Southerness
Southerness lighthouse

Timeline of Lighthouses in Scotland

Commissioners' Flag of the NLB
In Salutem Omnium
For the Safety of All
Vlag NLB
Ensign of the NLB

Lighthouse Map Timeline 1750 - 1849 Timeline 1850 - 1899 Timeline 1900 - Today Nightview Map
East Coast North Coast Southwest Coast West Coast Inner Hebrides Outer Hebrides Orkney Islands Shetland Islands Isle of Man
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Accountability
Update: 01-01-2025
Compiled by:
@ Bob Schrage

Timeline of the construction of Scottish lighthouses


This page shows the timeline of the construction and development of lighthouses in Scotland from 1747 to 1849. During this period, 35 lighthouses were built along the coast of Scotland.
A selection can be made for a specific time period, which will show a brief overview of these lighthouses. By clicking on the blue texts, you will be redirected to the relevant page of the specific lighthouse. By clicking on the images of the light character (right image), you will get a larger map of the location of the lighthouse with the light character present for this lighthouse. More explanation of the light characters of a lighthouse can be found on my Light Characters web page.

9 Lighthouses built between 1750 and 1799
1757 - A4346 - Little Cumbrea - Southwest Coast 1789 - A3722 - North Ronaldsay - Orkney Island1790 - AXXXX - Portpatrick - Southwest Coast
1787 - A3332 - Kinnaird Head - East Coast 1789 - A3990 - Eilean Glas - Outer Hebrides 1794 - A3562 - Pentland Skerries - Nort Coast
1788 - A4272 - Mull of Kintyre - Southwest Coast1790 - A4326 - Pladda - Southwest Coas 1797 - A4404 - Cloch Point - Southwest Coast

1757 - A4346 - Little Cumbrea - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat,Lon):
Light Character:
Light period
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)


55°43.222' N, 004°58.034' W
Fl W 6s 11m 6M
Fl. 0.5s - ec. 5.5s.
Visible 334°-193°
☰ Click on image tot close

1787 - A3332 - Kinnaird Head - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)


57°41.862' N, 002°00.237' W
Fl W 5s 25m 22M
Fl. 0.2s - ec. 4.8s.
Visible 092°-297°
☰ Click on image tot close

1788 - A4272 - Mull of Kintyre - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)


55°18.614' N, 005°48.202' W
Fl(2) W 20s 91m 18M
Fl. 0.4s - ec. 1.5s, Fl. 0.4s - ec 17.7s.
Visible 347°-178°.
☰ Click on image tot close

1789 - A3722 - North Ronaldsay - Orkney Island
Engineers(s):
New Tower (1854):

Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)
David Lilie Stevenson (1815-1886)

59°23.381' N, 02°22.882' W
Fl W 10s 43m 24M
Fl. 0.3s - ec. 9.7s
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1789 - A3990 - Eilean Glas - Outer Hebrides
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)
Robert Stevenson (1772-1850)

57°51.414' N, 006°38.522' W
Fl(2) WRG 9s 13m 11-9M
Fl. 0.4s - ec.1.6s, Fl. 0.4s - ec.6.6s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1790 - A4326 - Pladda - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)


55°25'29.8" N 5°07'06.5" W
Fl(3) W 30s 40m 17M
2x Fl. 0.7s - ec. 3.1s, Fl. 0.7s - ec. 21.7s
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1790 - AXXXX - Portpatrick - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)


54°50.433' N, 005°07.056' W
Discontinued
-.-
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1794 - A3562 - Pentland Skerries - Nort Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)
Robert Stevenson (1772-1850)

58°41.412' N, 002°55.479' W
Fl(3) W 30s 52m 23M
2x Fl. 0.4s - ec.5.6s; Fl. 0.4s - ec. 17.6s
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1797 - A4404 - Cloch Point - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)
Robert Stevenson (1772-1850)

55° 56.540´ N, 004° 52.724´ W
Fl W 3s 23m 8M
Fl. 0.6s - ec. 2.4s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

2 Lighthouses built between 1800 and 1809
1804 - A2912 - Inchkeith - East Coast 1806 - A3718 - Start Point - Orkeny Islands

