Stroma Lighthouse

Stroma Lighthouse stands at the northern tip of Stroma, a low island in the Pentland Firth off the Caithness coast in the Highland council area of Scotland. It sits between the Scottish mainland and Orkney, within Canisbay parish. This is not a lighthouse you can tour: it is a working navigation light, best appreciated as a landmark seen across the water.

What is the lighthouse on Stroma?

The present tower dates from 1896 and was designed by the brothers David A. and Charles Stevenson, members of the famous Scottish family of lighthouse engineers. A smaller unmanned light had operated here since 1890. The new station had a clear job: to warn ships away from some of the most dangerous water in Britain. Close to the island's northern point the Swilkie whirlpool forms, and the Pentland Firth tides rank among the strongest in Europe. The round, white-painted stone tower is roughly 23 metres tall.

What is the station's history?

Wartime action damaged the station buildings in 1941. In 1972 the light was electrified and a helicopter pad was added. Keepers' families lived in the island cottages from 1961 until automation in the mid-1990s; sources give dates between 1994 and 1997, depending on whether they mark the start or the end of the conversion. The lighthouse staff were the last people to leave the island. Today the light belongs to the Northern Lighthouse Board and runs automatically.

Can you visit it?

No. Stroma is uninhabited, has no regular transport or visitor facilities, and the lighthouse is an active aid to navigation. The island's name comes from Old Norse Straumey, "island in the stream", which suits the surrounding waters.

Where can you see it from?

• From land: around John o' Groats and Duncansby Head on Scotland's far north-east corner; the island lies a few kilometres offshore.
• From a ferry: the Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope crossing to Orkney passes through the Pentland Firth close to the island.
• From the sea: local operators run boat trips in the firth, depending on tides and weather.

Clear days and long summer evenings give the best visibility and calmer water.

Frequently asked questions

Can I land on Stroma? The island is uninhabited and has no visitor services. The lighthouse is an operational site, not a museum.

Who runs the lighthouse? The Northern Lighthouse Board, which manages Scotland's navigation lights. The station has been automated since the mid-1990s.

When was the current tower built? In 1896, to a design by David A. and Charles Stevenson.

Why was this stretch hazardous for sailors? Because of the powerful Pentland Firth tides and the Swilkie whirlpool off the island's northern point.