Butt of Lewis Lighthouse

Butt of Lewis Lighthouse
Rubha Robhanais

300px Butt of Lewis Lighthouse
Outer Hebrides
Location	Butt of Lewis Hrris Outer Hebrides Scotland United Kingdom
Coordinates
Year first constructed	1862
Automated	1998
Construction	brick tower
Tower shape	tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern	brick unpainted tower, black lantern, ochre trim
Height	37 metres (121 ft)
Focal height	52 metres (171 ft)
Range	25 nautical miles (46 km; 29 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 5s.
Admiralty number	A3968
NGA number	3820
ARLHS number	SCO-027
Managing agent	Northern Lighthouse Board

Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, designed by David Stevenson, was built at Butt of Lewis to aid shipping in the 1860s. Unusual for a lighthouse in Scotland, it is constructed of red brick, and is unpainted. The station was automated in 1998, one of the last to have been converted. A modern differential GPS base station has now been sited on a nearby hill to further aid navigation. This hill was also the site for a Lloyd's Signal Station from the 1890s.

The road to the lighthouse passes a sheltered cove called Port Stoth. Agricultural lazy beds are also visible along the coast. The Butt of Lewis features some of the oldest rocks in Europe, having been formed in the Precambrian period up to 3000 million years ago. Following the coast southwest from the lighthouse there is a natural arch called the "Eye of the Butt" (Scottish Gaelic: Sùil an Rubha). It can be best viewed from the Habost machair.

See also

• List of lighthouses in Scotland
• List of Northern Lighthouse Board lighthouses

External links

• Butt of Lewis history by the Northern Lighthouse Board
• Panoramas of the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse (QuickTime required)
• Northern Lighthouse Board