Ardnamurchan Lighthouse

About the museum

Ardnamurchan Lighthouse stands at Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point of the British mainland, on the Ardnamurchan peninsula in the West Highlands. It was designed by Alan Stevenson, an uncle of Robert Louis Stevenson and a member of the family that designed most of Scotland's lighthouses over about 150 years, and was built in 1849 from granite brought from the Isle of Mull. The tower rises to 35 metres, and the tower and keepers' cottages share a decorative Egyptian style. The lighthouse now works automatically but is still a working aid to navigation for ships off Scotland's west coast.

The former keepers' cottages and outbuildings have been managed by the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse Trust since 1996. In July 2020 the lighthouse complex, not including the tower, passed into community ownership through a community asset transfer supported by the Scottish Land Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The Trust runs the site as a visitor attraction and social enterprise, and has been improving paths, parking, interpretation and accessibility.

Visitors can learn about Scottish lighthouses and about the wildlife and culture of the peninsula in the exhibition centre in the former Head Keeper's house, see the restored engine room that powered the foghorn, and take guided tours of the tower. The restored stable block houses a coffee shop and gift shop.

Highlights

• Grade A listed lighthouse designed by Alan Stevenson in 1849
• Westernmost point of the British mainland with views to the Small Isles
• Exhibition centre in the former Head Keeper's house
• Restored foghorn engine room and viewing platform
• Guided tower tours in season

Permanent exhibitions

• Exhibition centre – Displays in the former Head Keeper's house on how the lighthouse worked and on the people, culture and natural history of West Ardnamurchan.
• Foghorn engine room – The restored engine room and workshop showing how the original foghorn operated and how the keepers maintained it.
• Lighthouse tower tour – A guided climb of the 1849 tower, available in season.

Founded

1849

Operated by

Ardnamurchan Lighthouse Trust

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is no disabled access to the lighthouse tower. There are two marked accessible parking spaces, one beside the coffee shop and the other in the upper car park. A single accessible toilet is next to the coffee shop entrance, but the layout of this listed building is limited. Car parks and paths were resurfaced in 2021, which helps walkers and pushchair users, but some short steep slopes remain for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The foghorn viewing platform is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, although the gravel around the keepers' cottages makes reaching it hard; Blue Badge holders may drive up to the platform entrance. The coffee shop has a ramp and a wider door. The Trust works with the Lochaber Disability Access Panel.

Kids & families

The paths and parking areas were resurfaced in 2021, which makes them easier for pushchairs, but there is no disabled access to the tower.

Getting there & parking

The lighthouse is 10 km west of Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, reached by a scenic single-track road that is steep and winding in places; follow the brown signs through Kilchoan. Traffic lights control the narrow causeway on the final approach, with no passing places. The coffee shop is at grid reference NM416672.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Stables Coffee Shop is a social enterprise in the restored stable block with freshly ground coffee, light snacks, bakes and ice cream, plus indoor seating, outdoor tables with a sea view and a small open-plan gift shop. Toilets are next to the coffee shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit