Duncansby
Dunscansby lighthouse
photos: © Kenny Lam

North Coast

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East Coast North Coast Cape Wrath Duncansby Head Dunnet Head Holborn Head Pentland Skerries Strathy Point Swilkie Point
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Update: 01-12-2024
Compiled by:
@ Bob Schrage
Cape Wrath
Duncansby Head
Dunnet Head
Holborn Head
Pentland Skerries
Strathy Point
Swilkie Point

☰ Click on image tot close
Duncansby Head lighthouse
Duncansby Head Lighthouse - © Poster: Lighthouse Editions
Place of the lighthouse
Duncansby Head (Scottish Gaelic: Ceann Dhunngain or Dùn Gasbaith) is the most north-easterly part of the Scottish mainland and overlooks the Pentland Skerries. This point is just a little further on raod from Land's End (Cornwall) than the usually named John o 'Groats, Caithness, Highland (about 3 km). The headland juts into the North Sea, with the Pentland Firth to its north and west and the Moray Firth to its south.

The tidal currents that flow through the Pentland Firth earned the title of Hell's Mouth in the days of sailing. It is still a place where ships can still become the playthings of the sea.

As the waters of the wide Atlantic flow into the North Sea and in the opposite direction from the North Sea, a maze of whirlpools and treacherous currents are created near the Pentland Skerries. These can reach speeds of up to ten knots.

The effects are so dramatic that each of these tidal races has been given a name - the Swilkie, the Bore of Huna, the Wells of Tuftalie, the Duncansby Bore and the Merry Men of May. Because of the danger to ships in this area, six working lighthouses can be seen at Duncansby Head (car park) to aid shipping.

Building of the Lighthouse
Duncansby Head Lighthouse was built in 1924 by David Alan Stevenson. The traditional round tower has been abandoned and (curved walls require interior fittings made to match) even the concrete lantern tower is square.

The light was a 4th order Fresnel lens with stepper motor and a 250W Metil Halide lamp. In 1968 a high-power Radar Beacon (RACON) was installed. It has now been replaced by a low-power self-operating type, which can be particularly useful as a warning where the coastline is not conspicuous on a radar display.

The lighthouse was automated in 1997. Soon after, an inspection of the keeper's houses showed water damage and asbestos on the premises so the houses were demolished but the tower remained and the light stayed in use. Older photos of the lighthouse show the buildings that were demolished (second photo at the right hand). The Light is now remotely monitored from the Northern Lighthouse Board’s headquarters in Edinburgh.


Fog horn
Fog Horn of Duncansby Head (no longer present)

In 1914 during the first World War a temporary fog signal was provided at Duncansby Head close to John O'Groats to be replaced by a permanent fog signal after the war. During the second World War, and on the eve of the invasion of Norway, Duncansby Head Lighthouse was machine-gunned by a German bomber, but fortunately no one was injured and no damage caused.
Additional information
From the lighthouse is a footpath of about 6.5 kilometres to the Hill of Crogodale. This footpath runs directly along the coast to the south past the Stacks of Duncansby, prominent sea stacks just off the coast.
The town of Wick is located in the south of Duncansby Head. In Wick there is a distillery called Old Pulteney. In recent years they have released a number of whisky's with a reference to the various lighthouses in the area. Besides a whisky that refer to Dancansby Head, there are also whisky's that refer to the lighthouses Noss Head, Dunnet Head and Pentland Skerries.
Duncasby Whisky
Whisky and Lighthouse
Duncansby Stacks
Duncansby Stacks
Duncasby Whisky
Duncansby Head Lighthouse from the sea

Duncansby Head


A3558

Character: Fl W 12s 67m 21M
(Fl. 0.3s - ec. 11.7s)

☰ Enlarge Light charater of Duncansby Head
Engineer : David Alan Stevenson (1854-1938)
Contractor : ---
Constructed : 1924
Function : Major Lighthouse

Position: 58°38.636' N, 003°01.520' W

Original Optics: 4th Order Fresnel
Manufacturer : ---
Date First Lit : 15 March 1924

Current Optics : Rotating Mains Powered
: LED cluster Optics
Manufacturer : ---
Date First Lit : ---
Light Character: Flashing White every 12 secs.
Light Range : 21 NM ~ 39 km
Light Height : 67 meters above sea level
Light Intensity: 596.000 candela
Sector(s) : none

Tower Height : 11 meters
Basic form : Round
Material : Dressed Granite
Init. Costs: £ ?.

Automated: 1997
Last Keepers : J.B.M. Brown - PLK
: D. Grassom - ALK
: D. McIlraith - ALK
Fog horn : Siren (Discont. 14/08/1987)
: was 5 blasts every 120 sec.
RACON : T(--) 16 NM

Status : Operationel
Authority : Northern Lighthouse Board
Monument (HES) : Not HES listed
Remarks : ---

Adress : Duncansby Head
: Wick KW1 4YS
Website (local): Caithness and Sutherland

Pentland Firth Chart
Overview lighthouses of Pentland Firth - Click to enlarge

Duncasby Head lighthouse
Duncansby Head with at the background Pentland Skerries

Duncasby Head lighthouse
Duncansby Head lighthouse with sundail

Duncasby Head lighthouse
Duncansby Head with Keepers houses in early times (no longer present)

Duncansby Head Drone flight

References:
Dancansby Head Drone flight- Toor Boy