Lighthouses of Southwestern Scotland

This page covers lighthouses of southwestern Scotland, from the Oban area southward, including the Clyde estuary and the Glasgow area. In general, this area includes the regions of Argyll, Bute, Renfrew, Dunbarton, Ayr, and Galloway. However, the Isles of Mull, Coll, and Tiree, which are in the Argyll and Bute Council area, are included on the Northern Scotland page. The Northern Lighthouse Board, established by an act of Parliament in 1786, manages the major lighthouses of Scotland and the Isle of Man. For five generations, engineers of the Stevenson family created for the Board a network of elegant and durable lighthouses famous around the world. Most of these lighthouses remain in service today. Information on the great NLB lighthouses is easy to find on the Internet. It's harder to find information on the harbor lighthouses of Scotland's many ports. Information and photos are needed for some of these sites. Most Scottish lighthouses are accessible by road or hiking trail, but only a few are open for climbing. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from Volume A of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA numbers are from Publication 114. General Sources Northern Lighthouse Board The Board's web site includes information and photos for many of the lighthouses. Lighthouses in Scotland, United Kingdom Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com. Lighthouse Beacons from Scotland Photos and very brief accounts posted by Sharma Krauskopf for her e-journal Scottish Radiance. Along Scotland's Shores Photos of Scottish lighthouses by Pete Amass. Online List of Lights - Scotland Photos posted by Alexander Trabas. Bill Newman Lighthouse Page This amateur radio operator's site has photos of many Scottish lighthouses. Petra's Scotland Pages - Lighthouse List Photos posted by a German visitor. 44th Lighthouse Expedition America's wide-ranging Carter family toured Scottish lights in 2004. The Stevensons The history of Scotland's remarkable family of lighthouse engineers.

Davaar Light photo copyright Neil Robertson; used by permission  Carraig Fhada Light, September 2005 Creative Commons photo by Glen Finlas

Oban Area and Firth of Lorne Lighthouses

* Dunollie 1892 (David A. and Charles Stevenson). Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red, or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) unpainted stone tower with lantern and gallery; lantern painted white. Ian Wright's photo is at right, Trabas has a good photo by Ronald Wöhrn, Newman has several photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Terry Winter has a closeup of the lantern. This tiny lighthouse is a directional light guiding ships into Oban Harbour from the Firth of Lorne. Located just off the Corran Esplanade in Dunollie, on the north side of Oban. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-064; Admiralty A4178; NGA 4104. Sgeirean Dubha Date unknown (station established 1892). Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); two white flashes every 12 s. 7 m (23 ft) square tower on a square concrete base, painted white. Trabas has a photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on the largest of several rocky islets in the Sound of Kerrera, the southern route from the Firth of Lorne to Oban. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-206; Admiralty A4186; NGA 4120. Fladda 1860 (Thomas and David Stevenson). Active; focal plane 13 m (42 ft); two white flashes every 9 s, white, red, or green depending on direction. 13 m (42 ft) masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted black. 1-story keeper's houses in fairly good condition. David Wyatt has a closeup, Nicola Lang has a nice view from the sea, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. The island and light station, except the tower, were sold into private ownership in 1976. Located on a small island about 3 km (2 mi) southwest of Cullipool on the Isle of Luing, marking the entrance to the Sound of Luing. Accessible only by boat (ecotours that visit the site are available). Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: private. ARLHS SCO-083; Admiralty A4190; NGA 4128. [Dubh Sgeir (2)] 2002 (station established 1910). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); flash every 6 s, white, red, or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) skeletal tower clad in white aluminum panels as a daymark. Gordon Brown has a photo. The name, which means Black Rock in Gaelic, should be Sgeir Dubh, but the incorrect word order is traditional on light lists. Located about 800 m (1/2 mi) west of Cullipool on the largest of several rocky islets in the north end of the Sound of Luing. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-061; Admiralty A4192; NGA 4132.

Dunollie Light, April 2008 photo copyright Ian Wright; used by permission

[The Garvellachs (Isles of the Sea) (2)]

2003 (station established 1904). Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 6 s. 5 m (17 ft) skeletal tower clad in white aluminum panels as a daymark. Allan Bowes has contributed a photo and has posted some additional photos; Marinas.com has aerial photos. The Garvellachs, or Isles of the Sea, are a string of small rocky islands oriented northeast to southwest in the lower Firth of Lorne. The lighthouse is at the southwestern tip of the archipelago on Eileach an Naoimh, the Isle of the Saints, famous as the site of a sixth century monastery founded by St. Brendan. Accessible only by boat; tours to the island are available. Site status unknown. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: private. ARLHS SCO-238; Admiralty A4196; NGA 4136.

