McArthur’s Head

United Kingdom

The lighthouse is one of seven lighthouses on Islay and was established in 1861. It was built by David and Thomas Stevenson, members of the Stevenson family of lighthouse engineers, responsible for building most of Scotland’s lighthouses.

The lighthouse was automated in 1969. In 2005 it was converted to a solar powered electric lamp. Former keepers’ cottages have been demolished.

Dougie MacDougall was a lighthouse boatman, just like his father did before him, and he served the Sound of Islay lights for 45 years until his retirement in 1977. McArthur's Head lighthouse was one of his responsibilities. He has written up some of his "tales" in a short booklet - As Long As Water Flows By Dougie MacDougall, Islay Lighthouse Boatman Memories

Manufacture Date 1861
Lighthouse Construction 1861
Country United Kingdom
Commissioning Body Northern Lighthouse Board
Lens Order Azimuthal Condensing Lens
Lens Type Fixed
Status publish
Light Character Fl WR 10s
Lighthouse Markings White tower with lantern painted black. Height of Tower 13 meters. Elevation 39 meters.
Lighthouse Parts None known
Management Body Ports Authority Northern Lighthouse Board
Preserver None known
Coastal Erosion Vulnerability
Climate Change Impact Observations No
Condition Observations Operational and appears to be well looked after
Open Status (Site) Closed
Open Status (Tower) Closed
Coordinates 55.763809705,-6.0477576571
Other McArthur’s Head lighthouse is situated on a promontory at the entrance to the Sound of Islay, on a high cliff, at an elevation of 39 metres. The lighthouse is one of seven lighthouses on Islay and was established in 1861. It was built by David and Thomas Stevenson, members of the Stevenson family of lighthouse engineers, responsible for building most of Scotland’s lighthouses. The height of the tower is 13 metres and it flashes every 10 seconds. The lighthouse was automated in 1969. In 2005 it was converted to a solar powered electric lamp. It is elevated 39m and has a range of 13 Nm. There is a landing jetty and staircase to the lighthouse from this point. McArthur’s Head Lighthouse is only really accessible by boat. The overland walk is challenging and can be very boggy. Even this is not easy due to the tides and landing conditions. Good information available at canmore - https://canmore.org.uk/site/143303 Three pictures (drawings from the canmore archive) have been added - these are available online at 1. https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1449974 2. https://canmore.org.uk/collection/1449975 3. http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1449973 Canmore entry gives the following reference documents which may be of interest. Allardyce and Hood, K and E M. (1986) At Scotland's edge: a celebration of two hundred years of the lighthouse service in Scotland and the Isle of Man. Glasgow. Page(s): 154-5 RCAHMS Shelf Number: J.6.4.ALL Allardyce, K. (1998) Scotland's edge revisited. Glasgow. Page(s): 20 RCAHMS Shelf Number: J.6.4.ALL Munro, R W. (1979) Scottish lighthouses. Stornoway. Page(s): 180-1, 193, 255, 275, map 7 RCAHMS Shelf Number: J.6.4.MUN Ritchie and Harman, [J N] G and M. (1996) Argyll and the Western Isles, Exploring Scotland's Heritage series, ed. by Anna Ritchie. 2nd. Edinburgh. Page(s): 73 RCAHMS Shelf Number: A.1.4.HER [Admiralty]. (1980) Admiralty List of lights and fog signals: volume A: British Isles and north coast of France from Dunkerque to entrance to Goulet de Brest, including North Sea oil and gas production installations. {s.l.}. Page(s): 271, no 4240 RCAHMS Shelf Number: J.6.4.ADM ARLHS SCO-134; Admiralty A4240; NGA 4220.

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