Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Category A lighthouse at southern tip of Mainland, Shetland Islands, Scotland.
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is a white cylindrical tower at the southern tip of Mainland Shetland rising 17 m above the cliffs with a black lantern and ochre trim. The site includes a visitor center with exhibits on maritime navigation and keeper life, along with restored historic dwellings from the operational period.
Robert Stevenson designed and built this lighthouse in 1821, making it the first permanent beacon in the Shetland archipelago. Foghorn equipment was added in 1906 and later restored after lying silent from 1987 to 2015, keeping maritime traditions active.
The lighthouse represents maritime identity for Shetland, with its name rooted in Old Norse reflecting the islands' Scandinavian heritage. Visitors can see the former keepers' residences that reveal how isolated daily life was on this exposed southern point.
The exposed clifftop location brings strong winds and rapidly changing weather, so visitors should bring sturdy footwear and weather protection. Paths are well-maintained and marked, but the ground becomes slippery in wet conditions, requiring careful footing at all times.
The cliffs surrounding the lighthouse host thousands of seabirds including puffins that display their colorful beaks from May to August. In these months, visitors can watch these birds nesting in burrows, creating one of the busiest natural gatherings around this landmark.
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