Lighthouses of Scotland: Orkney Islands

Pentland Firth Lighthouses

Note: Unlike other Scottish firths, Pentland Firth is not an estuary or fjord but a strait, separating the Orkneys from the mainland of Scotland. The strait is dangerous to navigate because of very strong tidal currents. Pentland Skerries Low 1794 (rebuilt in 1820s) (T. Smith and Robert Stevenson). Inactive since 1895. 18 m (60 ft) round stone tower with gallery; lantern removed. Tower painted white. Perry Quick's photo is at right. No longer used as a lighthouse, the tower now houses the station's fog horn (one 4.5 s blast every 45 s). ARLHS SCO-340. Pentland Skerries High (Muckle Skerry) 1794 (rebuilt in 1820s) (T. Smith and Robert Stevenson). Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); three white flashes, separated by 6 s, every 30 s. 36 m (118 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. 1-story keeper's houses and other light station buildings enclosed by a stone wall. Perry Quick's photo is at right, George Brown has a photo, a good aerial photo is available, Marinas.com also has aerial photos, and Cailean Macleod has a distant view taken from Duncansby Head on the Scottish mainland. The Pentland Skerries are small rocky islands obstructing the eastern entrance to Pentland Firth. Located on Muckle Skerry, the largest of the group, about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of Duncansby Head on the mainland and 6 km (3.5 mi) south of Brough Ness, South Ronaldsay, in the Orkneys; the lighthouse is distantly visible from both locations. Accessible only by helicopter, as landing on the island is quite dangerous. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-169; Admiralty A3562; NGA 3020. [Lother Rock] 1910. Active; focal plane 13 m (42 ft); quick-flashing white light. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower with an open lantern structure. Krákorova has a photo. Located on a rock south of Brough Ness, the southernmost point of South Ronaldsay; should be visible from that headland. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-132; Admiralty A3564; NGA 3024.

Pentland Skerries Low (left) and High Lights, November 2008 photo copyright Percy Quick; used by permission

[Swona (2)]

Date unknown (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white flash every 8 s. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) concrete post light with a square gallery; the light is displayed from a short mast. An aerial photo is available. Swona is an island in Pentland Firth about 6 km (3.5 mi) west of Brough Ness and a similar distance northeast of Stroma. Located at the southwestern tip of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-234; Admiralty A3566; NGA 3076.

* Cantick Head 1858 (David and Thomas Stevenson). Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white flash every 20 s. 22 m (72 ft) stone tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. Two 2-story keeper's houses and other light station buildings, enclosed by a stone wall, now available for overnight accommodations. Bernd Schaefer's photo is at right, David Barlow has a good photo, Lighthouse Explorer has a photo by John Mobbs, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. Located at the southeastern corner of Hoy, marking the southern entrance to Scapa Flow. Accessible by road; the island is accessible by ferries from Stromness. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: Cantick Head Lighthouse Cottages. ARLHS SCO-038; Admiralty A3602; NGA 3088. Ruff Reef 1909. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery. Originally this light was maintained by the Cantick Head keepers. Located in Cantick Sound about 500 m (1/3 mi) north of Cantick Head Light. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-197; Admiralty A3604; NGA 3092. Tor Ness (2) 1937 (station established 1897). Active; focal plane 21 m (69 ft); white flash every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A 2008 closeup photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located at the southwestern corner of Hoy marking the northwestern entrance to Pentland Firth, 13 km (8 mi) north of Dunnet Head Light on the mainland. The site does not appear to be accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-244; Admiralty A3600; NGA 3084.

