Ardnamurchan Lighthouse

Ardnamurchan Lighthouse stands on Ardnamurchan Point in the Highland council area of Scotland. Built in pink granite in 1849, its 36-metre tower is the only lighthouse in the UK designed in the Egyptian style. Alan Stevenson created the structure, and mains electricity arrived in 1976. Automation followed in 1988, with the Northern Lighthouse Board in Edinburgh now controlling it remotely. Two smaller lighthouses nearby, Rubha nan Gall and Corran Point, share the same oversight. The site includes a visitor centre run by the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse Trust. Inside, the ‘Kingdom of Light’ museum traces the lighthouse’s history and operations. Visitors can explore the restored engine room and workshop, where the original fog horn still stands. Displays also cover the area’s geology, natural history, and local social and cultural life. A part-time keeper lives on site, maintaining the lights and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Beyond the buildings, the lighthouse sits at the tip of a wild peninsula. The surrounding landscape offers sweeping views of the sea and distant hills. The light itself now uses LED bulbs, consuming just 48 watts, though this was raised to 72 watts in 2019. Pop culture has also taken notice, with the lighthouse appearing in a Sherlock Holmes video game and a Top Gear episode.