Helliar Holm Lighthouse

Helliar Holm Lighthouse sits on a small uninhabited island just off the coast of Shapinsay in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The nearest settlement on Shapinsay is the village of Balfour, where the ferry from Kirkwall docks. The light marks the narrow channels that run between the northern Orkney isles.

What is Helliar Holm?

Helliar Holm is a low, grassy islet lying so close to Shapinsay that it was once joined to it by a strip of land uncovered by the tide. Norse sagas mention it as Hellisey, also recorded as Eller Holm. Visible on the island are the remains of a broch (an Iron Age round tower), a burial cairn and a chapel. Today it matters mostly as a seabird breeding ground, so it is treated as a protected site.

What will you see?

The lighthouse stands about 13 metres (42 ft) tall and rises from the shore of the island. Most sources date its construction to 1893. It belongs to the Stevenson lighthouse-building family, and the Scottish Places gazetteer names the brothers David A. and Charles Stevenson. Beside the tower are the former keepers' houses. The structure is listed and documented in the Canmore record of Scotland's heritage.

The light was staffed until 1967, when it was automated and the last keeper left the island. It has since been run by the Northern Lighthouse Board and watched remotely from its Edinburgh headquarters. The keepers' houses have stood empty for years.

How do you get there?

No scheduled service runs to the island itself. The usual approach is to take the Kirkwall to Shapinsay ferry into Balfour, then walk or drive to the shore to look across at Helliar Holm. The tower is also visible from the water on boat trips around Orkney. If you hope to land, ask local operators or the land managers for permission first, because the island is protected for its birds.

When should you visit?

Late spring and summer are best, with long daylight hours and seabird colonies active. Orkney is windy all year, so bring a windproof jacket and binoculars. In winter, ferries can be cancelled in bad weather.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the lighthouse? No. It is a working navigation aid, and neither the tower nor the buildings are open to visitors.

When was the lighthouse built? Most sources give 1893. The Canmore entry lists a different year that looks like a transposed typo.

Does anyone live there? No. It has been automated since 1967 and has no permanent crew.

Where is the best place to see it? From the Shapinsay shore near Balfour, or from a boat in the Orkney channels.