Lighthouse Description and History

(Text extracted from nomination form submitted by The Northern Lighthouse Board, updated 2025)

Year Established: 1830

Engineer: Robert Stevenson

Character: Flashing every 20 seconds

Elevation: 99 metres above sea level

Range: 18 nautical miles

Structure: White round tower 26 metres high

Construction work began in 1828 and it took two years to complete at a cost of £9000. The light was first lit on 26 March 1830. The tower stands 26 metres high and 99 metres above sea level and is located at Scotland’s most southerly point.

The Lighthouse was automated in 1988 and is remotely monitored from the Northern Lighthouse Board’s headquarters at 84 George Street, Edinburgh.

On 4 July 2013, the former three lightkeepers cottages, the former engine room which is now an exhibition area, the RSPB centre, Foghorn and 30 acres of heathland at the Mull of Galloway was successfully bought by the community.

The Northern Lighthouse Board still own and operate the lighthouse but the Mull of Galloway Trust is responsible for the surrounding property and land.

Reason For Nomination

(Text extracted from nomination form submitted by The Northern Lighthouse Board in 2020, updated 2024 & 2025)

Intrinsic Heritage Interest of the Lighthouse

The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse is designated as one of Scotland’s Outstanding Lighthouses, an initiative developed by the Northern Lighthouse Board to promote and drive tourism to Scotland’s coastal communities and increase awareness of the role and history of NLB’s unique heritage.

The Lighthouse, known as a Stevenson Tower is a wonderful example of a Stevenson engineered lighthouse. It is situated in a stunning location where wildlife is abundant and is one of the best places in the UK to view dolphins, porpoises and many sea birds.

In agreement with the Northern Lighthouse Board, the Mull of Galloway Trust gives tours of the lighthouse. The public can climb the 115 steps to the top of the Lighthouse, where they will be rewarded with a spectacular view from the balcony and lightroom. The old engine room houses an exhibition on the lighthouse and the engines and foghorn are now fully operational following a refurbishment project. There are regular blasts and engine demonstrations throughout the year.

Tours of the engine room create a unique opportunity to experience working foghorn engines and air compressors and to get an insight into the lives of Lighthouse Keepers and the rich history associated with the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse. The Exhibition has achieved 4-Star visitor attraction status from Visit Scotland and attracts tour groups, independent travellers, local groups and schools. Visitors come for the whole Mull of Galloway experience: RSPB centre, café, lighthouse and coastal walks.

Two years ago a licence was granted to enable couples to get married in the lightroom.

The Trust also runs three former Lighthouse Keepers’ cottages as holiday houses and these bring in a high rate of occupancy which in turn is beneficial for the local community and the economic development of Scotland.  The Trust has ensured that the Mull of Galloway has become a major visitor attraction in the area, and this creates a valuable asset to the local economy.

In November 2024, the Northern Lighthouse Board and the Mull of Galloway Trust signed an agreement with the Japan Coast Guard to twin the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse with Inubosaki Lighthouse in Japan. It is the world’s first-ever lighthouse twinning agreement.

The twinning partnership will highlight the shared heritage of Scotland and Japan and is an opportunity to exchange resources and ideas.

This is a very positive initiative for the Mull of Galloway Trust and for tourism in the local area. The initiative has already received coverage on the BBC news website.

Conservation

The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse is an iconic and valuable part of the community and has been guiding mariners safely through Scottish waters since 1830. The Northern Lighthouse Board recently carried out a major refurbishment to ensure the lighthouse continues to serve the mariner for many more years to come.

A Foghorn has been present at the Mull of Galloway since 1894.  It last sounded as an aid to marine navigation in November 1987. During its working life, the Foghorn would be operated by Lighthouse Keepers should seaward visibility drop below 4 miles. Three Kelvin K2 Diesel Engines produce the compressed air necessary to sound the Foghorn. Following a period of restoration the engines are now running again after 30 years of remaining silent. It is currently the only operational Foghorn on mainland Scotland.

Public Access and Education

As well as lighthouse tours and exhibition, the engine room exhibition and the lighthouse holiday cottages, the Mull has one of the last remaining sections of natural coastal habitat on the Galloway coast and as such supports a wide variety of plant and animal species. It is now a nature reserve managed by the RSPB. The Mull of Galloway Trail, one of Scotland’s Great Trails, is a 59 km (37 mi) long-distance footpath that runs from the Mull of Galloway via Stranraer to Glen App near Ballantrae, where the trail links with the Ayrshire Coastal Path.

The Mull of Galloway is recognised as a Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI) and an area of national and local importance for the local community and holidaymakers and visitors to the area.

The Trust employs 10 local people at the Mull of Galloway and has put them through a World Host training course on customer care to ensure that they have the skills required to interact with visitors to the Mull.

