Fair Isle South

The lighthouse at Fair Isle South was established in 1892 by David and Charles Stevenson.

There are two lighthouses on Fair Isle. The South (Skaddan) and the North (Skroo). The machinery and equipment at the South Light were almost identical to that at the North Light. A noticeable difference, however, is the height to the light from the ground on the southern tower is just over 22 metres. That’s 8 metres of extra stair climbing compared to that at the North Light!

During WWII, the lighthouse was staffed and bombed on numerous occasions, resulting in the death of the assistant lighthouse keeper on one occasion and later the death of the principal keeper’s wife and daughter after a direct hit on the accommodation block.

There is no mains electricity supply on Fair Isle apart from a local wind generator and constant running generators were provided in a modernised engine room. The Keepers left Fair Isle South Lighthouse on the 31 March 1998 for the last time. This was the last Scottish manned lighthouse to be automated.