39 Lighthouses to Explore in United Kingdom

Ailsa Craig Lighthouse is located on Ailsa Craig, an island in the Firth of Clyde, just offshore from Girvan, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It was completed in 1886, the construction being overseen by Thomas and David Alan Stevenson.Initially, the lighthouse used oil-burning lamps, but by 1911, these were replaced with incandescent lighting. Fog signals were discontinued in 1987. Then, in 1990, the lighthouse was automated, and a refurbishment took place in 2001, when it was converted to run on sola

The Bass Rock lighthouse is located on an island lying 3 miles off North Berwick on the East Coast of Scotland. It has a range of 21 miles and flashes white every 30 seconds. Until the automation the lighthouse was lit by incandescent gas obtained from vaporised paraffin oil converted into a bunsen gas for heating a mantle. Since that time a new biform ML300 synchronised bifilament 20-watt electric lamp has been used.

Beachy Head Lighthouse was built by Trinity House in 1902 to guide passing vessels along the cliffs marking the seaward termination of the Sussex Downs. It is 43 m in height and became operational in October 1902. It was the last traditional-style 'rock tower' to be built by Trinity House.

The Burnham-on-Sea Low Lighthouse was constructed in 1832 by Joseph Nelson to guide ships through the Bristol Channel. It is a Grade II listed building and stands on the foreshore. Now, the lighthouse does more than guide ships through the channel’s wayward waters. It’s also a beacon for beach walkers, too.

Cape Wrath is the most north-westerly point in mainland Britain. The cape is separated from the rest of the mainland by the Kyle of Durness inlet and consists of 107 square miles (280 square kilometres) of moorland wilderness known as the Parph. The first road was built in 1828 by the lighthouse commission across the Parph/Durness. This road connects a passenger ferry that crosses the Kyle of Durness with the buildings on the peninsula.

Chanonry Point lies at the end of Chanonry Ness, a spit of land extending into the Moray Firth. It is one of the best spots in the UK to view bottlenose dolphins from the land. The dolphins are often visible off Chanonry point, particularly on an incoming tide when they play and fish in the strong currents. An active lighthouse is also situated at the tip of the point.

The Cloch is one of the three lighthouses built to protect the difficult waters at the head of the Firth of Clyde. The lighthouse was built by Kermack and Gall; it consists of a short, round tower with corbelled walkways, and it is now accompanied by two sets of keepers' houses. The earlier houses are used as stores and the later are easily identified by their crowstepped gables. Today, the light is fully automated and unmanned.

Duncansby Head is the most northeasterly part of the British mainland. The point is marked by Duncansby Head Lighthouse, and Duncansby Stacks, prominent sea stacks just off the coast.

Fair Isle North is one of two lighthouses on the remote island of Fair Isle, between Orkney and Shetland. It’s located at Skroo at the north eastern most tip of the island. However, the North Lighthouse is a much smaller tower, only 14m in height because it can take advantage of the 65-m high cliffs on which it stands, to elevate the light giving a range of 25 miles. A foghorn is located further out on The Nizz, accessed by a path marked by iron railings.

The Fair Isle South Lighthouse is the tower is the tallest in Shetland at 25.9m (85 feet). Powered by diesel generators, the light has a range of 25 miles and is visible in Orkney. It was the work of David A. Stevenson and Charles Stevenson, and first illuminated in 1892.

A majestic light house, which was one of the first offshore lighthouses to be automated by the Northern Lighthouse Board in 1970. The lighthouse was recently refurbished and a new LED light installed. The island of Fidra is reputed to have been the inspiration for the shape of Treasure Island in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel. It is accessible via a private jetty on the east coast of the island.

Flamborough Head Lighthouse is an active lighthouse located at Flamborough. The current lighthouse was built in 1806 and acts as a waypoint for deep sea vessels and coastal traffic as well as marking the Flamborough Headland for vessels heading for the ports of Scarborough and Bridlington.

A majestic lighthouse which was located in the heart of South ayrshire and it offers beautiful views and it is quiet interesting to visit an d to know the history of this lighthouse.

Godrevy Lighthouse was built by Trinity House in 1859 marking a dangerous reef off St. Ives called the Stones; the light was moved to an adjacent steel structure in 2012. Standing approximately 300 meters off Godrevy Head, it marks the Stones reef, which has been a hazard to shipping for centuries.

Happisburgh Lighthouse is the oldest working light in East Anglia, and the only independently run lighthouse in Great Britain, Built in 1790. Visitors can find out about the history and operation of the lighthouse, and climb the 112 steps to view the stunning views from the lantern.

This lighthouse is on the Isle of Graemsay in the Orkney Isles located on the northeast point of the island. It was built in 1851 by Alan Stevenson, together with a keepers residence. It marks the main channel into the Scapa Flow harbour, and along with other lights in the area, known as range lights, they aid navigation through Hoy Sound.

Killantringan Lighthouse is a lighthouse located near Portpatrick in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. The light came into activity in 1900, and filled in as a waypoint in the North Channel of the Irish Sea. The name Killantringan is gotten from 'Cill shaint Ringain' St Ringan's church; Ringan is a medieval iety of Ninian. The beacon is ensured as a classification B recorded building.

There are two lighthouses located on Kinnaird Head, in Fraserburgh, Scotland, an historical one built in a converted castle, and its modern replacement built in 1991. The original lighthouse now forms part of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.

The Lizard Lighthouse is Cornwall’s most southerly land lighthouse. This real Lighthouse has been shining a light for over 260 years, guiding ships safely home. It became the first electrically powered lighthouse before being fully automated in 1998 with a 26 mile light range and an automatic 3 mile fog signal if conditions are misty.

The Longstone Lighthouse is situated on Longstone Rock, one of the Outer Staple Islands. It was built by Trinity House in 1826 on the Longstone Rock for the welfare of shipping off the Northumberland coast. The lighthouse is best known for the 1838 wreck of the Forfarshire and the role of Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper's daughter, in rescuing survivors.