* [Scalasaig (3)]

2003 (station established 1903). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) skeletal tower clad in white aluminum panels as a daymark. There is a photo (1/3 of the way down the page) showing the second light at this site, a square masonry tower; the original light was a round tower. Scalasaig is the principal town of the Isle of Colonsay, which is accessible by ferry from Oban. Located on a headland on the south side of the harbor entrance, about 500 m (1/3 mile) southeast of the ferry pier. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-202; Admiralty A4200; NGA 4140.

Isle of Islay Lighthouses

Rinns of Islay 1825 (Robert Stevenson). Active; focal plane 46 m (150 ft); white flash every 5 s. 29 m (96 ft) masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted black. 1-story keeper's houses and other buildings enclosed by a stone wall. Glen Finlas's photo appears at right, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. A handsome early nineteenth century tower. Fred Fox reports his experiences as a supernumerary keeper here in 1973. Located on the Isle of Orsay, a small island sheltering the harbor of Portnahaven at the southwestern tip of Islay. Accessible only by boat, but there are good views from the Portnahaven waterfront. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-184; Admiralty A4256; NGA 4232. * Loch Indaal (Rubh' an Duin, Port Charlotte) 1869 (Thomas and David Stevenson). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); flash every 7 s, white or red depending on direction. 13 m (42 ft) cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is black. The 2-story stone keeper's house is available for overnight accommodations. Dorcas Sinclair has an excellent closeup, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on Loch Indaal, on the southeast side of the Rinns of Islay peninsula, at Port Charlotte. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: Lochindaal House. ARLHS SCO-198; Admiralty A4254; NGA 4236.

Rinns of Islay Light, August 2005 Creative Commons photo by Glen Finlas

* Port Ellen (Carraig Fhada)

Date unknown (station established 1832). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red, or green depending on direction. 19 m (57 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower accompanied by a similar but shorter tower. The shorter tower might be the original lighthouse. No lantern; the light is displayed from a short mast at the top of the tower. A photo appears at the top of this page, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Thomas Keetley has a 2008 closeup, Jono Renton has a distant view, and a view from the sea is available. The lighthouse was built by Walter Frederick Campbell, Laird of Islay, and dedicated as a memorial to his wife, Lady Ellinor Campbell, for whom Port Ellen is named; she died at age 36 late in 1832. The lighthouse was refurbished and repainted in 2003-04. Located on a rocky point at the western entrance to the harbor of Port Ellen on the southern peninsula of Islay. Accessible by road; the tower can be reached by a walkway at low tide. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: Carraig Fhada Farm. ARLHS SCO-043; Admiralty A4248; NGA 4228.

Eilean a'Chuirn

1907. Active; focal plane 26 m (84 ft); three white flashes every 18 s. 5 m (17 ft) tower with lantern, painted white. No closeup photo available, but Marinas.com has aerial photos. The lighthouse was repainted in July 2002. Located on a small island about 1.5 km (1 mi) south of Ardmore, marking the easternmost point of Islay. Site status unknown. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-349; Admiralty A4242; NGA 4224.

MacArthur's Head

1861 (Thomas and David Stevenson). Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. 13 m (42 ft) masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted black.The keeper's houses have been demolished. Claire Pegrum has a closeup, and a distant view from the sea shows the lighthouse and the enclosing wall. Located on the headland at the southwestern entrance to the Sound of Islay, which separates Islay from Jura. This very scenic site is not accessible by road, but there is a somewhat demanding hiking trail (16 km or 10 mi roundtrip) from Ardtalla. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-134; Admiralty A4240; NGA 4220.

Carragh Mhor 1928. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); flash every 6 s, white or red depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) octagonal cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Guy Beauchamp's photo appears at right, and Mick Garrett has a closeup. Located on the west (Islay) side of the Sound of Islay about 1 km (2/3 mi) south of the ferry terminal at Port Askaig, marking the beginning of the narrowest portion of the strait separating Islay from Jura. Site status unknown. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-042; Admiralty A4238; NGA 4216. Ruvaal (Rhuvaal, Rubh'a Mhàil) 1859 (Thomas and David Stevenson). Active; focal plane 45 m (147 ft); three flashes, separated by 2 s, every 15 s, white or red depending on direction. 34 m (112 ft) masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted black. 1-story keeper's houses and other buildings enclosed by a stone wall. The light station, except for the tower, is privately owned. Martin Junius has photos from a 1998 visit, Marinas.com has good aerial photos, and another fine photo is available. The light station is at the northeastern tip of Islay, marking the northern entrance to the Sound of Islay. The site is not accessible by road, although it is possible to reach it by hiking 12 km (7.5 mi) roundtrip from Bunnahabhain. Site and tower closed, although the station can be viewed from outside the enclosure. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-183; Admiralty A4236; NGA 4208.