Cantick Head Light, October 2008 Geograph Creative Commons photo by Calum McRoberts

Scapa Flow and Hoy Sound Lighthouses
Note: Scapa Flow is a large natural harbor surrounded by the southern Orkney Islands. One of the largest natural harbors of the world, it provided a refuge and base for the Royal Navy during both World Wars. Hoy Sound is a northwestern extension of the Flow around the north side of the island of Hoy.
* [Hoxa Head (2)]

1996 (station established 1901). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); flash every 3 s, white or red depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) square metal equipment shelter covered with white panels; the light is displayed from a short mast at the top. A concrete World War II lookout tower is near the lighthouse. Jon Page has a view taken from the lookout tower, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Huelse has a historic postcard view of the original lighthouse. Located on the northwestern point of South Ronaldsay Island, marking the east side of the Hoxa Sound entrance to Scapa Flow. Accessible by road about 7 km (4 mi) west of St. Margaret's Hope. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-103; Admiralty A3610; NGA 3100.

Barrel of Butter 1980. Active; focal plane 6 m (19 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 6 m (19 ft) conical masonry tower, topped by a small platform. No lantern; the light is displayed from a short mast at the top. George Brown has a closeup photo, and Marinas.com has good aerial photos. Located on a rock in the northwestern corner of Scapa Flow about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Houton. Accessible only by boat, but this and all the Scapa Flow lights are visible from numerous interisland ferries. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-017; Admiralty A3635; NGA 3172. Cava 1898. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); flash every 3 s, white or red depending on direction. 9.5 m (29 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A nice closeup photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located at the northern tip of Cava, an island in the northwestern corner of Scapa Flow. Accessible only by boat; visible from ferries between Houton and Flotta. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-044; Admiralty A3636; NGA 3176. * Hoy Sound High (Graemsay Island Range Rear) 1851 (Alan Stevenson). Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white or red light, depending on direction, 6 s on, 2 s off. 33 m (108 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted black. 1-story keeper's houses and other buildings enclosed by a stone wall. Trabas has a view from the sea by Capt. Peter Mosselberger, Ian Horne has a good photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. Graemsay Island lies south of Stromness in Hoy Sound, about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of Scapa Flow. The range guides ships eastbound, entering Hoy Sound from the Atlantic. Located on the northeast point of the island. The island is accessible by passenger ferry from Stromness; there is a walk of about 1.5 km (1 mi) roundtrip to visit the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-104; Admiralty A3644.1; NGA 3200.

Hoy Sound High Light, August 2003 Wikipedia Creative Commons photo by Richard Harvey

Hoy Sound Low (Graemsay Island Range Front)

1851 (Alan Stevenson). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); white light, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, unpainted; lantern painted black. 1-story stone keeper's house enclosed by stone wall. World War II fortifications surround the site. The keeper's house is a private residence. Trabas has an excellent photo by Capt. Peter Mosselberger, a 2007 closeup is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on the north point of Graemsay Island, about 2.2 km (1.4 mi) west of the high lighthouse. Site and tower closed; the lighthouse can be viewed from nearby, but it's a fairly long walk from the ferry terminal. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-174; Admiralty A3644; NGA 3196.

Orkney Mainland Lighthouses

Skerry of Ness (2) 1981 (station established 1895). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); white or green flash every 4 s, depending on direction. 10 m (33 ft) concrete post, the light displayed from a small platform at the top. Trabas has a photo by Capt. Peter Mosselberger, a 2007 closeup is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The original lighthouse was a stone tower built by David A. Stevenson. Located just off the southwestern point of Orkney Mainland. Visible from the end of the A965 highway about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Stromness. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-214; Admiralty A3650; NGA 3204. Rose Ness 1905 (David A. Stevenson). Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Anna Krákorova's photo is at right, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This is a sibling of the Cava lighthouse (above). The light supplements a historic daybeacon, a square rubblestone pyramid topped by a wood cross, built in 1867. Doug Lee has a closeup photo of the beacon. Located at the southeastern corner of Orkney Mainland, about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of St. Mary's. The site does not appear to be accessible by road. Site status unknown. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-186; Admiralty A3626; NGA 3164. Copinsay 1915 (David A. Stevenson). Active; focal plane 79 m (259 ft); five white flashes, separated by 2.5 s, every 30 s. 16 m (52 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. 1-story keeper's house and other buildings. Another photo is available, Peter Gordon has a closeup, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Copinsay is a small island about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Point of Ayre on the east side of Orkney Mainland. Formerly inhabited, the island is now a sanctuary owned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat; should be visible from Point of Ayre. Site and tower closed (sensitive ecological preserve). Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (Copinsay Island Sanctuary). ARLHS SCO-049; Admiralty A3676; NGA 3228. Helliar Holm (Saeva Ness) 1893 (David A. Stevenson). Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); flash every 10 s, white, red, or green depending on direction. 13 m (42 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. The abandoned 2-story keeper's house and other buildings are in very poor condition. Trabas has an excellent photo by Helmut Seger, Des Calhoun has a photo, a fine 2007 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. Helliar Holm is an island in Shapinsay Sound between Shapinsay Island and Orkney Mainland, on the north side of the Mainland. Located on Saeva Ness on the south side of the island. Accessible only by boat, but there are good views from the ferry between Kirkwall on Orkney Mainland and Balfour on Shapinsay. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-094; Admiralty 3684; NGA 3236.

