Lighthouses Β· Scottish Islands
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse β lighthouse at Sumburgh Head on the mainland of Shetland, Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK.

Wikimedia Commons contributors β see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 minβ1 h
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
About
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is a working or historic lighthouse on the United Kingdom coast. Records date its origin to 1821. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Managed by Northern Lighthouse Board. Wikidata describes it as: "lighthouse at Sumburgh Head on the mainland of Shetland, Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 59.8539Β°, -1.2747Β°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Sumburgh Head at the southern tip of the Mainland of Shetland.
From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Sumburgh Head at the southern tip of the Mainland of Shetland.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The lighthouse was built by Robert Stevenson in 1821 and is the oldest lighthouse in Shetland. The lighthouse complex also has offices for the RSPB who look after the bird reserve which surrounds the lighthouse. The Northern Lighthouse Board operate the light, whilst the Shetland Amenity Trust own the site and restored the lighthouse facilities and built a visitor centre which opened in 2014. The lighthouse is protected as a category A listed building.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 59.8539, -1.2747
- District
- Shetland Islands
- Postcode
- ZE3 9JN
- Parliamentary constituency
- Orkney and Shetland
- Established
- 1821
- Official site
- www.sumburghhead.com
Sources
- wikidata: Q7637054 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Sumburgh Head Lighthouse (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Sumburgh Head lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 960856.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Featured in this guide
Other places nearby

Sumburgh Head RSPB reserve
Wildlife reserves Β· 0.0 km

Sumburgh Head
Lighthouses Β· 0.1 km

Sumburgh Head
Vineyards Β· 0.2 km

Orca statue
Public art & sculpture Β· 0.3 km

End section1/ beginning section 2
Viewpoints Β· 0.3 km

End section 2/beginning section 3
Viewpoints Β· 0.3 km

Beginning section 1
Viewpoints Β· 0.5 km

End section 3/ beginning section 4
Viewpoints Β· 0.6 km

Ignore
Viewpoints Β· 0.8 km

End section 4/ beginning section 5
Viewpoints Β· 0.9 km

West Voe of Sumburgh
Natural landmarks Β· 1.3 km

End section 5/ Beginning section 6
Viewpoints Β· 1.4 km
Nearby
Wildlife reserves Β· Scottish Islands
Sumburgh Head RSPB reserve
Sumburgh Head RSPB reserve in England South East, United Kingdom.
Lighthouses Β· Scottish Islands
Sumburgh Head
Sumburgh Head in Orkney + Shetland, United Kingdom.
Vineyards Β· Scottish Islands
Sumburgh Head
Sumburgh Head β a UK vineyard in scotland islands, producing English or Welsh wine from cool-climate grape varieties.
Public art & sculpture Β· Scottish Islands
Orca statue
Orca statue β a public art in scotland-islands, United Kingdom.
Viewpoints Β· Scottish Islands
End section1/ beginning section 2
End section1/ beginning section 2 is a viewpoint in the United Kingdom.
Viewpoints Β· Scottish Islands
End section 2/beginning section 3
End section 2/beginning section 3 is a viewpoint in the United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
Places to stay
Hostels Β· Scottish Islands
Betty Mouat's Camping BΓΆd
Betty Mouat's Camping BΓΆd β a hostel in scotland islands.
Campsites Β· Scottish Islands
Levenwick Campsite
Levenwick Campsite β a campsite in scotland islands.
π· 5Caravan parks Β· Scottish Islands
Cunningsburgh Touring Park
Cunningsburgh Touring Park β a caravan park in scotland islands.
More places run by Northern Lighthouse Board
π· 3Lighthouses Β· North West England
Crammag Head Lighthouse
Crammag Head Lighthouse β lighthouse in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.
π· 3Lighthouses Β· North West England
Little Ross Lighthouse
Little Ross Lighthouse β lighthouse in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.
π· 3Lighthouses Β· North West England
Mull of Galloway Lighthouse
Mull of Galloway Lighthouse β lighthouse in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.
π· 3Lighthouses Β· Scottish Highlands
Buchan Ness Lighthouse
Buchan Ness Lighthouse β lighthouse in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
Other lighthouses from this era
π· 5Lighthouses Β· South East England
Belle Tout lighthouse
Belle Tout lighthouse β decommissioned lighthouse at Beachy Head, East Sussex, England, UK.
π· 5Lighthouses Β· South East England
Margate Lighthouse
Margate Lighthouse β lighthouse in Margate, Kent, England.
π· 5Lighthouses Β· South East England
Southsea Castle lighthouse
Southsea Castle lighthouse β lighthouse in Southsea, Hampshire, England, UK.
π· 5Lighthouses Β· South West England
Burnham-on-Sea High Lighthouse
Burnham-on-Sea High Lighthouse β lighthouse in Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, Sedgemoor, Somerset, England, UK.
More lighthouses in this region
π· 2Lighthouses Β· Scottish Islands
Aird Laimishader
Aird Laimishader β lighthouse on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK.
π· 2Lighthouses Β· Scottish Islands
An t-Iasgair Light
An t-Iasgair Light β lighthouse in Highland, Scotland, UK.
π· 3Lighthouses Β· Scottish Islands
Ardnamurchan Lighthouse
Ardnamurchan Lighthouse β lighthouse in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, built in 1849.
π· 3Lighthouses Β· Scottish Islands
Arnish Point Lighthouse, Lewis
Arnish Point Lighthouse, Lewis β lighthouse in Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Sumburgh Head Lighthouse?
- Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is in the Scottish Islands, United Kingdom (postcode ZE3 9JN).
- What is Sumburgh Head Lighthouse?
- Sumburgh Head Lighthouse β lighthouse at Sumburgh Head on the mainland of Shetland, Shetland Islands, Scotland, UK.
- How do I get to Sumburgh Head Lighthouse?
- Drivers can use postcode ZE3 9JN.
- When was Sumburgh Head Lighthouse built?
- Built or established in 1821.
- Who runs Sumburgh Head Lighthouse?
- Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is operated by Northern Lighthouse Board.
- Is Sumburgh Head Lighthouse a listed building?
- Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
- Is Sumburgh Head Lighthouse free to visit?
- Yes, Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is free to enter.
- How do I get to Sumburgh Head Lighthouse?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode ZE3 9JN. It sits within the Orkney and Shetland parliamentary constituency.