Pittenweem Lighthouse

The Pittenweem Lighthouse was built in the late 1800s and is no longer in use. It is located at the what was the end of the east pier, before it was extended in the early 1990s.

After visiting St Fillen's Cave, the Fisherman's Memorial and walking along Pittenweem Harbour, there is no way I could leave without visiting the lighthouse and beacon.

To reach the pier, you walk to the most easterly part of the harbour, passing some very impressive properties on the Gyles. The old stone east pier which leads to the lighthouse was constructed around 1600, when Pittenweem became a royal burgh. The status increased trade to the port exponentially and the harbour needed to cope with the increase in marine traffic.

Walking along the old part of the east pier, watching not to slip or trip, you get a real feel of how the harbour would have operated. The houses of the village sit proudly looking over harbour.

As you approach the small cylindrical tower you need to climb a number of steps up the elevated platform on which the lighthouse is built.

Aloft the large rubble base is the small metal cylindrical tower containing a three pane lantern and topped off with a conical roof. The lighthouse replaced and original coal-fired beacon which was built around 1636 by James Maxwell and the Cunningham brothers, who charged shipping fees. The current lighthouse was added in the late 1800s.

Of course I had to climb the ladder and poke my head and phone for a photo.

Initially the lighthouse ran on oil which was maintained by a local lighthouse keeper, but in the 1970's it became automated and ran on electricity, the evidence of which you can still see inside.

In the 1990's, the beacon was added to the extended pier. To reach it continue past the lighthouse and take the steps down to the extended part of the pier. Careful of those waves if the sea is choppy, I did get a wee bit damp.

As you walk along the extended part of the pier, the natural skerries can be clearly seen as well as the old boat harbour and pier.

While on the pier, take time to admire the views over the Firth of Forth to the south east there is the Isle of May, and to the south is Bass Rock and North Berwick Law.

Although not listed, nor particularly old, I think it is a special little lighthouse in an interesting place that makes it well worth a visit and a place on the Fabulous North Website.