1804 - A2912 - Inchkeith - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat,Lon):
Light Character:
Light period
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)

56°02.013' N, 003°08.173' W
Fl W 15s 67m 14M
Fl. 0.4s - ec. 14.6s
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1806 - A3718 - Start Point - Orkeny Island
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Thomas Smith (1752-1815)
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)

59°16.644' N, 02°22.557' W
Fl(2) W 20s 25m 19M
Fl. 0.2s - ec. 3.8s, Fl. 0.2s - ec. 15,8s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

6 Lighthouses built between 1810 and 1819
1811 - A3108 - Bell Rock - East Coast 1812 - A4362 - Toward Point - Southwest Coast1817 - A4604 - Corsewall - Southwest Coast
1812 - AXXXX - Southerness - Southwest Coast1816 - A3090 - Isle of May - East Coast 1818 - A4720 - Point of Ayre - Isle of Man (Manx)

1811 - A3108 - Bell Rock - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


59°16.644' N, 02°22.557' W
Fl(2) W 20s 25m 19M
Fl. 0.2s - ec. 3.8s, Fl. 0.2s - ec. 15,8s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1812 - AXXXX - Southerness - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


54°52.369' N, 003°35.700' W
Discontinued
-.-
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1812 - A4362 - Toward Point - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


55°51.724' N, 004°58.783' W
Fl W 10s 21m 22M
Fl. 0.2s - ec. 9.8s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1816 - A3090 - Isle of May - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)
Alan Stevenson (1807 - 1865)

56°11.139' N, 002°33.457' W
Fl(2) W 15s 73m 18M
Fl. 0.3s - ec. 1.6s, Fl. 0.3s - 12.8s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1817 - A4604 - Corsewall - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


55°00.429' N, 005°09.564' W
Fl(5) W 30s 34m 22M
4x Fl. 0.2s - ec. 3.5s, Fl. 0.2s - ec. 15.0s.
Visible 027°-257°.
☰ Click on image tot close

1818 - A4720 - Point of Ayre - Isle of Man (Manx)
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


54°24.940' N, 004°22.090' W
Fl(4) W 20s 32m 19M
3x Fl. 0.2s - ec. 2.3s; Fl. 0.2s - ec. 12.3s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

4 Lighthouses built between 1820 and 1829
1821 - A3766 - Sumburgh Head - Shetland Islands1827 - A3280 - Buchan Ness - East Coast
1825 - A4256 - Rhinns of Islay - Inner Hebrides1828 - A3880 - Cape Wrath - North Coast

1821 - A3766 - Sumburgh Head - Shetland Islands
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


59°51.243' N, 001°16.476' W
Fl(3) W 30s 91m 23M
2x Fl. 0.4s - ec. 2.1s, Fl. 0.4s - 24.6s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1825 - A4256 - Rhinns of Islay - Inner Hebrides
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


55°40.384' N, 006°30.790' W
Fl W 5s 46m 18M
Fl. 0.2s - ec. 4.8s)
Visible 256°-184°.
☰ Click on image tot close

1827 - A3280 - Buchan Ness - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


57°28.227' N, 001°46.474' W
Fl W 5s 40m 18M
Fl. 0.3s - ec. 4.7s.
none (shuttered at the rear)
☰ Click on image tot close

1828 - A3880 - Cape Wrath - North Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


58°37.534' N, 004°59.930' W
Fl(4) W 30s 122m 21M
3x Fl. 0.2s - ec. 3.6s, Fl. 0.2s - ec. 18.4s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

6 Lighthouses built between 1830 and 1839
1830 - A3506 - Tarbat Ness - East Coast 1831 - A3574 - Dunnet Head - North Coast1833 - A4020 - Barra Head - Outer Hebrides
1830 - A4619 - Mull of Galloway - Southwest Coast1833 - A3246 - Girdle Ness - East Coast 1833 - A4170 - Lismore - Inner Hebrides

1830 - A3506 - Tarbat Ness - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


57°51.906' N, 003°46.590' W
Fl(4) W 30s 53m 18M
3x Fl. 0.7s - ec. 2.1s, Fl. 0.7s - ec. 20.9s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1830 - A4619 - Mull of Galloway - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


