Rhinns of Islay Lighthouse

The Rhinns of Islay Lighthouse traditional white-painted tower on the island of Orsay in the Inner Hebrides, lying immediately to the south of the Rhinns of Islay. The rubble-built lighthouse was designed by Robert Stevenson (1772 - 1850), the contractor was John Gibb of Aberdeen and the work cost c. £8000. Completed in 1825, the tower is 29m (95 feet) in height and there are 131 steps on a cast-iron stair to reach the top. The diamond-pattern railing around the lantern is characteristic of Stevenson's work. Two flat-roofed single-storey cottages for the lighthouse keepers are clustered around its base.

The optical system is by Barbier and Bernard of Paris and dates from 1896. The lighthouse was Category-A listed in 1971. In 1978, the light was replaced with an electric sealed-beam unit, mounted on a gearless revolving pedestal. It was automated in 1998 and is now monitored remotely from the Northern Lighthouse Board Headquarters in Edinburgh. It exhibits a white flashing light with a range of 18 nautical miles (33 km). Its foghorn is now silent.


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