Eyre Point Lighthouse

Eyre Point Lighthouse marks the south-eastern tip of Raasay, one of the Inner Hebrides, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is a small, functional light rather than a landmark tower, and it suits the quiet, little-visited coastline around it.

What kind of lighthouse is it?

The present tower is about 5 metres (16 ft) tall: a square, skeletal frame clad in white aluminium panels that serve as a daymark. The light is run by the Northern Lighthouse Board, the body responsible for navigation aids around Scotland, and it is still in service. It flashes once every 3 seconds, visible for 9 nautical miles in its white sector and 6 in the red.

Do not expect the tall stone tower of Scottish postcards. This is a working aid for vessels using the narrow waters between Raasay and its neighbours.

What is its history?

A light was first shown here in 1893, from a small masonry tower. Later structures replaced it, and sources disagree on the dates: one records a cylindrical tower in 1938, another a new structure in 2001. Historic Environment Scotland's record classes the site as a 19th-century lighthouse.

Where exactly is it?

Eyre Point is a low headland about 3 km (2 miles) south-east of the village of Inverarish, at roughly 57.334 N, 6.021 W. From the point you look across Caol Mor towards the island of Scalpay. Raasay is reached by ferry from Sconser on Skye.

What else is nearby?

About 80 metres north of the lighthouse, on an old raised beach, lie the remains of a Hebridean-type chambered cairn with a megalithic stone cist at its centre. It is recorded in Canmore, the national archaeology database, and shows how long people have used this shore.

The point works well for a quiet shoreline walk, watching boats in the sound and photographing the view towards Scalpay. There is no commercial facility here, so bring water and a warm layer; Hebridean weather changes quickly.

When should you go?

Late spring to early autumn gives the longest days and the best light. In summer dusk comes very late, leaving plenty of time by the water. Winter days are short and the wind stronger, which makes longer coastal walks harder.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Eyre Point Lighthouse?

No. It is an active Northern Lighthouse Board station and the roughly 5 m tower is not open to visitors. You view it from outside.

What does the light look like at night?

It flashes every 3 seconds. The white sector carries 9 nautical miles and the red sector 6.

Are there other historic sites close by?

Yes. About 80 m to the north is a prehistoric chambered cairn with a stone cist, listed in Canmore.

How do you get to Raasay?

By ferry from Sconser on Skye. The nearest village is Inverarish, around 3 km from the point.