Ardnamurchan Lighthouse

Lighthouse keeping was a hard job, navy discipline, and crazy hours. The lamp was a candle which had to be changed regularly by lugging a new one up the stairs. The blink of the light was created by a mechanism not dissimilar to a grandfather clock where weights down the centre of the tower drove the mechanism but needed regular hand cranking back to the top. In winter getting cut off was regular and one of the last recorded medical incidents was scurvy. All this or at least a version of it persisted till 1988 when finally the light was electrified and the tower unmanned, though regularly visited.

We were told in the shop to walk up to the lighthouse and climb up the tower to meet our guide. It felt odd as we reached the bottom with nothing and nobody there, but we started our climb. In the end we were so quick that we met the guide and previous tour so joined that and he restarted.

He enjoyed telling his tails of the lighthouse equipment, the replacement of candles for meths and the pumping by hand to create pressure to make it burn well. The ex-navy personnel, in lighthouse keeper uniform, who manned these places always well presented for fear of inspection. We asked Matthew if he fancied it and it was clear the uniform idea alone was a turn off.

Down in the old generator room later we got to see some of the old equipment from before today’s setup.

Today the stairs still seem a little endless but the little room under the light is filled with a couple of small modern cabinets leaving room for our tour guide and a little party. Signs on the stairs warn others to have a tour ticket but it didn’t stop us getting one interruption.

Todays light is LED and not a single bulb has failed in 4 and a half years. Lighthouse keepers today look after multiple lighthouses and get remote notifications when something goes wrong.

Saying that our guides boss, the keeper, did get a call out and have to come up the lighthouse to see if he could see the next one along flashing when comes failed.

Out onto the parapet for some amazing views. Also note the rail for climbing round and shining up the glass. Used to be a wood handrail only but now you have a harness clip in.

Now down to where you could get a job today at the lighthouse (advert is out), serving tea and scones to the tourists.. fancy a job Matthew?

Now back to base for board games. Cereal boxes as wind breaks.