Rose Ness Light, June 2006 photo copyright Anna Krákorova used by permission

Kirkwall West Pier (1)

1854. Inactive since 1994. Approx. 6 m (20 ft) round cast iron tower with an ornate lantern. Tower painted white, base and lantern roof red. A 2007 photo is available, and Trabas also has a good photo by When the pier was extended in 1994, this historic light was deactivated and relocated to the west pier of the inner harbor. The modern light, located at a knuckle near the end of the extended pier, is an 11 m (36 ft) post light (focal plane 13 m (43 ft)) displaying a white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2.5 s on, 2.5 s off. Located on the waterfront of Kirkwall. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: unknown. ARLHS SCO-321; Admiralty A3688; NGA 3244.

* Brough of Birsay 1925 (David A. Stevenson). Active; focal plane 52 m (171 ft); three white flashes, separated by 4 s, every 25 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical castellated tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story equipment room. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. A 2008 photo is at right, a good closeup photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located atop a small island just off Brough Head, about 1 km (1/2 mi) west of Birsay on the northwestern corner of Orkney Mainland. Accessible at low tide by a concrete walkway. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-023; Admiralty A3700; NGA 3224. Northern Orkneys Lighthouses Auskerry 1867 (David and Thomas Stevenson). Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); white flash every 20 s. 34 m (112 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story stone keeper's house. A 2008 closeup photo is available. David Lewis has a distant view, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. Located on a small, flat island about 5 km (3 mi) south of Stronsay Island on the east side of the Orkneys. Accessible only by boat. The lighthouse is distantly visible from Stronsay, as seen in Giorgio Griffa's photo. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-011; Admiralty A3680; NGA 3232. [Papa Stronsay (2)] 2002 (?) (station established 1907). Active; focal plane 8 m (27 ft); white light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 5 m (17 ft) square skeletal tower covered with white aluminum panels. Krákorova has a photo, and a blogger reports on a June 2007 NLB maintenance visit to the light. Papa Stronsay is a small island just off Whitehall at the northern tip of Stronsay. The island is privately owned as a cattle farm. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-167; Admiralty A3706; NGA 3268.

Brough of Birsay Light, August 2008 Geograph Creative Commons photo copyright UK Payphone Directory

** Start Point (2)

1870 (Thomas Smith and Robert Stevenson). Station established 1806. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); two white flashes, separated by 2.5 s, every 20 s. 23 m (75 ft) round stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted with black and white vertical stripes; lantern painted black. The 2-story keeper's house is occupied as a private residence, but the owner also looks after the lighthouse informally. Beth Loft has a closeup photo, a 2007 view is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Huelse has a historic postcard view and a second postcard view that shows the lighthouse painted with the present vertical stripes. This is the easternmost lighthouse of the Orkneys, located on a small island off the northeastern tip of Sanday Island. Sanday is accessible by ferry, and the lighthouse can be reached on foot at low tide; a photo shows the crossing point. Tours guided by the owner of the island are available. Site and tower open by appointment. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-225; Admiralty A3718; NGA 3276.