Carragh Mhor Light, July 2006 Creative Commons photo by Guy Beauchamp

Isle and Sound of Jura Lighthouses
* Carragh an t'Struith

1960. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); flash every 3 s, white or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A small photo is available showing the Paps of Jura (twin mountains) behind the lighthouse, Chris Downer has a distant view, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located on the east (Jura) side of the Sound of Islay about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) north of the Feolin Ferry terminal. Site probably open (accessible by road), tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-041; Admiralty A4237; NGA 4212.

Na Cuiltean (2)

2005 (station established 1911). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white flash every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) square skeletal tower, clad in white aluminum panels as a daymark, mounted on a rectangular concrete base. Marinas.com has aerial photos. No photo of the original lighthouse has been found. Located on a small island in the Sound of Jura about 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Rubha na Traille, the southernmost point of Jura. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-146; Admiralty A4230.6; NGA 4176.

Skervuile

1865 (Thomas and David Stevenson). Active; focal plane 22 m (73 ft); white flash every 15 s. 25 m (83 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery mounted on a stone base. Lighthouse painted white, lantern dome black. The Multimap.com map of this area indicates that onshore keepers houses survive. Calum MacRoberts has an excellent photo, and D.E. Wilcox has posted a closeup photo. Surprisingly little information is available on this significant waveswept tower. Located on a rocky reef in the Sound of Jura about 3 km (2 mi) southeast of the entrance to Lowlandman's Bay on the southeastern coast of Jura. Accessible only by boat; there should be distant views from the A846 coastal road north of Craighouse. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-216; Admiralty A4230; NGA 4172.

Ruadh Sgeir 1906 (David A. and Charles Stevenson). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 6 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. Derek Lockhart has a photo. Located on an isolated rock in the middle of the Sound of Jura about 3 km (2 mi) off the northeastern coast of Jura and about 5 km (3 mi) off the coast of the mainland north of Carsaig Island. Accessible only by boat. Visible distantly from a hiking trail north of Tayvallich on the mainland. Site status unknown. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-188; Admiralty A4226; NGA 4168. Crinan Canal Lighthouses Note: The Crinan Canal, 14.5 km (9 mi) long, provides small craft with a shortcut between the Hebrides and the Clyde, eliminating a long trip around the Mull of Kintyre, Britain's longest peninsula. The canal was opened in 1801. * Crinan 1851. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); flash every 3 s, white or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) hexagonal masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a single red horizontal band; lantern roof is also red. The interior of the lighthouse is a storeroom; access to the gallery is by an external ladder. A photo is at right, Patrick Mackie has a 2009 closeup, Trabas has a fine photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Located at the westernmost lock of the canal in Crinan. Site open, tower closed. Operator: British Waterways Scotland. ARLHS SCO-257; Admiralty A4212; NGA 4156. * Ardrishaig (2?) 1907 (?) (station established 1850). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 4 s off. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical cast iron (?) tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern roof is black. Alan Stuart has a closeup, Trabas has a good photo, and a nice photo of the site is available. The lighthouse appears to date from the late 1800s or early 1900s and is probably the second to stand on this site. Located at the end of the south breakwater in Ardrishaig on Loch Gilp, a branch of Loch Fyne, marking the eastern entrance to the canal. Site open, tower closed. Operator: British Waterways Scotland. ARLHS SCO-006; Admiralty A4304; NGA 4296.

Crinan Light, January 2008 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Mull of Kintyre Lighthouses

** Mull of Kintyre (Cantyre)

1788 (Thomas Smith); rebuilt in the 1820s. Active; focal plane 91 m (297 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery rising from 1-story keeper's house. The principal keeper's house, known as Hector's House, and the assistant keepers house, known as Harvey's House, are available for overnight accommodations. Trabas has a good view from above the lighthouse, Steve Partridge has a more distant view, and Marinas.com has excellent aerial photos. This historic light station, one of Scotland's oldest, guards the narrowest point of the North Channel; on fair days the Irish coast, 19 km (12 mi) away, can be seen clearly. Located on the southwestern point of the Mull of Kintyre, 13 km (8 mi) west of Southend. Accessible by a one-lane, rugged road about 11 km (7 mi) long; 4WD recommended. Site open; tower open to cottage guests by arrangement. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: National Trust for Scotland. ARLHS SCO-145; Admiralty A4272; NGA 4244.

