An Account of the Bell Rock Light-House / Including the Details of the Erection and Peculiar Structure of That Edifice; to Which Is Prefixed a Historical View of the Institution and Progress of the Northern Light-Houses

by Robert Stevenson

On the eastern coast two light-houses seem particularly to be required, in addition to the present Light on Kinnaird-Head. One of these, at Buchan-Ness, near Peterhead, which becomes a turning-point in the navigation of that coast, as will be seen from [Plate III.], would be an excellent guide to the southward, for shipping on the long flat shores of Aberdeenshire, and not less useful as a direction for the foul ground or sunken rocks called Rattray Briggs to the northward of Buchan-Ness. Some are also of opinion, that Girdle-Ness, at the entrance of Aberdeen harbour, would be a proper station for a sea or public Light. The next station in the order of position on the eastern coast, is Tarbetness, a centrical point of land extending into the Moray Firth , which leads to Cromarty Roads, a great rendezvous for shipping in stormy weather. A Light upon this projecting point would also be extremely useful as a direction to the numerous small ports of this district, and would prevent the losses which occasionally happen on Culloden Rock, and Halliman’s Scars, and by the Firth of Tain being mistaken for a continuation of the Moray Firth . It would also serve as a guide to the narrow passage of Fort George, leading to the eastern entrance of the Caledonian Canal.

Northern Coast.

Several Light-houses are still wanted for the protection of shipping on the Northern Coast. In particular we notice, that although the eastern entrance of the Pentland Firth is already well marked by the Light-house on the Skerries; yet the western approach to this dangerous, but important channel, requires a light upon Dunnet-head in Caithness, which would prevent vessels from mistaking Murkle Bay for the Pentland Firth , and, at the same time, form an excellent guide for the south-western coast of Orkney. Cape Wrath in Sutherland is the north-western point of the Mainland of Scotland, as will be seen from [Plate III.] A Light-house upon that promontory would be of great importance to the navigation of the dreary coast of Caithness and Sutherland, and as a direction for the sunken rock called the Nun, surveyed by Captain Ramage, in H. M. S. Cherokee in the year 1814; and by him found to lie 15 miles in a north-eastern direction from that shore. A light upon Cape Wrath would likewise serve as an excellent guide to the northern entrance of the Great and Little Minish, or Friths of Lewis and Uist, a central track in the navigation of the Hebrides, now much frequented by shipping since the erection of the Light-house upon Glass, one of the Harris Isles.

Orkney and Shetland Islands.

Perhaps the only additional light still wanted in Orkney, to which it is here necessary to allude, is one upon Nouphead of Westra, to direct shipping on the north-western side of these Islands. In addition to Sumburgh-head Light-house in Shetland, one upon the Out-skerries of Whalsey, on the east, another upon the Scaw of Unst, in the north; and a third on the Skerries of Ve, on the western side, would seem to render these Islands complete in regard to Light-houses.

Western Coast.

The opening of the sheltered passage through the Friths of Lewis and Uist, by the Light-house on Glass, has, in a great measure, superseded the use of the outward course of shipping by St Kilda, which is now seldom taken by coasting vessels, though a Light upon that island would be extremely useful to ships making the land from the Western Ocean. The next Light-house that seems wanting in connection with the navigation of the Minish is one upon the Island of Bara, as a direction to its western entrance by the Firth of Uist. It will only further be necessary, on this coast, to direct our attention to the position of the Rocks of Skerryvore, in order to perceive the importance of a light upon that dangerous reef, which lies about 12 miles south-west from the Island of Tiree. The principal rock here is a circular mass of granite, about 60 feet in diameter, and elevated about 20 feet above the highest tides. The rocks of Skerryvore prove not only a great bar to ships making the coast from foreign voyages, but, it is feared, have been fatal to many vessels sailing along these western shores.

The Rhins, a promontory forming the south-western extremity of the Island of Islay, is another position of importance for pointing out the northern side of the passage from the Atlantic to the Clyde and Irish Sea, between Islay and Bengore Head in Ireland. The Commissioners, at their meeting in the month of January 1823, having ordered a Light-house to be built at this station, it is accordingly in progress. The navigation of the sounds and tracks among the Western Isles would also be greatly facilitated by the erection of four Light-houses, of the smallest class of sea-lights, on stations connected with the inner Sounds of Skye and Mull. One of these lights, erected at the south entrance of the Sound of Mull, would not only be important to that passage, but to the various tracks leading to the Sounds of Islay, and by those of Linnehe and Loing, to the western entrances of the Caledonian and Crinan Canals. The Island Devaar, at the entrance of the much frequented anchorage of Campbeltown Loch, is another station for a small Light, to which the attention of the Board has been directed by the Shipping Interest of the Western Coast.

Southern Coast.