- Skerryvore Lighthouse is in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
- Tallest lighthouse in Scotland
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About Skerryvore Lighthouse
Skerryvore Lighthouse stands on a remote reef off the Isle of Tiree and is the tallest lighthouse in Scotland, an engineering triumph of the Stevenson dynasty. Its graceful tapering tower has been called the most elegant lighthouse ever built.
The story of Skerryvore Lighthouse
Designed by Alan Stevenson, Robert's eldest son, Skerryvore was built between 1838 and 1844 after a seven-year struggle against the weather on a reef 10 miles south-west of Tiree. The 48-metre tower — the tallest in Scotland — used 58,000 cubic feet of granite and required a temporary barrack on the rock for the workmen. It was first lit on 7 February 1844 and is widely regarded as Stevenson's masterpiece. The lighthouse was automated in 1994 and struck by a fire in 1954 that damaged the keepers' quarters but left the tower intact.
Visiting with care
Skerryvore stands far offshore and cannot be visited, but the Skerryvore Lighthouse Museum at Hynish on Tiree tells the story of its construction and houses the original shore station and signalling apparatus. Day trips to Tiree by ferry or plane reward those who make the journey.
Interesting facts
- The tallest lighthouse in Scotland at 48 metres high.
- Built between 1838 and 1844 by Alan Stevenson of the engineering dynasty.
- Construction used 58,000 cubic feet of granite over seven years.
- A fire in 1954 damaged the keepers' quarters but the tower survived.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.