Chanonry Lighthouse

About

Standing at the tip of Chanonry Point on the Black Isle, Chanonry Lighthouse is one of the most picturesque lighthouses in Scotland. Built in 1846 and designed by the renowned lighthouse engineer Alan Stevenson, the elegant white tower marks the narrow entrance to the inner Moray Firth, guiding vessels safely through these busy coastal waters. Although relatively modest in size at 13 metres tall, the lighthouse occupies a spectacular location. It was originally established as a one-man station, with the keeper responsible not only for the light itself but also for monitoring nearby navigational buoys. The station remained manned for well over a century before being automated in 1984. One of the lighthouse’s most interesting features is its distinctive architecture. The tower and keeper’s cottages were designed in an Egyptian-inspired style, a look favoured by Alan Stevenson for several of his lighthouse projects. The lighthouse and associated buildings are now protected as a Category A listed structure because of their historical and architectural significance.

Fortrose Scotland
Chanonry Lighthouse
Location

Chanonry Lighthouse is a lovely white lighthouse standing on the low-lying tip of Chanonry Point on the Black Isle. Designed by the famous engineer Alan Stevenson and lit in 1846, this thirteen-metre-tall tower was built to help ships navigate the narrow tidal channel into the Inverness Firth and Cromarty Firth. Location: Chanonry Point, Fortrose, IV10 8SD, Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom. It stands at the very end of the Chanonry Point spit jutting into the Moray Firth, between the coastal villages of Fortrose and Rosemarkie. Because of its prime position on the Black Isle, visiting Chanonry Lighthouse puts you close to a wealth of Highland history and coastal charm. Just up the road in Fortrose, you can explore the picturesque 13th-century red sandstone ruins of Fortrose Cathedral. In neighbouring Rosemarkie, the Groam House Museum houses an incredible collection of ancient Pictish carved stones. Across the narrow channel sits the massive 18th-century artillery fortress of Fort George, while a short drive inland leads to Hugh Miller's Cottage in Cromarty, the historic site of Culloden Battlefield, and Cawdor Castle.