The town of Wick, located in the famed Highland Council area of Scotland earns its name because of the fact that it sits right alongside the beloved River Wick. This noble body of water has been breathing life and vitality into the area for countless years and throughout history Wick has been a sought after destination because of its unique beauty and charm. Unlike many other surrounding cities, Wick's roots are in fact indelibly intertwined with Norse History. Most places in the United Kingdom arose through Roman rule into control by either Saxons, Normans, Danes, or a combination of those empires. As such, the history of many UK cities is, while interesting, sometimes repetitive.
Wick's history, on the other hand, is rooted in the days of Norwegian rule and the most stunning relic left behind from that era is on display for all to see just outside the town's limits. It is the famed Castle of Old Wick. This castle was built in the 1100s and unbeknownst to the Norwegians setting up shop, their reign would come to an end less than a century later. At any rate we were lucky that they held on long enough to craft this imposing yet gorgeous edifice. Sadly, little of the castle remains but at its peak the stronghold was over four stories high and covered a wide swath of the surrounding land. These days little more than a tower remains but it is still a fascinating spectacle that rises proudly to the sky. The locals have colloquially referred to the lone tower as the "Old Man of Wick" for several generations now. After the Norwegians were ousted the castle was owned by several different nobles throughout the years but by the 1600s it was abandoned and fell prey to disrepair and neglect.
There are many other great relics that date back to different eras in Wick's history, though, and many of these are proudly displayed in the famed Wick Heritage Museum. Another great source of pride for the city is the Wick Carnegie Library. The Highland council oversees the direction of this esteemed building and it's a good thing, too, since some of the manuscripts and letters in the Library date back to the 1500s and beyond! One needn't be a fan of history to appreciate the unique and quirky nature of this beloved town, though. All around are sights that will marvel and thrill even the most discerning of visitors and tourists. Chief among these sights is the street in Wick known as Ebenezer Place. While a normal looking street at first glance, one will quickly see that the street is actually just over two meters long and is thus the world's shortest street according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Only one door and address belong to the street and it is a very popular spot to take a photograph in front of. This is the kind of town Wick is, however. It is the kind of place where there is always something exciting to see no matter what your definition of excitement is.
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