Lighthouses are not just stone, brick, metal, and glass. There's a human story at every lighthouse; that's the story Dave wants to tell.
Fair Isle South Light - Scotland's Tallest Lighthouse in Shetland
The Lighthouse Experience
Exploring Fair Isle's Maritime Heritage
The Majestic 85-Foot Tower - 106 Steps to Maritime History
A Stevenson Lighthouse Legacy
South Light Statistics
85
Feet Tall
106
Steps to Top
1891
Year Built
25
Miles Visible
South Light on Fair Isle is a pharologist's delight - a superb example of a 'Stevenson Lighthouse', one of many around the shores of mainland Scotland and the isles, built in 1891 by this famous and prolific family of Scottish engineers.
Designed and built in 1891 by David A. and Charles Stevenson (cousin of author Robert Louis Stevenson) it entered service in 1892. The lighthouse tower at 85 feet is the tallest one in Shetland and there are 106 steps to the top.
What is Pharology?
*Pharology - the study of lighthouses! A fascinating field dedicated to understanding the history, architecture, and maritime significance of these beacons of safety.
Maritime Milestones
Timeline of South Light
1891
Construction Completed - Designed and built by David A. and Charles Stevenson, cousins of famous author Robert Louis Stevenson.
1892
Light Enters Service - The beacon begins its vital role in maritime safety, guiding ships safely around Fair Isle.
1998
Final Automation - Becomes the last lighthouse in Scotland to be automated, ending an era of lighthouse keepers.
2005
Foghorn Dismantled - Scotland's last lighthouse foghorn is removed, marking the end of another maritime tradition.
The Stevenson Legacy
Engineering Excellence
The Stevenson family built over 200 lighthouses around Scotland's treacherous coastline, revolutionizing maritime safety and engineering.
Literary Connection
Robert Louis Stevenson, author of "Treasure Island" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," was cousin to the lighthouse-building Stevensons.
Maritime Innovation
Their lighthouse designs incorporated cutting-edge optics and engineering, setting standards for lighthouse construction worldwide.
Modern Maritime Beacon
Today, South Light continues its vital mission under the operation of the Northern Lighthouse Board. Its powerful beam, consisting of 4 flashes every 30 seconds, can be seen from at least as far as Orkney - some 25 miles away across open sea.
In 1998 it became the last lighthouse in Scotland to be automated. Its foghorn - also Scotland's last - was dismantled in 2005, marking the end of an era in maritime history.
The lighthouse stands as a testament to Victorian engineering excellence and continues to serve mariners navigating the challenging waters around Fair Isle, one of Britain's most remote inhabited islands.
Standing tall at 85 feet above the rugged Fair Isle coastline, South Light represents more than a century of maritime safety, engineering excellence, and the enduring human spirit that guides seafarers safely home.
