Cape Wrath

Cape Wrath Lighthouse at Cape Wrath was built in 1828 by Robert Stevenson and was manned until 1998, when it was converted to automatic operation by the Northern Lighthouse Board. It is located at the most North-Westerly point on the British mainland, in the traditional county of Sutherland within Highland Region.

The tower is built from hand dressed stone and the rest of the building is constructed of large blocks of granite quarried from nearby Clash Carnoch.

Due to its height the light was often obscured by low cloud or fog and in the early 20th century plans were drawn up to build an additional low light. This involved the construction of tunnels into the headland, bridges and building on the very tip of the rocks below the headland. Plans were drawn up by David Alan Stevenson, Robert’s grandson and work began in 1913 but was suspended at the start of World War I and never restarted.

Overlooking the Cape are the ruins of the Lloyd’s signal station, which was used to monitor shipping and was built in the 19th century. The light, which is 122 metres above sea level, is visible for 41 km.