Carraig Fhada Lighthouse

Carraig Fhada Lighthouse stands on the northern tip of the Oa peninsula on Islay, a Hebridean island off Scotland’s west coast. It sits on a rocky headland two kilometres from Port Ellen’s ferry terminal, marking the western edge of the harbour entrance. Built in 1832 by Walter Frederick Campbell, the island’s Laird, the tower honours his wife Lady Eleanor Charteris, who died at 36. The structure is listed at Category B in the British heritage registers. Its unusual design includes a 17-metre tower with a square base and three storeys of living quarters. The architecture differs from most lighthouses. The main tower has walls 80 centimetres thick, built from lime-mortared rubble stone. A separate, lower stair tower on the north-east side leads to the upper floors. The lantern platform sits at the top, reached by a short ladder from inside. Two entrances pierce the building: one on the west side, above which a commemorative plaque is fixed, and another on the north. The keeper’s house and outbuildings, once used by staff, now serve as private homes. Visitors approach along the rocky shore and see the stark white masonry rising from the cliffs. The flat roof and squat lantern give the tower a solid, functional look. Inside, the restored rooms show original stonework and staircases. The surrounding landscape offers wide views across the Sound of Islay to the Mull of Oa. Seabirds circle the headland while waves break against the rocks below. The site remains a working aid to navigation, silent and steadfast against the Atlantic winds.