Hyskeir Lighthouse

Hyskeir Lighthouse stands on a small, rocky island at the southern end of The Minch, a strait between the Scottish mainland and the Inner Hebrides. The 39-metre-high white tower was built in 1904 by David and Charles Stevenson for Oban contractor Messrs D & J MacDougall. It warns ships of the Mills Rocks, Canna, and the island itself. The lighthouse was one of the last in Scotland to keep keepers until March 1997. After automation, control passed to the Northern Lighthouse Board in Edinburgh. The keepers who once lived on Hyskeir became briefly famous for their one-hole golf course, which appeared on television. Their story features in Peter Hill’s 2003 book *Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper*. The light now flashes three white signals every thirty seconds. The island and its lighthouse have long been recognised as important landmarks for navigation. Visitors to the area see the stark, white tower rising from the dark rocks of Hyskeir. The surrounding sea is often rough, adding to the lighthouse’s dramatic presence. The island lies close to Canna, part of the Small Isles group, offering views of distant hills. The Northern Lighthouse Board still maintains the light, ensuring its guidance for passing vessels. The memory of the keepers and their unusual golf course lingers in local tales.