Gantock Rocks Light

Gantock Rocks Light is a small beacon tower standing on a reef just off the shore of Dunoon, in Argyll and Bute on Scotland's west coast. You can pick it out from the town's seafront and from ferries crossing the Firth of Clyde. Nobody can go inside, but it is a pleasing landmark of the bay and a quick stop for lighthouse fans.

What is the Gantock Rocks Light?

It is a fixed navigation beacon on a cluster of rocks near the entrance to the upper Firth of Clyde, a short way out from Dunoon. The tower dates from around 1886 and rises about 13 metres (44 ft). It shows a red flashing light every 6 seconds, visible for roughly 6 nautical miles, and is looked after by the port authority Clydeport. Canmore, Scotland's heritage record, classes it as a navigation beacon. The tower was repainted and maintained in 2018.

Why was it built here?

The Gantocks are a hazard lying close to the route that ships took to and from Glasgow. Warning mariners about them has a long history: the Cloch lighthouse across the water has shone since 1797, partly for this reason. In 1828 Robert Stevenson, the celebrated Scottish lighthouse engineer, drew up designs for beacons on the Gantocks and Captain's Bridges, and those drawings survive in the National Library of Scotland. The present tower from the 1880s is the outcome of that long concern for safe navigation.

What has happened on the rocks?

The MV Akka ran aground and was lost here on 9 April 1956. On 15 July 1977 the paddle steamer PS Waverley grounded on the rocks with 715 passengers aboard. Waverley still sails as a heritage excursion vessel, so a cruise may take you past the very spot.

How can you see it?

The beacon is sited on rocks in the water, so it is closed to visitors, with no tickets or opening hours. Good viewpoints are the Dunoon promenade and the area around the pier, where the tower is visible to the naked eye; binoculars or a zoom lens help with details. The coordinates are about 55.941 N, 4.918 W. Ferries across the Firth of Clyde pass close enough for a decent photo.

When is the best time to look?

The tower looks good in any season. At dusk and after dark you can watch the red flash repeating every 6 seconds. Clear days give the best views across to the far shore and the kindest light for photographs.

What else is nearby?

A stroll along the Dunoon seafront, pier and waterfront streets pairs easily with a look at the beacon. Toward Point Lighthouse lies a short drive away, and Cloch Lighthouse sits on the opposite shore, so lighthouse enthusiasts can build a full circuit around the Firth of Clyde.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit the Gantock Rocks Light? No. It stands on rocks in the sea and works as an active navigation mark, so it can only be viewed from the shore or from the water.

Where is the best place to see it? From the promenade and pier at Dunoon, or from a ferry on the Firth of Clyde.

Is the light still in use? Yes. It gives a red flash every 6 seconds with a range of around 6 nautical miles.

When was it built? Around 1886; the tower is about 13 metres tall.