The Maidens lighthouses

The Maidens lighthouses are a pair of 1829 sea towers standing on rocky reefs in the North Channel, a few miles off the County Antrim coast in Northern Ireland. Only the east tower still shines; the west one survives as an unlit tower on its rock.

Where are The Maidens, and what are they?

The Maidens are two clusters of volcanic rocks separated by a navigable gap. They lie roughly four nautical miles north-east of Ballygalley Head, off the Antrim coast near Larne and the Islandmagee peninsula. The surrounding water is rough, and the reefs long posed a danger to ships crossing between Ireland and Scotland.

Who built the lighthouses, and when?

Merchants and a Royal Navy officer pressed for a light here. Lighthouse inspector George Halpin surveyed the rocks in 1819, plans were approved in 1824, and Halpin designed both towers and oversaw construction. The lights were first lit in January 1829. The towers stand about 800 yards apart, the west one on the northern rock and the east one on the southern rock.

What is their status today?

• East Maiden is still active. It was automated in 1977 and is run by the Commissioners of Irish Lights. The white tower with a black band has a light range of around 23 nautical miles.
• West Maiden went out of service in the early 1900s (sources give 1903 or 1906). The tower remains as a daymark without its lantern, and many of its buildings are largely intact.

Local stories tell of keepers' families living on separate rocks, and the East Tower is the setting of the 1976 film Maidens in Distress.

How can you see The Maidens?

There is no landing from the shore, so a boat trip is the best option. Carnlough Bay Boat Tours, leaving from Carnlough harbour, runs a longer four-hour trip that includes The Maidens, subject to tides and weather. Trips have also run from Ballylumford harbour on Islandmagee. Check current operators and dates before you plan. From stretches of the Antrim coast, such as near Ballygalley, the towers show up as tiny shapes on the horizon, and binoculars help.

When should you go?

Trips depend on sea conditions, so calm, clear weather is best, usually late spring and summer. At dusk you can pick out the beam of the east light.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the lighthouses? No. One is a working light and the other a disused tower, both on offshore rocks. They are viewed from a boat.

Which lighthouse still works? The East Maiden, automated in 1977 and managed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights.

Where do boat trips depart from? Carnlough Bay Boat Tours offers a trip including The Maidens from Carnlough harbour; earlier trips also left from Ballylumford on Islandmagee.

Can you see them from land? Yes, from parts of the Antrim coast as small towers far out at sea, best in good visibility and with binoculars.