Ruvaal Lighthouse, Lighthouse in northern Islay, Scotland
Description
Ruvaal Lighthouse is a white brick tower rising 34 meters above the northern tip of Islay and marking the entrance to the Sound of Islay. The automated structure emits three white flashes every 15 seconds, with visibility extending across surrounding waters to guide ships safely.
History
Engineers David and Thomas Stevenson, renowned Scottish lighthouse builders, completed construction in 1859 as part of wider coastal safety improvements. The tower has continued operating along Scotland's maritime routes for over 160 years.
Culture
The lighthouse is part of Scotland's coastal navigation network managed by the Northern Lighthouse Board, an organization responsible for maritime safety across the region. Locals and visitors recognize it as an important landmark that defines Islay's maritime identity.
Practical
The lighthouse operates automatically and is monitored remotely, so it can be viewed from outside although the tower itself is not open to visitors. The best vantage point is from the nearby shore where you can see it standing against the rugged coastal landscape.
Did you know?
The original third-order Fresnel lens from the lighthouse was removed and now decorates a garden on nearby Colonsay Island. This unexpected relocation shows how the tower's historic optical equipment found a second life as a cherished artifact elsewhere.
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