By working in partnership with the RSPB and the local Drummore Primary School, the Trust provides opportunities for youngsters to visit the Mull on a regular basis.  Whilst there, they undertake a variety of project – from building bug hotels, nature trails, learning the history of the Lighthouse and the families who lived there to checking out wildlife on the Reserve, marine life and wildflowers.  They are out in the fresh air planting bulbs, walking and having fun.  The Trust encourages the school to take part in a wide variety of events. For example, by providing workshops in the summer so they can learn to make art and crafts using items found on local beaches.

Kirkmaiden Parish is relatively remote and there are very few employment opportunities so the Trust has provided seasonal jobs, to 10 local people with the RSPB and Gallie Craig providing around another 10 to 15 jobs.

The Trust holds regular board meetings to which the public are welcome and regular updates on activities are published on the Mull of Galloway website and other social media. beyond are kept advised of what is happening at the Mull of Galloway.

By listening to the local community, the Trust make decisions at the Mull which are of benefit to them but also to the growing number of visitors coming every year.  The Trust works together with the community council, Information Centre, Harbour Trust and other organisations to ensure that this community makes the most of their assets. The Mull of Galloway is community owned with increasing visitors every year and any profit is ploughed back into the local area.  Job opportunities are advertised locally.

In order to keep attracting visitors, the Trust refurbished the Exhibition and Quarterdecks in readiness for the 2023 season.

Everything done at the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse brings benefits to the local coastal economy by way of employment, increased spending in the local area in shops, guest houses, pubs and other attractions.

The following is a list of events held at the Mull of Galloway and shows the diverse range of activities taking place:

2014

• Three-day Festival at the Mull to thank the community for their support in carrying out a community buyout – the first in South Scotland

2015

• Mock Evacuation of Tower by local Fire Service – safety drill now adopted by NLB
• Scottish Government Ministerial visit presenting defibrillator to the Trust

2016

• Smugglers Festival

2017

• Hollywood film ‘The Vanishing’ staring Gerard Butler, Peter Mullen, Connor Swindells and Gary Lewis
• Baldy Bane theatre Group
• Community Arts & Crafts workshops for schools, local community and visitors
• Switch-on of restored foghorn engines
• Thomas Telford Celebration

2018

• Vintage car rally
• Foghorn restored and blasted publicly for first time at event at Easter
• Armistice Commemoration event
• Great British Railway Journeys – visit by Michael Portillo
• Scottish Rural Parliament delegate visit

2019

• The Walnuts band, with TV Presenter Matt Allwright, played at the Mull
• Presbytery visit by folk from Czech Republic
• BBC TV Springwatch filming
• Border Life –programme on history, community buyout etc

2020-2021

Unfortunately all events were cancelled due to the covid pandemic

2022

• Filming by BBC TV Landward programme
• Filming by Susan Calman for Secret Scotland seriesRecording and filming of Phil Cunningham’s new music
• Recording and filming of Phil Cunningham’s new music

2023

• International Lighthouse Heritage Event
• Doors Open Day

2024

• D-Day celebrations
• Ferrari Photoshoot & Haymarket Media Photoshoot
• Painting competition for children + Easter Picnic
• New sundial commissioned and placed on site – exact copy of the original

2025

• The Northern Lighthouse Board and the Mull of Galloway Trust signed an agreement with the Japan Coast Guard to twin the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse with Inubosaki Lighthouse in Japan. It is the world’s first-ever lighthouse twinning agreement. The twinning partnership will highlight the shared heritage of Scotland and Japan and is an opportunity to exchange resources and ideas.
• HM Coastguard carried out a casualty rescue training exercise in the lighthouse tower.

Other Reasons Why the Nominated Lighthouse Would Promote World Lighthouse Heritage

The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse is a very special place. First and foremost it is a functioning lighthouse that has kept mariners safe for almost 200 years. But thanks to the Mull of Galloway Trust, it has become a worldwide visitor attraction bringing a much needed boost to the local economy and raised the profile of the lighthouse and its history to a wide, international audience. Through its relationship with the Northern Lighthouse Board, the Mull of Galloway Trust has created a unique place that has brought our lighthouse heritage to life, using former lighthouse buildings to tell the story. It is a shining example of a successful community project and a model that could potentially be used by other organisations internationally.

In addition, the twinning partnership with Japan’s Inubosaki Lighthouse marks a significant milestone in lighthouse collaboration and paves the way for other nations with a “shared lighthouse heritage” to follow suit.

To be given the accolade ‘IALA Heritage Lighthouse of the Year’, would be a huge privilege for the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse. It would also provide a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of worldwide lighthouse heritage generally and to shine the spotlight on a lighthouse that has gone way beyond its original function.

Through the Northern Lighthouse Board website, the Mull of Galloway Trust website, our active social media channels and traditional media there is a real opportunity to promote, educate and inform an international audience on the importance of world lighthouse heritage.

Photos and Diagrams