* Sanda 1850 (Alan Stevenson). Active; focal plane 50 m (165 ft); white flash every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. This unique light station is perched atop Prince Edward's Rock, a huge boulder with nearly vertical sides; to provide access, an enclosed stairway spirals up through two secondary stone towers before arriving at the lighthouse. Neil Robertson's photo is at right, Gordon Brown has a photo, Trabas has a distant view, and Marinas.com has a spectacular aerial photos. Sanda Island, located about 6 km (3.5 mi) southeast of Southend, is privately owned but has a number of cottages available for vacation rental. Access is by private boat or passenger ferry from Campbeltown. Located at the southern tip of the island, marking the southeastern corner of the Mull of Kintyre and the westernmost entrance to the Firth of Clyde. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-301; Admiralty A4274; NGA 4248. * Davaar 1854 (Thomas and David Stevenson). Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 20 m (66 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. 1-story keepers' house and other buildings. Neil Robertson's photo is at the top of this page, Trabas has a photo, Finlay Oman has a 2008 photo, and Marinas.com has excellent aerial photos. Located on the northeast point of Davaar Island, marking the south side of the entrance to Campbeltown Loch and the harbor of Campbeltown on the east side of the Mull of Kintyre. The island is accessible at low tide by walking a shingle bar called the Doirlinn, but caution is needed: the bar is about 1200 meters (3/4 mi) long and the window of opportunity for walking over and returning on the same low tide is fairly short. The local tourist information center posts safe times. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-059; Admiralty A4276; NGA 4252.

Sanda Light photo copyright Neil Robertson; used by permission

Arran, Bute, and Cumbrae Lighthouses
Pladda (High)

1790 (Thomas Smith). Active; focal plane 40 m (131 ft); three white flashes, separated by 3.1 s, every 30 s. 29 m (95 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. 1-story keepers' house and other buildings. Pladda is a small island about 1.5 km (1 mi) south of Kildonan, off the southeastern point of the Isle of Arran. The light station guides ships entering the Firth of Clyde. Tony Page has a good photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Fred Fox recalls a 1973 visit. Located on the highest point of the island. Accessible only by boat; excellent views from coastal sites throughout the Kildonan area. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-172; Admiralty A4326; NGA 4316.

Pladda (Low)

Date unknown. Inactive. 13 m (43 ft) masonry tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with buff trim, located near the base of the high tower. The Northern Lighthouse Board web site records that this light was active for more than 100 years, but it does not give dates. ARLHS SCO-352.

* Holy Island Inner 1877 (Thomas and David Stevenson). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); green flash every 3 s. 17 m (56 ft) round cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. Keeper's houses privately owned and occupied by Buddhist monks and nuns. A photo appears at right, John Duff has a 2007 photo, L.J. Cunningham has a photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Holy Island, located off the east coast of the Isle of Arran, earned its name as the home of St. Molaise in the 6th century. Now it is holy to another religion; since 1992 the entire island has been owned by a Buddhist community. However, visitors are welcomed and there is a passenger ferry service from Lamlash. The inner lighthouse is located at the southwestern corner of the island opposite Kingscross Point on Arran; it marks the southern entrance to Lamlash Bay. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: Samyé Ling Buddhist Community. ARLHS SCO-101; Admiralty A4332; NGA 4328. * Holy Island Outer 1905 (David A. and Charles Stevenson). Active; focal plane 38 m (124 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 23 m (75 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. John Wesley Barker has a photo, a closeup is available, and L.J. Cunningham has a view from the sea. The previous entry has information on the island. This lighthouse is the third (after Sanda and Pladda) in the series of lights guiding ships into the Firth of Clyde. Located at Pillar Rock Point, the southeastern point of the island, about 1200 m (3/4 mi) northeast of the inner lighthouse. Accessible by hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: Samyé Ling Buddhist Community. ARLHS SCO-100; Admiralty A4330; NGA 4320. * Rubh'an Eun 1911. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); red flash every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) white octagonal cylindrical metal tower with lantern and gallery. Gary Rogers has a 2005 photo. The lighthouse is badly rusted in Trabas's photo, but it appears in better shape in a June 2008 closeup. Located at the southeastern tip of the Isle of Bute, marking the west side of the entrance to the Clyde estuary. Accessible by a hike of about 5 km (3 mi) roundtrip from the end of the B88 secondary road in Kilchattan Bay. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Clydeport. ARLHS SCO-182; Admiralty A4344; NGA 4332. Little Cumbrae (1) 1757. Inactive since 1793. 8.5 m (28 ft) round cylindrical stone tower, lantern removed. Graham Wilson has a 2007 closeup photo, and Eddie Dowds has a distant view. Intended as a landfall light for the Clyde, this is one of the first Scottish lighthouses. Located on Lighthouse Hill, the highest point of the island, at an elevation of about 123 m (404 ft). Site and tower closed. ARLHS SCO-359. Little Cumbrae (2) 1793 (Thomas Smith) (station established 1757). Inactive since 1997. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical stone tower, unpainted, with lantern and gallery. Neil Robertson's photo is at right, Trabas has a view from the sea, Marinas.com has fine aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Peter Ribbeck's 2007 photo shows this lighthouse to be deteriorating. This site is important in Scottish lighthouse history, since one of the first Scottish lighthouses was built here beginning in 1753. Robert Stevenson supervised the construction of the 1793 tower, thus inaugurating the Stevenson family's long association with Scottish lighthouses. In 2003, the island was purchased by a businessman who intended to build a corporate conference center. These plans did not bear fruit, and by September 2005 the island was again for sale with an asking price of £2.5 million. Located on the west side of the island marking the east side of the entrance to the Clyde estuary. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SCO-316.

