Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Sean Murphy

Scotland's most spectacular lighthouses

With an incredible coastline and over 900 islands, it's no surprise that Scotland has its fair share of lighthouses.

Striking structures built to weather any storm as well as the attentions of the sea, there are currently over 200 to found across the country.

With 2020 being the year of Coasts and Waters, here are some of the most incredible.

Neist Point Lighthouse, Isle of Skye

The stunning lighthouse at Neist Point on the Isle of Skye. (Getty)

Easily one of the most recognisable lighthouses in Scotland due to its dramatic location perched at the edge of a cliff on the most westerly point of Skye.

Neist (pronounced Neest) Point Lighthouse has even appeared in some films, built in 1900 its light can be seen up to 16 nautical miles offshore.

Barns Ness Lighthouse near Dunbar

Barns Ness Lighthouse. (Mat Fascione/CCv2.0)

 

Located close to town of Dunbar on Scotland's south east coast, the picturesque Barns Ness Lighthouse was built between 1899-1901.

Constructed by the engineers and brothers David and Charles Stevenson, who were cousins of novelist Robert Louis Stevenson, it was deactivated in the early 00s and is now deluxe waterfront holiday cottages.

Stoer Lighthouse, Sutherland

Stoer Lighthouse sits on the most westerly point of Assynt in Sutherland. (Getty)

Sitting on the most westerly point of Assynt in north-west Sutherland, the squat building that is the Stoer Lighthouse are only 14m high but thanks to its elevation it sits 54 metres above sea level.

Reportedly designed and built around 1870 by the Stevenson family it still functions but the cottages have been transformed into luxury holiday lets.

Mull of Galloway Lighthouse, Stranraer

The pristine Mull of Galloway Lighthouse. (Krzysztof Hryniewski/CCv2.0)

This pristine lighthouse lies on The Mull of Galloway, Scotland's most Southerly Point (it's further south than Newcastle) with the tower itself standing 26 metres high and the light 99 metres above sea level.

Serving as a visitor attraction it's the perfect place to learn more about this fascinating part of Scotland's coastal history.

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Shetland

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse. (Ronnie Robertson/CCv2.0)

Situated on the southern tip of the Mainland of Shetland, Sumburgh Head is the oldest on the island and its most famous.

Interestingly, it was built in the 1820s by Robert Stevenson and even featured a working foghorn, now a visitor attraction in its own right, it's well worth a visit if you're ever on the island.

Eilean Mòr Lighthouse, Eilean Mòr

Eilean Mòr Lighthouse. (Chris Downer/CCv2.0)

The site of one of Scotland's most enduring island mysteries, Eilean Mor was where in December 1900, Captain James Harvey discovered the disappearance of the lighthouse's three resident keepers.

Replacement keeper Joseph Moore, who had travelled with Harvey found a deserted lighthouse with half eaten food and upturned chairs but no sign of the men he was sent to replace.

The three experienced lighthouse keepers were never found and the mystery remains to this day.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.