Mull of Galloway Lighthouse

The Mull of Galloway is the southernmost point of Scotland, standing at the tip of the Rhins of Galloway peninsula in Dumfries and Galloway. It is a rounded headland of natural coastal habitat, now managed as an RSPB nature reserve. The area supports many plant and animal species along its wild coastline. A long-distance footpath called the Mull of Galloway Trail runs from here to Glenapp near Ballantrae. The trail is one of Scotland’s Great Trails and covers 59 kilometres. The lighthouse at the point was built in 1830 by engineer Robert Stevenson. The white-painted round tower stands 26 metres high, with its light 99 metres above sea level. During the Second World War, a French pilot in the Air Transport Auxiliary died after striking the tower while returning from the Irish Sea. The lighthouse is now automatic, and a former outhouse has been turned into a visitor centre run by local people. A café called Gallie Craig was added in 2004, designed with a turf roof to blend into the landscape. Visitors find sweeping views across the sea to Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. The restored foghorn, silent since 1987, is sounded on occasion. The Mull of Galloway Trust now owns much of the land and buildings around the tower. The site remains a quiet place where wildlife and coastal scenery meet under wide skies.