Scalasaig Lighthouse

Scalasaig Lighthouse is a small harbour light at Scalasaig, the main port of Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides (Argyll and Bute, Scotland). It is no postcard tower on a headland. It is a modest navigation aid, and its story says a good deal about shipping around the island and about how locals look after their heritage.

Where is the lighthouse?

Scalasaig sits on Colonsay's east coast, in the bay where the ferries berth. The light stands by the harbour near the ferry terminal, so you pass it as soon as you step ashore. The coordinates are roughly 56.067° N, 6.182° W. The village is tiny, with a shop, a hotel and a few other services, which makes a short waterfront stroll the natural way to see it.

What does the current light look like?

The present structure dates from 2003. It is an 8 m white metal tower, solar powered and fully automated. The focal height is about 5 m, and the character is two flashes every ten seconds, showing white or red depending on the sector. The Northern Lighthouse Board, the authority responsible for marking the coasts of Scotland and the Isle of Man, operates it. There is no interior to visit; you view it from outside.

What is the history of the light?

The first light here went up in 1903. David A. Stevenson designed it for the Northern Lighthouse Board, and it burned oil. Islanders knew it in Gaelic as "An cruisgen". In 1957 a gas light on a square building took its place. When that building was demolished in 2003, the original 1903 lantern was dismantled and put into storage on the island.

Colonsay has not forgotten it. The Colonsay and Oronsay Heritage Trust won a grant to restore the original lamp. A specialist blacksmith was commissioned to rebuild the lantern room, with plans to re-erect it on the island. Updates from 2014 and 2015 spoke of its return to Colonsay in March 2015. Whether it now stands in public is worth asking about locally. In the walled garden at Colonsay House you can also find an optic that came from the Rubha a' Mhàil lighthouse on the Sound of Islay.

What else marks the harbour?

A 2024 Notice to Mariners reported that the light marking the north side of the pier head at the ferry terminal in Scalasaig Bay, along with most of its pole, had gone missing. A temporary buoy with the same light characteristics marks the spot while a longer-term solution is assessed. If lighthouses interest you, take time to explore the island's coast as well, since walking routes lead to open cliffs and beaches.

When should you visit?

Late spring to early autumn is the easiest period: days are long and ferry timetables are fuller. In summer the evenings stay light well into the night, so you can enjoy the harbour and the lighthouse unhurriedly. Outside the season, Hebridean weather can be changeable and sailings sometimes get cancelled in strong wind.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Scalasaig? You arrive on Colonsay by ferry, and Scalasaig is the island's passenger port. Check timetables and book with CalMac, especially in summer when places fill quickly.

Can I go inside the lighthouse? No. The current tower is an automated Northern Lighthouse Board installation and is seen from the quayside.

Is this the original 1903 lighthouse? No. The present light dates from 2003. The 1903 original was dismantled and stored, and the local heritage trust worked on restoring it.

How long should I allow? The light itself takes only a few minutes. Plan a longer stay around the harbour and Scalasaig, because it is the starting point for exploring the rest of the island.