Cava Lighthouse

Cava Lighthouse is a small navigation light on the uninhabited island of Cava in Scapa Flow, Orkney. The nearest settlement is Houton on Mainland, a port with ferries to Hoy and Flotta. The light sits in the southern part of the archipelago and has guided vessels through the islands and skerries since the late 1890s.

What is the Cava light?

The light dates from 1898 and is operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board, Scotland's lighthouse authority. It is a cast-iron tower about 9.5 metres high, with a gallery and lantern, and its light shines from 11 metres above sea level. It is a modest structure, closer to a beacon than to the tall stone towers of the cliff-top stations.

The light is automatic and solar-powered. In 2022 the NLB put out a tender for refurbishment, covering the existing structures, the electrical supply, the control systems and the optic. In the past it was serviced by the Board's vessel Pole Star.

Where is Cava?

Cava covers roughly 107 hectares and rises to 38 metres. It lies just off the larger island of Hoy, close to the islets of Rysa Little and Fara and the skerry known as Barrel of Butter. The name comes from Old Norse Kálfey, a term for a small island beside a bigger one. The island lost its permanent population during the twentieth century, and no habitable building remains.

Nearby Gutter Sound, between Fara and Rysa Little, is where the German High Seas Fleet was scuttled in 1919. The wrecks are now a draw for divers in Scapa Flow.

How can you see it?

There is no visitor infrastructure on Cava, so this is a lighthouse to view from the water rather than to tour. The area around Houton on Mainland is a practical base for exploring Scapa Flow. Lighthouse enthusiasts can pair the trip with Cantick Head Lighthouse at the southern tip of Hoy, built in 1858.

When to go

Orkney is easiest to visit from late spring to early autumn, when days are long and boat trips on the Flow run more reliably. Winter weather often limits sailings.

Frequently asked questions

Can I land on Cava? The island is uninhabited and has no buildings fit for living and no visitor facilities. The lighthouse is best seen from the sea.

Who runs the lighthouse? The Northern Lighthouse Board, which is responsible for lighthouses around Scotland and the Isle of Man.

When was it built? The light was established in 1898. The present tower is cast iron, around 9.5 metres tall.

How do I get to Houton? Houton is on the west side of Orkney Mainland and is a ferry port for Hoy and Flotta. It is reached by road from Kirkwall or Stromness.