Sumburgh Head Lighthouse

Dramatically perched on towering cliffs at the southern tip of Shetland Mainland, Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is one of Scotland’s most spectacular lighthouse attractions. Designed by renowned lighthouse engineer Robert Stevenson and completed in 1821, it was the first lighthouse ever built in Shetland and remains one of the islands’ most famous landmarks. The lighthouse occupies a breathtaking position 91 metres above sea level, where steep cliffs plunge into the North Sea. Its light can be seen up to 23 nautical miles away, helping generations of sailors navigate the often challenging waters around Shetland. An interesting fact is that Stevenson was the grandfather of the famous author Robert Louis Stevenson, while his friend Sir Walter Scott later used the nearby landscape as inspiration for parts of his novel The Pirate. Unlike many historic lighthouses, Sumburgh Head offers visitors the chance to explore a fascinating visitor centre housed within the restored lighthouse complex. Inside, interactive exhibitions tell the story of Shetland’s maritime heritage, the lives of lighthouse keepers, and the engineering achievements that made remote coastal navigation possible. Displays also cover the area’s geology, wildlife, and the history of human settlement stretching back thousands of years.