Ardnamurchan Lighthouse

Ardnamurchan lighthouse stands at the most westerly point on the British mainland. Completed in 1849, it was built by Alan Stevenson, a member of a family of Scottish engineers; Robert Louis Stevenson, the writer, was his nephew.

The lighthouse, which is run by the Northern Lighthouse Board, is fully automated. The buildings which once housed the keepers of the light are now used as a visitors' centre run by a local trust. There is a cafe, exhibition, and tours of the lighthouse tower; and one of the keepers' cottages is available for weekly rental. From the top of the tower there are fine views across the Minches to Skye, Rhum, Eigg and Muck, and southwards across Mull to Dutchman's Cap, one of the Treshnish Islands. On a fine day, it's possible to see the Outer Hebrides. Details of the visitors' centre and rental of the cottage are here

The lighthouse trustees have recently made the controversial decision to erect a 20Kw wind turbine on the site. In some ways this is an ideal position as it's a rare day when there is no wind. But sometimes the weather might be a bit much: driven by hurricane-force winds, waves have been known to break against the white wall around the base of the light. It will be a test of modern technology next to a marvel of Victorian engineering which, although it is over 150 years old, looks as if it was erected yesterday.