Stoer Lighthouse

Perched atop the remote wind swept cliffs of Stoer Head, you can find the beautiful Stoer Lighthouse. It was built in 1870 by the Stevenson brothers David and Thomas, at the most westerly point in Assynt.

The position was selected along with 44 others in Scotland, as sites where lighthouses were deemed necessary for the safety of marine traffic. It is easy to imagine how dangerous the choppy waters of The Minch, which separates the mainland from the northern Outer Hebrides, can become in wild weather.

The lighthouse is 14m high, which makes it relatively short for a lighthouse. However its elevated position on the clifftops mean that its lamp, which flashes every fifteen seconds, can be seen from over 39km away.

As the site is so remote, the materials for the construction of the lighthouse were brought in by water and delivered to a jetty around a mile south of the lighthouse.

The lighthouse was staffed by a lighthouse keeper and an assistant until 1978 when it became automated. The remoteness of the lighthouse meant the staff needed to be self sufficient and evidence of a cow shed, pig stye and equipment shed remain today.

The lighthouse is now maintained by a local and the Northern Lighthouse Board visit on an annual basis. The lighthouse and the Point of Stoer coastline attract so many visitors that in 2013 public toilets were installed.

The lighthouse is now a holiday home, so unless you are lucky enough to rent it, there is sadly no access to the building and enclosure.

If you are feeling energic, you could follow the coastal path and visit the Old Man of Stoer and the Point of Stoer Trig Point.