Rose Ness Lighthouse, Orkney

Rose Ness Lighthouse is a small coastal light on a cliff-top headland at the south-eastern tip of Holm, on the eastern side of Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands in Scotland. It marks the edge of Scapa Flow and sits a short drive from Kirkwall, which makes it an easy objective for a quiet clifftop walk.

What is Rose Ness Lighthouse?

This is not a tall tower with a visitor centre. It is a compact, automatic navigation light. The present structure dates from 1983: a cylindrical tower of glass-reinforced plastic with a metal gallery, standing on an octagonal concrete base. It runs on solar power. The light flashes white once every six seconds and carries eight nautical miles. The Northern Lighthouse Board looks after it, and in 2020 Historic Environment Scotland placed it on the list of protected buildings as Category C.

What is the history behind it?

Older navigation marks stood on this headland before the current light. A stone beacon went up here in 1867, built so that it would be visible against the cliff in daylight. Some sources also give 1905 as the year a cast-iron light was established, replaced in 1983 by today's tower. For a visitor, that means one headland shows several stages of how Orkney's waters were marked for shipping.

What will you see?

• A slender light tower against open sea and cliffs.
• Views over the channels leading into Scapa Flow, one of Europe's great natural anchorages.
• The old nineteenth-century stone beacon close to the modern tower.
• A rugged coastline where seabirds can be watched.
• Nearby Ness Battery, a separate defensive site that guarded the western approach to Scapa Flow.

How do you get there?

The light lies at the end of the road near the village of Holm, south-east of Kirkwall. Driving is the easiest option, and the final stretch is on foot along the coast. Coordinates: 58.8727 N, 2.8320 W. Check bus times from Kirkwall before you go, since services around Orkney are infrequent.

When should you visit?

Pick a clear day between late spring and early autumn, when daylight is long and the wind is gentler. In summer dusk falls very late, so an evening walk is realistic. In winter the headland is exposed and paths turn muddy.

What should you watch out for?

The light stands close to the cliff edge. The ground near the drop is unstable and undercut in places, so stay well back, especially with children or dogs. You cannot go inside, because it is a working navigation aid. Bring sturdy boots and a windproof jacket.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Rose Ness Lighthouse? No. It is an automatic light run by the Northern Lighthouse Board, so you view it from outside.

Is the light still working? Yes. It flashes white every six seconds and can be seen from eight nautical miles away.

Does it cost anything to visit? No. The area is open to the public and the approach follows a public coastal path.

How long should you allow? About an hour is enough to walk out to the headland and take photos. If you combine it with a longer coastal walk, plan on half a day.