the way is along the bleak southern shores of Pentland Firth, looking across those often troubled waters to the cliffs of Orkney's southern islands; steep-to cliffs characteristic of the area, which throwback the waves, furious and confused, unameliorated by the beach or shelving sea bed. Continue west past Thurso and the coast stretches away to the Kyle of Tongue, along the northern shores of Sutherland and on towards distant Cape Wrath. Head east from John O'Groat's and, within a few miles, Duncansby Head is rounded and the coast runs away south, past Sinclairs Bay and Wick into Moray Firth. In olden days many a ship was lost, but even then remarkable rescues of their crews were achieved by the gallantry and determination of local seafarers. The early history of lifesaving in Caithness follows much the same pattern which was repeated all round our shores: individual effort followed by public concern, perhaps by the provision of a lifeboat by a corporate body moved to accept responsibility for the welfare of local mariners, and finally by the establishment of an RNLI lifeboat station. Today there are two RNLI stations in Caithness: Thurso, established in 1860 on the north coast, and Wick, established in 1895 on the east.