Noup Head Lighthouse

Noup Head Lighthouse is a white cylindrical tower standing 24 meters tall on the northwestern tip of Westray island, topped with a black lantern and ochre-colored trim. The site originally contained keeper housing and now operates using renewable energy sources positioned southeast of the main structure.

David A Stevenson designed the tower in 1898 for the Northern Lighthouse Board to protect vessels from the dangerous North Shoal. This construction was part of efforts to make the waters around the Orkney Islands safer for maritime traffic.

The lighthouse served as a home for keeper families who maintained the light through decades of island life on this remote headland. Today the vacant keeper cottages stand as reminders of the people who once tended this beacon.

The site is somewhat remote and best reached on foot via paths leading from the road to the lighthouse. Visitors should be prepared for changing weather and strong winds common in this exposed location.

The grounds contain a cast-iron sundial base and metal gates supported by tall piers within a rectangular boundary wall. These decorative elements show the care taken in designing this as a unified compound.

Location: Orkney Islands

Location: Westray

Inception: 1898

Height: 24 m

GPS coordinates: 59.33110,-3.07028

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:41