Oxcars Lighthouse

Oxcars Lighthouse is a working lighthouse perched on a small rocky islet in the Firth of Forth, offshore from Dalgety Bay in Fife, Scotland. Standing a short distance out from the shoreline, it has marked the safe route along the northern side of the estuary since the 1880s.

What is Oxcars Lighthouse?

The tower was designed by David and Thomas Stevenson, members of the famous Scottish family of lighthouse engineers, and first showed its light on 15 February 1886. It has four stages on a circular plan, tapering gently, with a brick shaft rising from a base of dressed sandstone and a domed lantern on top. Historic Environment Scotland lists it as a Category B building (reference LB49687, designated 2004).

What makes it special?

In 1894 Oxcars became the first Northern Lighthouse Board station to be switched to automatic operation. It had started life with an oil burner and resident keepers; the gas light that replaced it was driven by clockwork. Engineers still had to visit to rewind the mechanism and change the gas supply, so some writers call it only semi-automatic. The clockwork was later swapped for an AGA sun valve, and the original mechanism is displayed at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses. A concrete landing pier was added at the rock in the same year, and the listing description says the lighthouse keeps its original lens and almost all its fittings.

Can you visit it?

No. Oxcars is an operating aid to navigation on a sea-washed rock, with no regular public landing and no tours. It is something you look at from the shore, so plan a waterfront walk, not an interior visit.

How do you get there and where do you look?

Dalgety Bay sits on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, about 20 km north-west of Edinburgh across the water. Trains on the Fife Circle line stop at Dalgety Bay station, and drivers can arrive over the Forth Road Bridge or the Queensferry Crossing. The lighthouse is visible from the bay's promenade and beach, and from coastal paths heading towards Aberdour. Binoculars or a long lens help a lot.

When is the best time to go?

Clear, bright days give the best view of the tower, and at dusk you can watch the light at work. At low tide more of the rocky foreshore around the islet is exposed. Check the forecast first, because wind and haze are common on the Forth.

What else is nearby?

Combine the viewpoint with a stretch of the Fife Coastal Path to Aberdour, home to Aberdour Castle and boat trips on the estuary. Other Forth islands are in view too, which makes the bay a rewarding spot for anyone who likes the sea and birdwatching.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside Oxcars Lighthouse? No. It stands on a rock in the sea and is not open to visitors.

Where is the best place to see it? From the promenade and beach at Dalgety Bay, or from the coastal path towards Aberdour.

Who built it, and when? David and Thomas Stevenson; the light first shone in February 1886.

Is the lighthouse protected? Yes, it is a Category B listed building in Scotland.