Lighthouses · Scottish Islands
Cape Wrath Lighthouse
Cape Wrath Lighthouse — lighthouse located at the most North-Westerly point of the British mainland, in Sutherland, Scotland.

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 min–1 h
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
About
Cape Wrath Lighthouse is a working or historic lighthouse on the United Kingdom coast. Records date its origin to 1828. Designed by Robert Stevenson. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Managed by Northern Lighthouse Board. Wikidata describes it as: "lighthouse located at the most North-Westerly point of the British mainland, in Sutherland, Scotland". Coordinates: 58.6256°, -4.9992°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Cape Wrath Lighthouse at Cape Wrath was built in 1828 by Robert Stevenson and was manned until 1998, when it was converted to automatic operation by the Northern Lighthouse Board. It is located at the most North-Westerly point on the British mainland, in the traditional county of Sutherland within Highland Region. Durness is the closest village, 10 miles (16 km) to the south-east with Inverness around 120 miles (190 km) to the south. Overlooking the Cape are the ruins of the Lloyd's signal station, which was used to monitor shipping and was built in the 19th century.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Cape Wrath Lighthouse at Cape Wrath was built in 1828 by Robert Stevenson and was manned until 1998, when it was converted to automatic operation by the Northern Lighthouse Board. It is located at the most North-Westerly point on the British mainland, in the traditional county of Sutherland within Highland Region. Durness is the closest village, 10 miles (16 km) to the south-east with Inverness around 120 miles (190 km) to the south. Overlooking the Cape are the ruins of the Lloyd's signal station, which was used to monitor shipping and was built in the 19th century. The light, which is 122 metres (400 ft) above sea level, is visible for 22 nautical miles (41 km; 25 mi).
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The lighthouse was built in 1828. Due to its height the light was often obscured by low cloud or fog and in the early 20th century plans were drawn up to build an additional low light. This involved the construction of tunnels into the headland, bridges and building on the very tip of the rocks below the headland. Plans were drawn up by David Alan Stevenson, Robert's grandson and work began in 1913 but was suspended at the start of World War I and never restarted. The light was originally a paraffin lamp with red and white reflectors. This was replaced by mercury vapour lamps in 1978 and in 1980 an electrical temporary power beam was installed with a gear less pedestal and array system…
Architecture
The lighthouse is a 20 m tall white-washed tower built of granite with a single storey semi-circular base building. A number of lighthouse keepers cottages and store buildings are located near to the lighthouse, with the complex surrounded by a perimeter wall. The lighthouse and its associated buildings are designated as a Category A listed building. This was used during the building of the lighthouse to supply materials along a rough road and was the main landing point for supplies and stores during the staffed operation of the lighthouse, although from 1977 onwards helicopters were also used for resupply. The lighthouse is now considered to be the end of the Cape Wrath Trail, an…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 58.6256, -4.9992
- Address
- Sutherland<br> Scotland
- Established
- 1828
Sources
- wikidata: Q15207438 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Cape Wrath Lighthouse (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Cape Wrath Lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 821653.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Featured in this guide
Other places nearby