54°38.101' N, 004°51.411' W
Fl W 20s 99m 18M
Fl. 0.5s - ec. 19.5s.
Visible 182°-105°.
☰ Click on image tot close

1831 - A3574 - Dunnet Head - North Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


58°40.280' N, 003°22.585' W
Fl(4) W 30s 105m 23Mb
3x Fl. 0.7s - ec. 2.0s, Fl. 0.7s - ec. 21.2s
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1833 - A3246 - Girdle Ness - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


57°08.339' N, 002°02.916' W
Fl(2) W 20s 56m 22M
Fl. 0.5s - ec. 2.0s, Fl. 0.5s - ec. 17.0s
Obscured by Greg Ness when bearing more than about 020°-025°.
☰ Click on image tot close

1833 - A4020 - Barra Head - Outer Hebrides
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)


56°47.131' N, 007°39.215' W
Fl W 15s 208m 18M
Fl. 0.3s - ec. 14.7s.
Obscured by islands NE.
☰ Click on image tot close

1833 - A4170 - Lismore - Inner Hebrides
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850)
Alan Stevenson (1807 - 1865)

56°27.333' N, 005°36.449' W
Fl W 10s 31m 17M
Fl. 0.2s - ec. 9.8s
Visible 237°-208°.
☰ Click on image tot close

8 Lighthouses built between 1840 and 1849
1843 - A4634 and 4633.99 (Beacon) - Little Ross - Southwest Coast1846 - A3414 - Covesea Skerry - East Coast1849 - A3544 - Noss Head - East Coast
1844 - A4096 - Skerryvore - Inner Hebrides 1846 - A3490(ex) - Cromarty - East Coast 1849 - A4082 - Ardnamurchan - West Coast
1846 - A3440 - Chanonry Point - East Coast 1847 - A4592 - Cairn Point - Loch Rayn - Southwest Coast

1843 - A4634 and 4633.99 (Beacon) - Little Ross - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Alan Stevenson (1807 - 1865)


54°45.946' N, 004°05.093' W
Fl W 5s 50m 12M
Fl. 0.5s - ec. 4.5s.
Obscured in Wigton Bay S. of 103°.
☰ Click on image tot close

1844 - A4096 - Skerryvore - Inner Hebrides
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Alan Stevenson (1807 - 1865)


56°19.366' N, 007°06.882' W
Fl W 10s 46m 23M
Fl. 0.4s - ec. 9.6s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1846 - A3440 - Chanonry Point - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Alan Stevenson (1807 - 1865)


57°34.441' N, 004°05.567' W
Oc W 6s 12m 15M
Lit. 4.5s - ec. 1.5s.
☰ Click on image tot close

1846 - A3414 - Covesea Skerry - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Alan Stevenson (1807 - 1865)


57°43.449' N, 003°20.312' W
Discontinued
Fl(4) WR 20s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1846 - A3490(ex) - Cromarty - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Alan Stevenson (1807 - 1865)


57°40.984' N, 004°02.187' W
Discontinued
was Oc. WR 10s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1847 - A4592 - Cairn Point - Loch Rayn - Southwest Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Alan Stevenson (1807 - 1865)


54°58.468' N, 005°01.850' W
Fl(2) R 10s 14m 12M
Fl. 0.1s - ec 2.4s, Fl. 0.1s - ec. 7.4s.
-.-
☰ Click on image tot close

1849 - A3544 - Noss Head - East Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Alan Stevenson (1807 - 1865)


58°28.744' N, 003°03.046' W
Fl WR 20s 53m 18M
Fl. 0.5s - ec 19.5s.
R. 073°-191°, W.-045°.
☰ Click on image tot close

1849 - A4082 - Ardnamurchan - West Coast
Engineers(s):


Position (Lat, Lon):
Light Character:
Light period:
Sector:
Alan Stevenson (1807 - 1865)


56°43.625' N, 006°13.558' W
Fl(2) W 20s 55m 18M
Fl. 0.5s - ec 2.0s, Fl. 0.5 - ec 17.0s.
Visible 002°-217°.
☰ Click on image tot close