Ailsa Craig Lighthouse

Ailsa Craig Lighthouse sits on a rocky volcanic island in the middle of the Firth of Clyde, off Scotland's west coast and roughly 16 km (10 miles) from the town of Girvan in Ayrshire. The island rises out of the sea like a huge dome, and the light is tucked onto its low eastern shore. It is still active and run by the Northern Lighthouse Board.

Why was a lighthouse built on Ailsa Craig?

In 1881 the Northern Lighthouse Board received a petition asking for a light and fog signals here, since shipping lanes to the Clyde and Irish ports pass right beside the rock. Work began around 1882 under the engineers Thomas and David Alan Stevenson, the family behind many of Scotland's lighthouses. The light was first shown on 15 June 1886. The tower is about 11 m tall, the lamp sits roughly 18 m above sea level, and the beam reaches around 17 nautical miles.

What was life like for the keepers?

The island is remote, so early keepers sent messages to Girvan by carrier pigeon. Radio-telephone contact only arrived in 1935. Gas-powered fog sirens stood at both ends of the island, supplied by a small gasworks beside the tower, and were replaced by a Tyfon system in 1966. The station was automated in 1990 and is now monitored remotely from the NLB headquarters in Edinburgh, with solar panels added in 2001. The original lens is displayed at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses in Fraserburgh. The site is a listed building (Category B).

What else is there to see?

Ailsa Craig is about 338 m high and known for its microgranite, quarried for generations to make curling stones; the last quarrying took place in 2013. Today the island is an RSPB bird reserve. Tens of thousands of seabirds nest on the cliffs, including one of the largest gannet colonies in the UK, plus puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes.

How do you get to Ailsa Craig?

There is no scheduled ferry. Boat trips normally leave from Girvan harbour and take around an hour each way. Sailings depend on weather and demand, and winter trips are rare. An easterly wind makes landing at the pier impossible, so check with the operator on the day. May and June are best for birdwatching. Bring warm, windproof and waterproof clothing, as boats are open or only partly covered.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside the lighthouse? No. It is an operating, automated light and is not open to visitors. You can view it from the boat or from the shore if your trip includes a landing.

When was it built? Construction ran from about 1882, and the light was first lit on 15 June 1886.

Does anyone live there? No. It has been automatic since 1990 and is monitored from Edinburgh.

Where do boats depart from? Usually Girvan in Ayrshire, about 16 km from the island.