Cape Wrath
Lighthouses · 0.2 km

Stac an Dunain
Mountains & hills · 0.4 km

Dunan Mor Stack
Mountains & hills · 0.6 km

Dùnan Mòr
Mountains & hills · 0.7 km

Uamh Chàm
Caves · 0.7 km

Dunan Mor
Mountains & hills · 0.8 km

Geodha Glas Head
Mountains & hills · 1.1 km

Dùnan Beag
Mountains & hills · 2.4 km

Sìthean na h-Iolaireich
Mountains & hills · 4.6 km

Cnoc a' Ghiubhais
Mountains & hills · 4.7 km

Cnoc a' Ghiùbhais
Mountains & hills · 4.7 km

Kearvaig
Villages · 4.8 km
Nearby
Mountains & hills · Scottish Islands
Stac an Dunain
Stac an Dunain — a hill or mountain in scotland islands.
Mountains & hills · Scottish Islands
Dunan Mor Stack
Dunan Mor Stack — a hill or mountain in scotland islands.
Mountains & hills · Scottish Islands
Dùnan Mòr
Dùnan Mòr — mountain in scotland islands. Elevation: 163 m.
Where to eat & stay near Cape Wrath Lighthouse
Places to stay
Caravan parks · Scottish Islands
Balnakeil Motorhome Stopover
Balnakeil Motorhome Stopover — a caravan park in scotland islands.
Hostels · Scottish Islands
Lazy Crofter Bunkhouse/Hostel
Lazy Crofter Bunkhouse/Hostel — a hostel in scotland islands.
Campsites · Scottish Islands
Sango Sands
Sango Sands — a campsite in scotland islands.
Hostels · Scottish Islands
Durness Youth Hostel
Durness Youth Hostel — a hostel in scotland islands.
Other works by Robert Stevenson
📷 3Lighthouses · Scottish Highlands
Tarbat Ness Lighthouse
Tarbat Ness Lighthouse — lighthouse on the East coast of Scotland.
📷 5Lighthouses · Central Scotland
Bell Rock Lighthouse
Bell Rock Lighthouse — lighthouse off the coast of Angus, Scotland, UK.
Lighthouses · Scottish Islands
Dennis Head Old Beacon
Dennis Head Old Beacon — ruined lighthouse on the island of North Ronaldsay, Orkney, Scotland.
More places run by Northern Lighthouse Board
📷 3Lighthouses · North West England
Crammag Head Lighthouse
Crammag Head Lighthouse — lighthouse in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.
📷 3Lighthouses · North West England
Little Ross Lighthouse
Little Ross Lighthouse — lighthouse in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.
📷 3Lighthouses · North West England
Mull of Galloway Lighthouse
Mull of Galloway Lighthouse — lighthouse in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.
📷 3Lighthouses · Scottish Highlands
Buchan Ness Lighthouse
Buchan Ness Lighthouse — lighthouse in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
Other lighthouses from this era
📷 5Lighthouses · South East England
Belle Tout lighthouse
Belle Tout lighthouse — decommissioned lighthouse at Beachy Head, East Sussex, England, UK.
📷 5Lighthouses · South East England
Margate Lighthouse
Margate Lighthouse — lighthouse in Margate, Kent, England.
📷 5Lighthouses · South East England
Southsea Castle lighthouse
Southsea Castle lighthouse — lighthouse in Southsea, Hampshire, England, UK.
📷 5Lighthouses · South West England
Burnham-on-Sea High Lighthouse
Burnham-on-Sea High Lighthouse — lighthouse in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, Sedgemoor, Somerset, England, UK.
More lighthouses in this region
📷 2Lighthouses · Scottish Islands
Aird Laimishader
Aird Laimishader — lighthouse on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK.
📷 2Lighthouses · Scottish Islands
An t-Iasgair Light
An t-Iasgair Light — lighthouse in Highland, Scotland, UK.
📷 3Lighthouses · Scottish Islands
Ardnamurchan Lighthouse
Ardnamurchan Lighthouse — lighthouse in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, built in 1849.
📷 3Lighthouses · Scottish Islands
Arnish Point Lighthouse, Lewis
Arnish Point Lighthouse, Lewis — lighthouse in Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Cape Wrath Lighthouse?
- Cape Wrath Lighthouse is in the Scottish Islands, United Kingdom.
- What is Cape Wrath Lighthouse?
- Cape Wrath Lighthouse — lighthouse located at the most North-Westerly point of the British mainland, in Sutherland, Scotland.
- How do I get to Cape Wrath Lighthouse?
- Its coordinates are 58.6256°, -4.9992°.
- When was Cape Wrath Lighthouse built?
- Built or established in 1828. Designed by Robert Stevenson.
- Who runs Cape Wrath Lighthouse?
- Cape Wrath Lighthouse is operated by Northern Lighthouse Board.
- Is Cape Wrath Lighthouse a listed building?
- Cape Wrath Lighthouse is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
- Is Cape Wrath Lighthouse free to visit?
- Yes, Cape Wrath Lighthouse is free to enter.