Lighthouse, Lybster Harbour

Lybster Harbour Lighthouse is a small octagonal tower topped with a domed lantern, standing at the harbour of Lybster village in Caithness, Highland, on Scotland's north-east coast. It is a Category B listed building (LB7954) and a neat landmark above a former herring port.

What is it?

The lighthouse belongs to the Invershore harbour complex. It is modest in scale, more a harbour marker than a tall sea tower, and it is easy to photograph from the quayside. Ordnance Survey maps from the early 1900s show it as a lighthouse with a fixed red light. It was restored after 2008, and Historic Environment Scotland now classes it as a beacon rather than a working lighthouse.

Why does Lybster harbour matter?

Fishing at the mouth of the Reisgill Burn may go back to Viking times. Organised herring fishing took off in 1790, when a wooden pier went up, and General Patrick Sinclair laid out the planned village in 1802. By 1859 the port had 357 fishing boats, making it the third busiest in Scotland after Wick and Fraserburgh. A storm in 1847 wrecked the harbour and killed seven fishermen. Engineer Joseph Mitchell rebuilt and enlarged it between 1850 and 1854, and further repairs followed storms in 1877. As herring grew scarce, the industry concentrated in Wick, though white-fish boats and a new inner harbour in 1950 kept Lybster working for a while.

What can you see?

• The lighthouse and the harbour wall, with views over the North Sea and the Caithness coast.
• Two storehouses built against each other, used for salmon and herring processing until after the Second World War.
• The Waterlines heritage centre, set in restored early 19th-century storehouses. Its displays cover the herring story, local history and geology, and there is a cafe.

When should you visit?

Waterlines is usually open from May to September, but hours can change, so check before you go. The harbour and lighthouse can be seen all year. Long summer evenings give the softest light for walking and photos.

How do you get there?

Lybster lies on the A99 between Wick and Helmsdale, roughly 20 km south of Wick. A car is the easiest way. The harbour sits at the bottom of the village, reached by a short road down from the main street.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the lighthouse? No. It is a small structure that you view from outside.

Is there an entry fee? Looking at the lighthouse and harbour is free. Check admission details for Waterlines locally or with the operator.

How long should you allow? Thirty to forty-five minutes covers the harbour and lighthouse. Add up to an hour more if you visit the Waterlines museum.

Is it a good stop on the North Coast 500? Yes. Lybster is on the eastern stretch of the coast and suits a short break for coffee and a walk around the harbour.