Scurdie Ness
Scurdie Ness lighthouse
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East Coast

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East Coast Barns Ness Bass Rock Bell Rock Buchan Ness Buddon Ness Chanonry Clyth Ness Covesea Skerry Cromarty Elie Ness Fidra Fife Ness Girdle Ness Inchkeith Isle of May Kinnaird Head Noss Head Oxcars Rattray Scurdie Ness St Abbs Head Tarbat Ness Tod Head
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Update: 01-01-2025
Compiled by:
@ Bob Schrage
Barns Ness
Bass Rock
Bell Rock
Buchan Ness
Buddon Ness
Chanonry
Clyth Ness
Covesea Skerry
Cromarty
Elie Ness
Fidra
Fife Ness
Girdle Ness
Inchkeith
Isle of May
Kinnaird Head
Noss Head
Oxcars
Rattray
Scurdie Ness
St Abbs Head
Tarbat Ness
Tod Head

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Scurdie Ness lighthouse
Scurdie Head Lighthouse - © Poster: Lighthouse Editions

Place of the lighthouse


Scurdie Ness is a headland located on the South side of the River South Esk estuary, Montrose, Angus, Scotland. The River leads from the North Sea into Montrose Harbour and then into Montrose Basin. The headland has also been referred to as Scurdy Ness, Montrose point or Montroseness. The word Scurdie is a local word for the volcanic rock found there and Ness means a promontory, cape or headland. The coastline from Scurdie Ness to Rickle Craig has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Building the Lighthouse


Scurdie Ness Lighthouse is located on the headland and has also been referred to as Montroseness Lighthouse. The area around the lighthouse is low-lying, and with no cliff on which to elevate the tower, the structure is an impressive 128ft tall, with 170 steps to the top. In 1867 the seafaring community of Ferryden made representations to the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses to have a light established on Montrose Point due to the numerous vesselwrecks and great loss of life along that coast. There are 11 wrecks recorded around the mouth of the estuary.

Originally the light characteristic was fixed white but in 1907 was changed to isophase light White 60 seconds (i.e., light 30 seconds, eclipse 30 seconds). Scurdie Ness lighthouse was converted to automatic operation in 1987 and now displays 3 white flashes separated by 2.5 seconds and repeated every 20 seconds. The light is 182,000 candlepower and on a clear night can be seen for approximately 20 NM ~ 37 km.

The lighthouse was built by David and Thomas Stevenson and on Tuesday 1 March 1870 at 1800 hours the tower was lit for the first time amidst cheers from the multitude gathered on the links and the sands.

At some of the isolated stations the war added immensely to the lightkeepers work. At Scurdie Ness, not content with being the butt of the RAF for 'Lighting up' on naval instructions and so guiding the German Bombers in, one lightkeeper had to paint the whole tower black so that it would not also provide a day mark for the enemy.

Additional information


It should be noted that at some sites the Northern Lighthouse Board have sold some redundant buildings within the lighthouse complex and are not responsible for the maintenance of these building.

The buildings within the grounds of the lighthouse are now privately owned. Cars are not allowed along the road leading from Ferryden to the lighthouse but it is a popular walk and sightings of seals and dolphins are not unusual. Whales are sometimes seen in the area including rare sightings of Humpback Whales

The lighthouse is a category B listed building of Architectural/Historic interest, Historical Scotland Building ID: LB4958. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

Scurdie Ness lighthouse
Scurdie Ness lighthouse with 2 harbour Daymarks

Scurdie Ness


A3220

Character: Fl(3) W 20s 38m 20M
(2x Fl 0.5s - ec. 2.0s, Fl 0.5s - ec. 14.5s)

☰ Enlarge Light charater of Scurdie Ness
Engineers : David Lillie Stevenson (1815-1886)
: Thomas Stevenson (1818-1887)
Contractor : ---
Constructed : 1870
Init. Costs : £ ---
Function : Lighthouse

(Position (Lat, Lon): 56°42.106' N, 002°26.236' W

Original Optics:
Manufacturer : ---
Date First Lit : 1 March 1870

Current Optics : Electric Flashing Mains Powered
: LED Optic
Manufacturer : ---
Date First Lit : ---
Light Character: Flashing(3) White every 20 secs.
Light Range : 20 NM ~ 37.0 km
Light Height : 38 meters above sea level
Light Intensity: 182,000 cd
Sector(s) : ---

Tower Height : 35 meters, 170 steps to the top
Basic form : Round tower
Material : Lower part granite, upper brick

Electrified : ---
Automated : 1987
Last Keepers : PLK - R. Duthie
: ALK - R.R. Fulton
: ALK - ---
Fog horn : ---
RACON : T(--) 14 NM

Status : Operational
Authority : Northern Lighthouse Board
Monument (HES) : Cat.B - LB4958 - 11/05/1971
Remarks : ---

Adress : Scurdie Ness
: DD10 9SH Montrose
Website (local): Scurdie Ness - Wikipedia


Scurdie Ness lighthouse
Scurdie Ness lighthouse lamp room

Scurdie Ness lighthouse
Scurdie Ness lighthouse

Scurdie Ness lighthouse
Scurdie Ness in early years

Scurdie Ness lighthouse
Scurdie Ness from above
Lighthouse shield
References:
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