Strathy Point Lighthouse

Strathy Point Lighthouse stands on a rocky headland on Scotland’s north coast in the Highland region. It overlooks the Pentland Firth near the small settlement of Totegan and the village of Strathy. Built in the late 1950s, it was the first Scottish lighthouse designed for electric operation from the start. The original light used twin panels and a 250-watt bulb to reach almost 26 miles offshore. A fog horn once warned ships in poor visibility, but it has long been silent. The station opened in 1958 after five years of planning and construction. In 1997 it became fully automatic, its signals sent by radio from Edinburgh. After decades of service it was switched off in 2012 and the buildings stood empty for a time. The Northern Lighthouse Board later converted the site for private homes while keeping the tower intact. Visitors today find a quiet residential complex beside the cliff edge. The white-painted tower still rises above the sea, its lantern room preserved. A narrow road leads down from Strathy village to the gate. From the shore path there are wide views across the firth to the Orkney islands on clear days. The old engine room and fog signal building remain, now part of private gardens.