Tiumpan Head Lighthouse

Tiumpan Head Lighthouse is a white cylindrical tower with a black lantern room and ochre trim, standing 21 meters tall at the easternmost point of Lewis Island. The automated structure is operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board and its light reaches across 25 nautical miles of water.

The lighthouse was designed by David Alan Stevenson and Charles Alexander Stevenson and first illuminated on December 1, 1900. It became part of Scotland's expanding network of coastal navigation aids built during that era.

The name comes from Tiumpan Head, the rocky headland nearby on Lewis's eastern coast. Visitors sense how closely this structure connects to the maritime identity of the island and its surrounding waters.

The site sits on a windswept headland, so expect changeable weather and bring appropriate clothing for the coastal conditions. The path to the base involves uneven coastal terrain that requires steady footing, particularly after rain or storms.

The original Fresnel lens that once focused the light here has been preserved and is now displayed at Museum nan Eilean in Lews Castle nearby. Visitors can see how this optical technology guided ships safely through the darkest waters.

Location: Outer Hebrides

Location: Stornoway

Inception: 1900

Height: 21 m

Operator: Northern Lighthouse Board

GPS coordinates: 58.26088,-6.13878

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:00