Tayport Pile Lighthouse

The Tayport Pile Lighthouse stands in the Firth of Tay at the southern edge of Tayport in Fife. A wooden octagonal tower with the lantern on top rises from piles driven into the firth about 500 metres offshore. Built in 1845, it replaced the older Tayport Low Lighthouse three years later and remained in use until around 1960. This rare survivor is one of the few remaining 19th-century timber lighthouses in the United Kingdom. Its simple yet sturdy design reflects the engineering of the period and marks an important stage in Scottish coastal navigation. The structure remains well preserved despite decades without active service. Visitors reach the lighthouse by walking out along the firth’s edge at low tide. The view from the shore shows the slender tower standing against the wide water and distant hills. Nearby Tayport’s quiet streets and old harbour offer a calm setting for a short visit.