Rattray Head

Rattray Head is a wild headland on the north-east coast of Scotland in Aberdeenshire. To the north lies Strathbeg Bay and to the south Rattray Bay, with the North Sea meeting both. The beach stretches for seventeen miles between St Combs and Peterhead, backed by dunes that rise up to twenty-three metres high. The lighthouse stands on the point, built in the 19th century by the Stevenson brothers. It was designed to warn ships away from the treacherous sands and reefs. The lighthouse is a striking white tower, one hundred and twenty feet tall, built in 1895. It became fully automatic in 1982 and no longer needs keepers. A wide causeway of stone leads to the tower, but it only appears when the tide is low. The beach below still shows the remains of several shipwrecks from storms long past. A narrow track winds through the dunes, marked by deep ruts and potholes, ending at a small car park. Visitors walk through the dunes to reach the beach and the lighthouse. The dunes rise steeply, offering views over the sea and the bays on either side. The sand stretches empty in both directions, with the lighthouse standing alone at the tip. The track is rough and uneven, so care is needed when driving or reversing. The scene is quiet and remote, with only the sound of the wind and waves breaking on the shore.