Esha Ness Lighthouse

Perched on towering Atlantic cliffs in the remote Northmavine peninsula, Esha Ness Lighthouse is one of the most dramatically situated lighthouses in Scotland. Surrounded by some of the wildest coastal scenery in the British Isles, it stands guard over a coastline carved by volcanic activity, crashing waves, and centuries of fierce storms. The present lighthouse was completed in 1929 and designed by David Alan Stevenson and Charles Stevenson, members of the famous Stevenson dynasty responsible for many of Scotland’s lighthouses. One of the most interesting facts about Esha Ness is that it was the last manned lighthouse designed by a member of the Stevenson family. Unlike the traditional round towers found at many Scottish lighthouse stations, Esha Ness features a distinctive tapering square tower built from concrete because the local stone was considered unsuitable for construction in such an exposed location. The lighthouse was established to warn ships of the notorious Ve Skerries, a dangerous group of reefs lying offshore. An earlier temporary beacon stood on the site during the First World War, but the permanent structure was built after it became clear a more substantial navigational aid was required. The light was automated in 1974 and continues to guide vessels through these hazardous waters.