Lady Isle Lighthouse

Lady Isle Lighthouse stands on the uninhabited islet of Lady Isle in the Firth of Clyde, about two miles off the harbour town of Troon in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is a sight to admire from the shore or from the water: visitors cannot land on the island.

What kind of lighthouse is it?

The Northern Lighthouse Board built it in 1902-03 to designs by David Alan and Charles Stevenson, of the famous Scottish lighthouse-building family. The light first shone on 27 January 1903. It was commissioned after requests from the Glasgow & South-Western Railway, which owned Troon harbour, and from ship masters. Its job was to mark the rocks around the island and guide vessels towards Troon and Irvine.

The tower is unusual: four concrete buttresses joined together form a cross on plan. Historic Environment Scotland gives its height as up to 19 metres. It first burned gas, switched to acetylene around 1943, and went solar around 2004.

What else is on the island?

About 75 metres east of the lighthouse sits an older stone beacon, one of two raised by the city of Glasgow around 1776 as a navigation aid. The island also once had a chapel dedicated to St Mary, and it has a freshwater spring. Both the lighthouse and the beacon have been Category B listed buildings since December 2020.

Can you visit the island?

No. Lady Isle is privately owned and has long served as a seabird refuge, so there is no regular public access. The lighthouse is automated and does not offer tours. A holiday-let listing for the lighthouse has existed in the past, but check current terms with the operator rather than counting on it as a visitor attraction.

How do you see it?

The easiest way is from the coast around Troon and Barassie on a clear day, ideally with binoculars. The island also lies within view of boat trips on the Firth of Clyde. Troon is simple to reach, with a railway station on the line from Glasgow and Ayr.

When should you go?

Clear days give the best views, and long summer evenings offer good light for photos. From the beach the lighthouse is a small silhouette on the horizon, so a telephoto lens helps.

Frequently asked questions

Can I land on Lady Isle? No. The island is private and closed to visitors.

Who designed the lighthouse? David Alan and Charles Stevenson; the Northern Lighthouse Board completed it in 1903.

Is the light still working? Yes. It is automated and solar powered.

Where is the best place to see it? From the shoreline near Troon, or on a cruise on the Firth of Clyde.