Fladda Lighthouse

Fladda Lighthouse is a small lighthouse on an islet in the Sound of Luing, visible from the village of Cullipool on the island of Luing in Argyll, Scotland. The islet belongs to the Slate Islands, a group shaped by centuries of slate quarrying, and lies about 1.8 km off the Luing shore. It makes a fine view from the coast, but the tower itself is not open to visitors.

Where is Fladda Lighthouse?

The light stands on a low, flat islet off Luing's eastern coast, in the channel where the Firth of Lorn narrows between the islands. The name comes from Old Norse and means "flat island". Don't confuse it with the other Fladda in the Treshnish Isles, or the islet of that name near Skye. This one is part of the Slate Islands, alongside Seil and Easdale.

Who built it, and when?

David and Thomas Stevenson, from the family of engineers behind many Scottish lighthouses, designed it, and it was completed in 1860. The Northern Lighthouse Board bought the island first so it could place a navigation light for ships threading the narrow passages between the islands.

Two keepers manned the station. Luing boatmen carried supplies and relief crews, and drinking water had to be brought across from Luing. The MacLachlan family of Cullipool served the light, and the family still runs the Cuan ferry today.

What changed after 1956?

Fladda was automated in 1956 and the keepers left. It was only the second major NLB lighthouse to be automated. The lamp ran on gas and was controlled from Edinburgh, then switched to solar power in 1989. It now ranks as a minor light. The keepers' cottages were sold and are in private hands.

What can you see, and where?

• From the Luing shore, especially Cullipool: the lighthouse set against the channel and the islands beyond. Morning or early evening light with good visibility works best.
• At the Atlantic Islands Centre in Cullipool: the lighthouse's original optic, plus displays on the keepers and island life. The centre opened in May 2015.
• Cullipool itself: a village of whitewashed quarry workers' cottages, a good base for a walk on Luing.

How do you get there?

Take the short Cuan Sound ferry from Seil to Luing. Seil is linked to the mainland by a bridge, reached by road from the Oban area. From the ferry landing it is a few kilometres across Luing to Cullipool.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit Fladda Lighthouse?

No. The tower is closed to the public and the keepers' cottages are private. You view the light from the shore of Luing.

Where is the best place to see it?

Around Cullipool, directly opposite the islet at roughly 1.8 km.

Is the lighthouse still working?

Yes. It is an active light managed by the Northern Lighthouse Board and solar-powered since 1989.

Where can I see the original lamp?

At the Atlantic Islands Centre in Cullipool, which also has material on the keepers and the lighthouse's history.