Police are investigating a fresh outbreak of suspected vandalism on the historic Whaligoe Steps in Caithness.
Several near the bottom of the 365-step flagstone clifftop staircase – one of the county’s top visitor attractions – appear to have been smashed.
Wick historian Iain Sutherland, who spent 51 years looking after the site at Ulbster, yesterday said there have been a number of occasions when vandals have struck.
Mr Sutherland, 82, said: “Unfortunately we’ve had to deal with the actions of hooligans who have absolutely no knowledge about the rich history and importance of this site.
“You can’t do anything about them – they’re just mindless.”
Mr Sutherland was part of a small group of volunteers who carried out repairs and restoration and maintenance work on the steps, which date back to the mid 18th century.
The group’s work was recognised when they twice won Shell Best of Britain environmental awards. Mr Sutherland has written a booklet about the steps, which wives of fishermen used to haul creels of herring from the harbour below.
The damage was reported last weekend by Davie Nicolson, who has taken on the mantle of looking after the steps as well as acting as unofficial tour guide.
Grace Maxwell, manager and partner of prominent Scottish singer Edwyn Collins, who recently moved to live in Helmsdale, hit out at the vandalism.
She tweeted: “The Steps are a totem for endurance for Edwyn. We walk them, all the way down and up, every year.
“Davie, the custodian, is a force of nature. They’ve been vandalised before and the good folks fix them every time.”