
Holborn Head is a headland at the north of the Highland aera of Scotland at the Atlantic coast of Caithness. The name Holborn appears Norse in origin. The first part of the name Holl, means a hill while the last part is probably from borg, the Hill fort.
The lighthouse does not actually stand on Holborn Head itself, but is located about 1 km south of the said hill on Little Holborn Head, on the north side of Scrabster and west of Thurso Bay. It is easily seen from Thurso.
Description of work | Amount |
Purchase land | £ 200 |
Dwelling houses(2x), including the tower | - 1,250 |
Iron parapet, lantern and lighting apparatus | - 820 |
Gardens, Fences and Water supply etc. | - 352 |
Road including retaining walls | - 550 |
Furnishing and advertising | - 360 |
Sub Total | £ 3,532 |
Unforseen costs (10%) | - 368 |
Total Costs | £ 3,900 |
Permission was granted from the Board of Trade in 1859 to build a lighthouse on Little Holborn Head, but it was until 1861 that building actually started. This delay was because the Board of Trade emphasis on economy. They thought the estimate costs far too high and opposed by letter of nearly everything.
The drawings and specifications of the lantern and apparatus had to be forwarded to the Board for further examination, but finally permission was granted to proceed with the building. Details are given to the up-right:
This lighthouse was designed by the brothers David and Thomas Stevenson. The square tower for the lighthouse light is an integral part of the keeper's house, which is unusual, as most Scottish lighthouses are separate from the residential houses. In addition, the keeper's houses are built according to a "school house model".

After entering the front door on the top floor, there is a vestibule with two entrances, one to the Lightkeepers House and the other to the Lighthouse Tower. There were two Lightkeepers houses in the building, each consisting of two floors. Separately from this, the Principal Keeper's house was later built. The tower becomes octagonal just below a circular walkway. The lantern is of the small triangular pane type, with a domed top surrounded by a parapet with a cast iron railing. The area is enclosed by a rough whitewashed rubble wall.
Mr Stewart from Peterhead was building contractor and Mr James Scott was appointed inspector. The tower was completed ahead of schedule. The Messrs Milne and Sons made changes to the lantern, who was originally the temporary fixed light at Whalsey. This had to be changed into a revolving apparat.
The light was first exhibited on Monday 1 September 1862 and the Notice to Mariners stated: "The light will be a dioptric holophotal flashing light. Showing a flash every 10 seconds, it will be seen as a white light towards the Pentland Firth and Thurso Bay and as a red light towards Scrabster Roadstead".
The lighthouse was electrified in 1976 and automated in 1988 after which the lighthouse was monitored from the Northern Lighthouse Board headquarters in Edinburgh and the presence of Lighthouse Keepers became redundant. The lighthouse at Holborn Head was closed permanently in August 2003 following alterations and improvements to the harbor facility near the lighthouse.A walk around the headland can be accessed through a gate next to the Principal Keeper's House. There are stiles and bridges, which allow access to the unfenced off promontory of Holborn Head itself. There are clear views over to Dunnet Head and to the Orkney Islands. Scrabster is also the port for the ferry service to Stromness in the Orkney Islands