Holy Isle Inner Light 1793 Little Cumbrae Light photos copyright Neil Robertson; used by permission

Little Cumbrae (3)

1997 (station established 1757). Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); white flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) hexagonal cylindrical fiberglass (?) tower. Located on the west side of the island marking the east side of the entrance to the Clyde estuary. Site and tower closed. Operator: Clydeport. ARLHS SCO-123; Admiralty A4346; NGA 4336.

Cowal Lighthouses
Sgat Mòr (2)

Date unknown (station established 1923). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white flash every 3 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical white fiberglass (?) tower with lantern. This lighthouse marks the east side of the entrance to Loch Fyne from the Sound of Bute. D.E. Wilcox, a sea kayaker, has posted a photo, and Trabas has a distant view. Located on a small island off the point of Rubha Stillaig about 3 km (2 mi) south of Portavadie. Accessible only by boat (or sea kayak). Site open, tower closed. Operator: unknown. ARLHS SCO-353; Admiralty A4296; NGA 4276.

* Caladh

Date unknown. Obviously inactive as a lighthouse for many years but still used as a daybeacon. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) round masonry tower with a window at the top through which the light could be displayed. Bill Newman rediscovered this forgotten lighthouse in April 2002, but we need information on its history. Located on the west side of the entrance to Loch Riddon about 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of Tighnabruaich, not far off the A8003 highway. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: unknown. ARLHS SCO-304.

* Toward Point 1812 (Robert Stevenson). Active; focal plane 21 m (70 ft); white flash every 10 s. 19 m (63 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern dome is weathered metallic green. The keeper's house is a private residence. Fog signal tower with diaphone horn, attached to a 1-story engine house. Newman has good photos of the station, Trabas has a a closeup, another good photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the headland at the junction of the Clyde with the Kyles of Bute, the loch separating the Isle of Bute from the mainland. Accessible by road, just off the end of the A815 highway about 3 km (2 mi) south of Innellan. Site and tower closed (private property) but the lighthouse can be viewed from close by. Operator: Clydeport. ARLHS SCO-245; Admiralty A4362; NGA 4356. Gantock Beacon (3?) Date unknown (station established 1886). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); red flash every 6 s. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical stone tower, painted white. No lantern. Thomas Nugent has a 2008 photo (note the Cloch Point lighthouse in the distance). The light is listed as being rebuilt in 1898 with a height then of 15 m (49 ft). This beacon marks a particularly dangerous rocky ledge, the Gantock Rocks, about 600 m (3/8 mi) southeast of Dunoon Castle in Dunoon. Accessible only by boat, but the beacon is easy to see from shore. Site and tower closed. Operator: Clydeport. ARLHS SCO-302; Admiralty A4398; NGA 4380.

Toward Point Light, September 2007 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Carraig nan Ron

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white flash every 2 s. 5 m (17 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern. Lighthouse painted white; lantern dome is red. Google has an indistinct satellite view. This lighthouse is located at a wild location on Loch Long at the entrance to Loch Goil, roughly 25 km (15 mi) north of Helensburgh. Accessible only by boat. Operator: unknown. Site manager: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. ARLHS SCO-315; Admiralty A4411.4; NGA 4440.

* Ardencaple Castle (Castle Point Range Rear)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (86 ft); two continuous green lights, one mounted 3 m (10 ft) above the other. 14 m (46 ft) square cylindrical stone castellated tower, unpainted. No lantern; the lights are displayed through square portholes on one corner of the tower. Stephen Mackenzie has a closeup photo, Trabas has a similar photo, and Google has a satellite view. Ardencaple Castle was the traditional stronghold of the Clan MacAulay. The Royal Navy requisitioned the building during World War II and then demolished it in 1957, leaving only this one tower standing because of its function as a navigational beacon. The front light is mounted on pilings in the Clyde. Located on Castle Point, the west side of the entrance to Rosneath Bay, west of Helensburgh. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Royal Navy (H.M. Naval Base Clyde). ARLHS SCO-329; Admiralty A4422.1; NGA 4476.

Clyde Estuary South Side Lighthouses
Port Glasgow (2)

1919 (station established 1861). Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); continuous green light. 7 m (23 ft) round tower with lantern and a narrow gallery. Lighthouse painted in a black and white checkerboard pattern; lantern dome is white. Trabas has a fine photo, Thomas Nugent has an excellent photo, a closeup of the lantern is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rocky ledge about 200 m (220 yd) off the Port Glasgow waterfront. Accessible only by boat, but easily seen from the waterfront. Site and tower closed. Operator: Clydeport. ARLHS SCO-311; Admiralty A4476; NGA 4588.

* Steamboat Quay

1921. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); continuous green light. 11 m (36 ft) slender round cylindrical cast iron (?) tower with lantern but no gallery, painted in a black and white checkerboard pattern; lantern dome is white. Trabas has a closeup photo, Thomas Nugent's closeup shows the Port Glasgow light in the background, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the quay at Port Glasgow. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Clydeport. ARLHS SCO-312; Admiralty A4478; NGA 4592.

Maurice Clark Point Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); quick-flashing green light. 4 m (13 ft) round cylindrical stone tower, painted green. Lantern removed; the light is shown from a short mast atop the tower. Trabas has a good photo. Located at the eastern end of the Garvel Embankment, which shelters the eastern harbor at Greenock. Site and tower closed, but the light can easily be seen from the waterfront near the shipyards. Operator: Clydeport. ARLHS SCO-351; Admiralty A4472; NGA 4584. * Clydeport Container Terminal Range Front Date unknown. Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); quick-flashing green light. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) square brick and metal terminal control building. Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. The rear light is on a skeletal communications tower. Located at the west end of the quay at the container ship port in Greenock. Site status unknown, but the building is easy to see from nearby. Admiralty A4442; NGA 4564. * Cloch Point 1797 (Thomas Smith). Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 3 s. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical stone tower attached to 1-1/2 story stone keeper's house. Buildings painted white; tower has a single narrow black horizontal band. Keeper's house used as a residence. Thomas Nugent's photo is at right, Trabas has a good closeup photo by Arno Siering, a 2008 photo is available, Eric Wyllie has a winter sunrise photo, and Google has a satellite view. This historic light station marks a right-angle curve in the Clyde, where the estuary turns from west to south for ships headed downstream. Located just off the A770 highway about 3 km (2 mi) west of Gourock, directly across the Clyde from Dunoon. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Clydeport. ARLHS SCO-047; Admiralty A4404; NGA 4404.

Cloch Point Light, June 2008 Geograph Creative Commons photo by Thomas Nugent

Ayrshire Lighthouses

*Ardrossan Pierhead (2) 1898 (station established 1840). Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 9 m (29 ft) octagonal cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and a narrow gallery. mounted on a square black stone base. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof black. W.F. Millar's photo is at right, George Gallagher has a good closeup photo, Newman has several good photos, Trabas has a photo, Marinas.com has good aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the ferry pier in Ardrossan; ferries depart from this pier for Brodick on the Isle of Arran. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Clydeport. ARLHS SCO-317; Admiralty A4538; NGA 4704. * Troon Pierhead (2) 1904 (station established 1848). Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two flashes, white or green depending on direction, every 6 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern, on a concrete base. Trabas has a good photo, Stevie Manson has a 2007 photo, Ian Paterson has a 2008 closeup, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Ferries to Larne, Northern Ireland, pass close to this light as they leave Troon. Located at the end of the west pier, which also functions as a breakwater for Troon Harbour. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Port of Troon. ARLHS SCO-247; Admiralty A4554; NGA 4732. Lady Isle 1903 (David A. and Charles Stevenson). Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); four white flashes every 30 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) pyramidal concrete tower with lantern, gallery, and external spiral stairway. Lighthouse painted white with a red vertical stripe on each face. Trabas has a view from the sea, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Klaus Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Richard Webb has a photo taken in 2000, before the red stripes were added. This is an unusual lighthouse; its cross-section is the shape of a plus sign (+) and the stairway spirals up around an iron pole placed next to the tower. South of the lighthouse is a conical rubblestone tower about 10 m (33 ft) tall that must have served as a daybeacon before the lighthouse was built. The island is a privately owned bird sanctuary; landing is forbidden without special permission. Located about 5 km (3 mi) west southwest of Troon; ferries to Larne, Northern Ireland, pass close to this light shortly after leaving Troon. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-117; Admiralty A4562; NGA 4744.

Ardrossan Pierhead Light, January 2008 Geograph Creative Commons photo by W.F. Millar

Ayr North Breakwater

1913. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); quick-flashing red light. 5 m (17 ft) square cast iron skeletal tower with enclosed upper portion, painted white. Trabas has a closeup, William Reynolds has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a short detached breakwater on the north side of the entrance to Ayr Harbour. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty A4566; NGA 4764.

* Ayr Harbour Range Front

1841 (Robert Paton). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); continuous red light. 6 m (20 ft) round tower with lantern, mounted on a square stone base. Tower painted red, lantern white; the stone base is unpainted. Trabas has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the foot of Harbour Street in Ayr, next to the pilot house. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Port of Ayr. ARLHS SCO-293; Admiralty A4574; NGA 4752.

* Ayr Harbour Range Rear

1841 (Robert Paton). Active; focal plane 18 m (58 ft); red light, 8 s on, 2 s off. 22 m (72 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Tower unpainted, lantern and gallery painted white. Trabas has a photo by Arno Siering, Dries De Roeck's nighttime photo shows the lighthouse in action; a daytime photo and another good photo are also available, and Google has a good satellite view. Located at the foot of Harbour Street in Ayr. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Port of Ayr. ARLHS SCO-294; Admiralty A4574.1; NGA 4756.

