Pentland Skerries Low Light

Pentland Skerries Low Light is the shorter of the two historic lighthouse towers on Muckle Skerry, in the Pentland Skerries group at the eastern gateway to the Pentland Firth, between Orkney and mainland Scotland. This is a landmark to admire from a distance: the islands are uninhabited and no regular visitor boats go ashore.

What is Pentland Skerries Low Light?

The tower belongs to a pair designed by Robert Stevenson with Thomas Smith for the Northern Lighthouse Board. The first light here shone in 1794, and the station is regarded as Stevenson's first commission for the Board. The two towers stand roughly 60 feet (about 18 m) apart. The lower one, the Low Light, worked together with the taller tower as a pair, so mariners could tell this station from others along the coast.

Published sources disagree on dates and heights, since the towers were reworked in the 1820s and 1830s. The current tall tower is generally dated to a rebuild completed in 1833, while the Low Light survives as the older, shorter structure from the late 18th century.

Why build a lighthouse here?

The Pentland Firth is among the most treacherous waters around Britain. Fierce tidal streams and rocky skerries wrecked many ships rounding the north of Scotland. The double light marked the eastern approach and set it apart from other navigation marks on the coast.

What happened to it?

• In 1895 the double light was dropped when powerful group-flashing lamps were installed. Since then the Low Light has no longer served as a navigation light.
• A fog signal has operated at the lower tower since 1909.
• In February 1941 the station came under enemy fire during the Second World War.
• The station was automated on 31 March 1994. Nobody has been posted here permanently since, and the light is monitored from the NLB headquarters in Edinburgh.

Is it protected?

Yes. Historic Environment Scotland lists the Pentland Skerries lighthouses at Category A (reference LB18728), the highest level of protection in Scotland. The former keepers' cottages on Muckle Skerry are listed too. The site also has a record in Canmore.

How can you see Pentland Skerries?

Muckle Skerry sits at the eastern entrance to the Pentland Firth, south of South Ronaldsay and north-east of Duncansby Head. The interior is closed and landing needs the owners' consent and calm weather. Your best views come from boat trips across the Pentland Firth, wildlife cruises around Orkney, and viewpoints on the south coast of South Ronaldsay and at Duncansby Head. The towers are easy to spot on the low, treeless island. Binoculars help, and clear summer days give the best visibility.

For photographers and lighthouse enthusiasts it is a rewarding target: two towers of different height on a bare island amid racing currents capture the character of old northern navigation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside the Low Light? No. It is out of use and the islands are not open to visitors.

Does the Low Light still shine? No. The double light was discontinued in 1895. The automatic light is run from the taller tower, while the lower one has carried a fog signal since 1909.

Who designed it? Thomas Smith and Robert Stevenson, for the Northern Lighthouse Board. The first light was lit in 1794.

Where is the best place to see it? From the sea on a Pentland Firth cruise, or from the south shores of South Ronaldsay and the Duncansby Head area.