Swilkie Point (Stroma)

Stroma or Swilkie Point Lighthouse was established in 1896 and engineered by David A and Charles Stevenson.

Off the northernmost point of Stroma lies the Swilkie, a treacherous whirlpool caused by the meeting of numerous contrary currents and tides. Icelandic legend has it that the Swilkie is the place where the salt which maintains the saltiness of the oceans is ground in a giant quern, stolen from King Frodi by a sea-king named Mysing. Under the weight of the quern, Mysing’s longship sank to a watery grave off Stroma but 15 fathoms down, he continues to grind away at the mill and to this day the sea can still be heard roaring through it.

The lighthouse was established in 1896. Until 1961 the lighthouse was administered as a shore station, and subsequently (after the resident population of Stroma had left) as a rock station. In 1972, Stroma was converted to electric operation, and at the same time, a helicopter landing pad was built near the station, and the relief or changeover of Keepers was now carried out by helicopter.

Work commenced in April 1994 to convert the station to automatic operation, this was complete in March 1997. The current light flashes white every 20 seconds and can be seen from a nominal range of 48 kilometres.