Mull of Galloway Lighthouse

Mull of Galloway Lighthouse is located at Scotland’s most southerly point.

Construction started on the lighthouse in 1828. Designed by Robert Stevenson, it was first lit in 1830. The light displayed an occulting light, made by moving two opaque cylindrical shades up and down to obscure the light at fixed intervals. 

The cost of this lighthouse was around £9,000. Brebner and Scott of Edinburgh was the contractor responsible for the building.

In the early 1900s, a fog siren was installed, sounding two blasts every three minutes. This was altered in 1920 to two blasts every one and a half minutes. The fog signal has since been discontinued, although the visitor centre occasionally sound it.

During the Second World War, on 8th June 1944 at 7.30 pm a Beaufighter aircraft crashed into the lighthouse stores building.  It was foggy at the time, and two men were killed as part of the roof was blown off.

Initially powered by Argand oil lamps, a paraffin vapour burner later replaced these.  The Paraffin vapour burner was used until the lighthouse was converted to mains electricity in 1971. The light was later changed to a sealed-beam unit mounted on a gearless revolving pedestal.  Two LED lanterns have since replaced this.

The high walls around the lighthouse courtyard caused strong whirlwinds, which interfered with the keepers’ lookout. In 1907, the walls were lowered.

One of the outhouses within the complex originally housed the workmen who built the lighthouse. Later, it was extended to act as a byre (cowshed) for the lighthouse keepers. The derelict building was restored and is now used as a visitor centre, renovated to blend in with its surroundings. 

In July 2013, the Northern Lighthouse Board sold part of its property, including the lighthouse keepers’ cottages, engine room, RSPB centre, foghorn, and adjacent land. The South Rhinns Community Development Trust bought this property as a community buyout. In 2012, the Mull of Galloway Trust was formed to work in partnership with the South Rhinns Trust. 

The former engine room is now run as a visitor centre, and the former optic from McArthur’s Head Lighthouse is on display.

Nearby, the Gallie Craig Coffee House affords excellent views across the Isle of Man and the Irish coast.

The former keepers’ cottages are set within an RSPB reserve, with plenty of birdwatching opportunities. 

Lighthouse Gravestone

At nearby Kirkmaiden Church, a gravestone in the shape of a lighthouse is dedicated to James B. Scott. James was the son of Principal Lighthouse Keeper Scott from Mull of Galloway Lighthouse.

He died in March 1852, just short of his 11th birthday. He had fallen from some scaffolding at the lighthouse whilst work was being carried out. The headstone is still painted and maintained.