The current foghorn, known affectionately as the ‘Torry Coo’ (owing to its low sonorous tones) was completed in 1902 and replaced an earlier foghorn which was located to the east of the current structure. The foghorn, like the lighthouse, was once an invaluable aid to navigation.The siren itself is a cylindrical type.The horn was worked by a man who was posted on outlook duty. Although it has not been used for many years it retains a special place in the hearts of people from Torry and is a striking addition to the rugged coastal landscape of this area.
If you look down below you can see the City of Aberdeen Main Drainage Works building. This once elegant, but now rather downtrodden building was constructed as part of the massively engineered sewage outfall system created for Aberdeen as the result of a scheme drawn up in the years 1896-98. Previously, a sewer built in the 1860s had been expanded bit by bit, but by the close of the 19th century, the growth of the city as well as changing standards of sanitation required more radical action. The new sewer was over three miles long, piping effluent from both north and south of the River Dee. This Penstock and Valve House provided an automatic flap that prevented the sea from backing up the sewer, but opened when required by pressure of sewage. The building itself was constructed by John Morgan. The line of the sewer tunnel, which was dug through substantial rock cuttings in places, can be clearly observed on the shore between the Valve House and Nigg Bay.
You can walk from here to another cache "Hi Jack" but this walk is not suitable for buggies or possibly small children due to an area of climbing over low rocks.