Museum of Scottish Lighthouses

About the museum

Kinnaird Head Castle was begun in 1570 by Sir Alexander Fraser, the laird of Philorth, on the headland at Fraserburgh. In 1787 the castle was leased to the Commissioners of the Northern Lights and converted into a lighthouse designed by Thomas Smith, with the lamp first lit on 1 December of that year. It was the first lighthouse on the Scottish mainland to be built by the Commissioners. The light was rebuilt in the 1820s, and the buildings around its base are the work of Robert Stevenson. A new lighthouse replaced it in 1991.

Today the old tower is unusual because a full-size lighthouse stands right through the middle of the castle. A purpose-built museum beside it tells the wider story of the Northern Lighthouse Board, the engineers who built the lights across Scotland and the keepers who looked after them. The collection includes lenses and other equipment from lighthouses around the Scottish coast.

Admission includes a guided tour of about 45 minutes through the castle and the lighthouse, which are an Ancient Scheduled Monument. The tower has 72 steps, so the museum also sells a museum-only ticket for visitors who cannot climb stairs.

Highlights

• Full-size lighthouse built through a 16th-century castle
• Guided tour of the castle and the 1787 lighthouse tower
• Lenses and equipment from lighthouses around Scotland
• Story of the Northern Lighthouse Board, its engineers and keepers

Permanent exhibitions

• Kinnaird Head Castle and Lighthouse – A guided tour through the 16th-century castle and the 1787 lighthouse tower with its 72 steps.
• Museum of Scottish Lighthouses – Galleries on the Northern Lighthouse Board, the engineers who built the lights and the keepers who ran them.

Operated by

Northern Lighthouse Board

Admission & discounts

Admission includes the guided tour. A museum-only ticket is offered for visitors who cannot climb the tower steps. School visits are listed at £3.00.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• 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

The museum building is as accessible as possible, and the two upper galleries are reached by a stair lift that takes smaller electric buggies up to 17 stone (108 kg). The castle and lighthouse tower are an Ancient Scheduled Monument, are not fully accessible and have no disability aids; the tower has 72 steps with three landing stops. Male, female and disabled toilets are available. An Access Policy 2024-29 can be downloaded from the website.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Baby changing facilities are available and a family ticket is sold. The museum has an Autism Friendly section and an education programme for schools.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at Kinnaird Head on Stevenson Road, Fraserburgh.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Guest Wi-Fi is available. There is a gift shop on site and an online shop. The tea room is closed for the season.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 60 guests.

Space is available for events from small meetings in the Board Room to presentations for up to 60 people.

Plan your visit