* Ayr South Pier

1877. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); quick-flashing white light; also a continuous green light at 5.5 m (18 ft). 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical cast iron tower, painted white. The lights are displayed through two windows in the tower. An August 2006 photo shows the lighthouse freshly painted, but Melanie Hillock's September 2007 photo shows it covered with graffiti. Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. An unusual old pierhead light. Located at the end of the south breakwater mole at Ayr. Accessible by walking the mole. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Port of Ayr. ARLHS SCO-292; Admiralty A4568; NGA 4760.

* Dunure Harbour

1811. Inactive since around 1850. 4 m (13 ft) round sandstone tower with an opening on the seaward side; the top of the tower is an open chimney. A fire was built in the tower when vessels were approaching. A stone wall attached to the lighthouse concealed the fire until the vessels were clear of nearby shoals: a very unusual "sectoring" of an open fire light. A photo showing the wall is available, as well as a closeup of the rear of the tower and an aerial photo of the harbor, and Google has a satellite view. This little tower is a rare survivor of a much earlier day in lighthouse history. Michel Forand spotted photos of this forgotten lighthouse, and Michael Spencer visited the site in November 2007 to determine its history. It was abandoned when local coal seams played out in the 1850s, and coal was no longer shipped from the harbor. Located on the west breakwater at Dunure, a village about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Ayr.

* Turnberry 1873 (Thomas and David Stevenson). Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); white flash every 15 s. 24 m (79 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. Trabas has a fine photo, John Cullen also has a good closeup, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was built to warn ships away from the Bristo Rock offshore. It now stands on the 10th hole of a large and well known golf resort, site of the British Open Championship in 1977, 1986, 1994, and 2009. Located just off the A719 coastal road about 1.5 km (1 mi) north of the A77 at Turnberry. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: Westin Turnberry Resort. ARLHS SCO-248; Admiralty A4580; NGA 4772. * Girvan South Pierhead Date unknown (around 1890?). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); two continuous green lights, one above the other. 6 m (20 ft) round cast iron tower, painted white. No lantern; the lights are mounted on a short mast atop the tower. Trabas has a good closeup, W.F. Millar has a 2007 closeup, Eric Firley also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater at Girvan; accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. Operator: unknown. ARLHS SCO-296; Admiralty A4588; NGA 4776. Ailsa Craig 1886 (Thomas and David Stevenson). Active; focal plane 18 m (60 ft); white flash every 4 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house complex. Jack Boyle has a 2007 photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. Ailsa Craig is a spectacular conical mountain rising 338 m (1109 ft) above the sea about 15 km (9 mi) west of Girvan. The lighthouse is located at Foreland Point on the eastern side of the island. Accessible only by boat; tours from Girvan are available. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-002; Admiralty A4582; NGA 4768.

Turnberry Light, April 2007 Creative Commons photo by John Mundy

* Loch Ryan (Cairn Ryan Point)

1847 (Alan Stevenson). Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two red flashes every 10 s. 15 m (49 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story equipment building. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. Trabas has a good photo, Newman has excellent photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Loch Ryan is the sound behind the northern arm of the hammerhead-shaped Rhins of Galloway. Located directly on the A77 highway at Cairn Ryan, on the east side of the loch. Site and tower closed (fenced), but the lighthouse can be seen from nearby. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-029; Admiralty A4592; NGA 4784.

Rhins of Galloway Lighthouses

** Corsewall 1817 (Robert Stevenson). Active; focal plane 34 m (112 ft); five white flashes every 30 s. 34 m (112 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to 2-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. The keeper's house has been converted into a small hotel. An Ian Wright photo is at right, Newman has excellent photos, Trabas has a photo also by Wright, Marinas.com has fine aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. This is the landfall light for ferries from Larne and Belfast to Stranraer. In early 2008 the lighthouse and hotel were listed for sale. Located on the northern tip of the Rhins of Galloway about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of Kirkholm. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: Corsewall Lighthouse Hotel. ARLHS SCO-052; Admiralty A4604; NGA 4796. * Black Head (Killantringan) 1900 (David A. Stevenson). Inactive since 2007. 22 m (72 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. The keeper's house is now a private residence. Newman has great photos of the station, a 2008 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on Black Head, on the western side of the Rhins of Galloway about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) north of Portpatrick. Accessible by road off the B738 highway; there is also a hiking trail, the first section of the Southern Upland Way, from Portpatrick. Site and tower closed (private), but the lighthouse can be seen from nearby. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-111; ex-Admiralty A4606; NGA 4800.