* North Ronaldsay (1) 1789 (Thomas Smith). Inactive since 1809. 21 m (70 ft) round stone tower, unpainted. No lantern. Foundations of the original keeper's house are located next to the tower. The third lighthouse built by the Northern Lighthouse Board, this tower was deactivated after the first Start Point Light was completed. The lantern was replaced by a masonry cap, and the tower was retained as a daybeacon. Jennifer Batten has a good photo, and Alex Cameron has another photo. The tower is now endangered: rotting timbers could allow the masonry ball atop the tower to come crashing through the roof. Located at the most easterly point of Dennis Head at the northeastern tip of North Ronaldsay. The island is accessible by air; ferries from Kirkwall operate only once a week on Fridays, May through September. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: unknown. ARLHS SCO-154. ** North Ronaldsay (2) 1854 (Alan Stevenson). Active; focal plane 43 m (141 ft); white flash every 10 s. 42 m (138 ft) round brick tower with lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is painted with two white horizontal bands that contrast with the dark red color of the bricks. The keeper's houses and other light station buildings were purchased from the lighthouse board by the North Ronaldsay Trust in 2003. A keeper hired by the Trust lives in one of the houses. Rob Burke's photo is at right, Lis Burke has a wider view, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. There are plans to restore the light station for tourist accommodations. Located on the Point of Sinsoss near the northeastern tip of North Ronaldsay, about 1 km (0.6 mi) northwest of the 1789 lighthouse. The island is accessible by air; ferries from Kirkwall operate only once a week on Fridays, May through September. Site open; tower open to guided tours by arrangement wth the keeper and on Sunday afternoons during the summer. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site owner/manager: North Ronaldsay Trust. ARLHS SCO-155; Admiralty A3722; NGA 3280. Calf of Eday (Calf Sound) (2) 2002 (station established 1909). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); three flashes every 10 s, white, red, or green depending on direction. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal cylindrical aluminum tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Eday is an island southwest of Sanday, and Calf of Eday is a smaller island to the northeast, separated from Eday by Calf Sound. There were protests when the Lighthouse Board announced plans for the replacement of the original lighthouse in 2000; as a result, the Board replaced the light with an aluminum replica of the original. Rob Burke has a 2003 photo, a 2007 photo is available, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on Eday (not on Calf of Eday) about 800 m (1/2 mi) north of Blett. There should be good view from a walking trail northward from Blett. Island accessible by ferries from Kirkwall. Site status unknown. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-034; Admiralty A3728; NGA 3288.

1854 North Ronaldsay Light, October 2003 Geograph Creative Commons photo by Rob Burke

* Noup Head

1898 (David A. and Charles Stevenson). Active; focal plane 70 m (259 ft); white flash every 30 s. 24 m (79 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to 1-story service building. Tower painted white, lantern black. Keeper's houses demolished. A 2008 photo is at the top of this page, Craig Taylor has a great photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The lighthouse marks the northwestern corner of the Orkneys on the island of Westray. Located atop a spectacular vertical cliff at the western tip of the island about 7 k (4 mi) northwest of Pierowall. The island is accessible by ferries from Kirkwall; the lighthouse is accessible by road, but 4WD is recommended. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-158; Admiralty A3736; NGA 3292.

Sule Skerry Lighthouse
Sule Skerry

1895 (David A. and Charles Stevenson). Active; focal plane 34 m (113 ft); two white flashes, separated by 3.6 s, every 15 s. 27 m (88 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted black. An automated weather station stands near the lighthouse. Another photo is available. The lighthouse, considered the most isolated British light station, was originally equipped with a giant "hyperradiant" Fresnel lens almost 5 m (16 ft) in diameter. Sule Skerry is a rocky islet with an area of 15 ha (35 acres) about 65 km (40 mi) west of the Orkneys. The island is a critically important nesting site for birds. (In Scottish folklore it was also the home of the Great Silkie, a sea monster.) Accessible only by boat or helicopter. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-231; Admiralty A3868; NGA 3568.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted September 17, 2004. Checked and revised August 24, 2009. Lighthouses: 22. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.