Buchan Ness Lighthouse

Buchan Ness Lighthouse sits on a rocky headland beside the village of Boddam, a few miles south of Peterhead in Aberdeenshire. The point is the easternmost tip of mainland Scotland, and the white tower with its red bands is a landmark of the Buchan coast, easy to spot from the road and from nearby cliffs.

Why was Buchan Ness built?

Peterhead's authorities petitioned the Northern Lighthouse Board for a light on this stretch of coast in 1819. Robert Stevenson, the Board's engineer and grandfather of the author Robert Louis Stevenson, picked the site. The granite tower went up between 1824 and 1827, with the contractor John Gibb carrying out the work, and the light was first shown in 1827. It was given a flashing character, which was an innovation in Scotland at the time.

How has it changed since?

The red bands were painted on in 1907, although some sources give 1910. Around 1910 the optic was replaced with a dioptric lens. The station was electrified in 1978 and automated in 1988, so no keepers live here now; it is monitored remotely from the Board's headquarters in Edinburgh. In 2012 the old lamp and lens gave way to fixed flashing LED lanterns. During the Second World War, drifting mines washed ashore and exploded, damaging the buildings, though nobody was killed.

Is it a protected building?

Yes. The lighthouse has been a Category A listed building, the top tier of Scottish heritage protection, since 1971 (reference LB16367). It also appears in the RCAHMS record as NK14SW 73.

How do you get to Buchan Ness?

Boddam lies off the A982 south of Peterhead, so a car is the simplest option: it is a short drive from Peterhead and roughly an hour north of Aberdeen. From the village you walk out to the headland. The coordinates are about 57.470° N, 1.775° W.

What can you see there?

The tower is normally admired from outside. The rocky shelves and grassy edge of the headland give the best viewpoints. Bring a windproof layer, as the coast is fully exposed to the North Sea. Seabirds are common, and on clear days ships pass along the coast. Morning and late afternoon give the most flattering light for photography.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go up the tower? It is a working aid to navigation, so visitors usually view it from outside. Check access rules before you travel.

Who designed it? Robert Stevenson, engineer to the Northern Lighthouse Board, who designed many of Scotland's lighthouses.

When was it built? Construction ran from 1824 to 1827, and the light was first lit in 1827.

Is the light still in use? Yes. It has been automated since 1988 and has used an LED source since 2012.

What is the nearest village? Boddam, a few miles from Peterhead.