Corsewall Light; photo copyright Ian Wright, used by permission

** Portpatrick (2)

1839 (station established 1833). Inactive since 1900; sometimes lit decoratively on holidays. Approx. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery. Tower is unpainted yellow brick; lantern painted white with a black roof. Newman has a portfolio of photos, a closeup and a 2008 photo are available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. From 1900 to 1905 the light was shone landward as a streetlight. The original lighthouse is said to have been dismantled and shipped for reassembly in Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon. The tower is privately owned; Michael Spencer reports that the keys are kept at the Lighthouse Pottery nearby and "polite enquiry will secure their loan." Located on the south side of the harbor entrance in Portpatrick. Site open, tower open by arrangement. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS SCO-177.

* Port Logan

Early 1830s. Long inactive. Approx. 9 m (29 ft) round stone tower with a small stone lantern, attached to part of a ruined stone harbor wall. The engineer Thomas Telford designed Port Logan Harbour around 1820, and the lighthouse was added about 10 years later. M. Campbell has a nice closeup, 2008 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The picturesque village and its lighthouse became well known when they appeared in a popular BBC television drama series Two Thousand Acres of Sky. Located at the south side of the harbor at Port Logan, about 8 km (5 mi) south of Ardwell. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: unknown. ARLHS SCO-314.

Crammag Head (2) 2009 (station established 1913). Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white flash every 10 s. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, mounted on a concrete pad. Michael Lindley has a good photo. Trabas has a photo of the original lighthouse by Arno Siering, and Google has a satellite view. The new light was activated in December 2009. Located on a promontory about 8 km (5 mi) northwest of the Mull of Galloway lighthouse. Site and tower closed (private property). ARLHS SCO-055; Admiralty A4608; NGA 4812. *** Mull of Galloway 1830 (Robert Stevenson). Active; focal plane 99 m (325 ft); white flash every 20 s. 26 m (85 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. Markus Schroeder's photo appears at right, Trabas has a great closeup photo by Arno Siering, and Marinas.com has excellent aerial photos. This famous and historic light station stands on the southernmost point of Scotland and at the northern end of the Irish Sea, marking the entrance to the North Channel. It is one of only two Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouses open for climbing. The Mull of Galloway Visitor Centre, adjacent to the light station, occupies a building that originally housed the workers building the lighthouse. The keeper's houses are available for vacation rental. A coffee shop was added to the site in 2004. The surrounding area is a bird sanctuary managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Located atop a vertical cliff at the southern tip of the Rhins of Galloway about 8 km (5 mi) south of Drummore. Accessible by road, parking provided. Site open, visitor center open daily April through October, tower open Saturdays and Sundays April through September. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. Site manager: South Rhins Community Development Trust. ARLHS SCO-144; Admiralty A4606; NGA 4816.

Mull of Galloway Light, June 2005 Creative Commons photo by Markus Schroeder

Solway Coast Lighthouses

* Isle of Whithorn

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); flash every 3 s, white or red depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) square stone tower, painted white. Trabas has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. According to Mike Garrett, who has a closeup photo, this small tower was formerly a signal tower. Despite its name, Isle of Whithorn is not presently an island but a small port at the western entrance to Kirkcudbright Bay. Located on Isle Head, a promontory on the east side of the entrance to the harbor (the promontory was actually an island in the distant past). Site open, tower closed. Admiralty A4624.2; NGA 4823.5.

Little Ross (Range Rear) 1843 (Alan Stevenson). Active; focal plane 50 m (165 ft); white flash every 5 s. 22 m (66 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white with buff trim; lantern painted black. Trabas has a photo, and Lighthouse Explorer has a historic photo. The station is now a private residence. The front light is on a small post. Located atop a small island at the western side of the entrance to Kirkcudbright Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board. ARLHS SCO-125; Admiralty A4634; NGA 4828. *** Southerness 1748 (rebuilt in the 1790s and in 1812 by Robert Stevenson). Inactive 1867-1894 and since 1933. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical granite tower with lantern. Tower painted white; lantern is brown. The lantern is inset into the tower with brick behind. Colin Kinnear's photo is at right, a 2008 photo is available, Pete Amass has a good photo, and Marinas.com has aerial photos. This unusual, much-altered lighthouse, the second oldest in Scotland, was originally built by the Dumfries Town Council. After the Northern Lighthouse Board declined to accept the lighthouse, it was operated by the local navigation authority from 1795 to 1867 and then by a private landowner from 1894 to 1933. The lighthouse has been refurbished and repainted recently by its current owners, who operate a nearby caravan park. Located on the Southerness headland at the north side of the entrance to Solway Firth. Accessible by road off the A710 highway about 25 km (15 mi) south of Dumfries. Site open and tower open, although the gallery is unsafe and is closed. Owner/site manager: Lighthouse Leisure Caravan Park. ARLHS SCO-223.

Southerness Light, February 2009 Geograph Creative Commons photo by Colin Kinnear

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key

Posted October 19, 2004. Checked and revised September 26, 2009. Lighthouses: 57. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.