Little Cumbrae New Lighthouse

Little Cumbrae New Lighthouse stands on the small, uninhabited island of Little Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde, off the coast of North Ayrshire. The island lies in a sheltered stretch of water between the larger Isle of Cumbrae and the mainland. The lighthouse is managed by the local port authority. A first stone tower was built here in 1757, making it Scotland’s second lighthouse. The present tower dates from 1793 and was designed by Thomas Smith of the Northern Lighthouse Board. The site includes the original 1793 tower, now disused, and a newer solar-powered tower added in 1997. The complex also has a slipway, a small pier, and a boat shed on the raised terrace above the western shore. The old oil lamps were replaced by Argand lamps in 1826, and a foghorn once sounded from the site. The old tower still stands beside the generator building, which once powered the light. Visitors reach the lighthouse along a short path from the landing place. The raised terrace offers wide views across the Clyde estuary to the mainland hills. The old stone tower and the newer light stand side by side, with the boat shed and slipway below. The island’s quiet shores and the steady rhythm of the waves make the spot peaceful and remote.