URPoint Details
Stoer Head (Rubha Stoer in Scots Gaelic) is a point of land north of Lochinver . A lighthouse on the point marks the northern entrance to The Minch.
Stoer Head Lighthouse was built on Stoer Head by brothers David and Thomas Stevenson in 1870 after being identified as one of forty-five sites in Scotland where a lighthouse was necessary to protect shipping. The lighthouse is 45 feet (14 m) high, making it squat in appearance, but the height of the cliffs on which it sits means it can be seen at a distance of 24 miles (39 km) out at sea. The beacon flashes four white every fifteen seconds.
The lighting is now provided by an array of sealed beam electric lamps, operated by a sensor to automatically turn them on and off at specified light levels. Upkeep is carried out by a local who visits on a regular basis to carry out basic maintenance and cleaning, and technicians from the Northern Lighthouse Board who visit on an annual basis.
- Type:
- Landmark