Sumburgh Head Lighthouse

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Sumburgh Head at the southern tip of the Mainland of Shetland.

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse

Location	Sumburgh Head Shetland Scotland
OS grid	HU4072307872
Coordinates	59.854053°N 1.274585°W / 59.854053; -1.274585
Tower
Constructed	1821
Built by	Robert Stevenson
Construction	Masonry tower
Automated	1991
Height	17 metres (56 ft)
Shape	Cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings	White tower, black lantern, ochre trim
Operator	Sumburgh Head Lighthouse[1][2]
Heritage	category A listed building
Light
Focal height	91 metres (299 ft)
Range	23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi)
Characteristic	Fl (3) W 30s.

History

Foghorn and lighthouse

Diamond lattice window of the cylindrical lantern

The lighthouse was built by Robert Stevenson in 1821 and is the oldest lighthouse in Shetland.^[1] From 1906 until 1987, there was also an active foghorn,^[2] which was originally traversable in azimuth. This replaced the fog bell, which had been presented after the loss of the Royal Victoria in 1864. The bell now hangs in the parish church at Dunrossness.^[2] The light was automated in 1991 and the keepers' houses were converted into holiday accommodation. The foghorn was restored in 2015 and sounds on special occasions.^[3][4] The lighthouse complex also has offices for the RSPB who look after the bird reserve which surrounds the lighthouse.

The Northern Lighthouse Board operate the light, whilst the Shetland Amenity Trust own the site and restored the lighthouse facilities and built a visitor centre which opened in 2014.^[1] The lighthouse is protected as a category A listed building.^[5]

See also

• Scotland portal
• Engineering portal

• List of lighthouses in Scotland
• List of Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouses
• List of Category A listed buildings in Shetland

References

1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Scotland: Shetland". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2. Sumburgh Head Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 29 May 2016
3. Munro, Alistair (14 March 2015). "Blast from the past: Sumburgh foghorn sounds again". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
4. Hamilton, Alastair (27 February 2015). "Sumburgh Head Foghorn Sounds Again". Shetland.org. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
5. Historic Environment Scotland. "Sumburgh Head, Sumburgh Lighthouse... (Category A Listed Building) (LB5442)". Retrieved 22 March 2019.

External links

• Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve - official site
• Sumburgh Head Lighthouse on Lighthouse Holidays page
• Northern Lighthouse Board