Name and Location

Bressay Lighthouse is an active sea-light marking the southern entrance to Bressay Sound off Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland. The official name of the lighthouse is simply "Bressay Lighthouse", while locals often refer to it as "Bressay Light". Its address is Kirkabister, Bressay, Shetland ZE2 9ER, United Kingdom, and its coordinates are approximately 60°07′12″ N, 1°07′17″ W.

Construction and History

The Bressay Lighthouse was constructed between 1857-1858 by Thomas and David Stevenson, Engineers to the Northern Lighthouse Board. The tower is made of rubble masonry, rendered and painted white, with a red lantern roof. The lighthouse has been fully automated since the late 20th century.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse consists of a white, cylindrical masonry tower with an attached keeper's houses complex. The tower height is not separately documented, but the focal plane is cited at 32 meters above sea level. The architecture style is typical mid-Victorian Scottish lighthouse, featuring a round, tapering masonry tower with a single gallery and lantern.

Light and Navigation

The light characteristic of Bressay Lighthouse is a group flashing two white flashes every 20 seconds (Fl (2) W 20s). The focal height is 32 meters above mean sea level, and the nominal range is 23 nautical miles. The light color is white, and it has been an operational aid to navigation since its commissioning.

Accessibility and Visiting

The exterior of the lighthouse can be accessed on foot, with strong footwear recommended due to uneven ground. However, the tower interior is not open to the general public. The keeper's cottages are operated as self-catering holiday lets by the Northern Lighthouse Board; booking via NLB website.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers a wide view across Bressay Sound to Lerwick's harbour breakwaters and the Shetland mainland. On clear days, the Fair Isle and Yell Sound lighthouses can be seen on the horizon. The surrounding landscape features rugged coastal heath, seabird colonies on nearby cliffs, and occasional seals in the sound.

Anecdotes and Folklore

According to local oral tradition, keepers have shared stories of winter storms breaching the lantern windows and hauling tar-soaked ropes to keep the lamp burning through gale nights. Despite its presence, no major wrecks have been recorded within the immediate vicinity since the lighthouse's commissioning.

Technical and Operational Details

The managing authority of Bressay Lighthouse is the Northern Lighthouse Board (www.nlb.org.uk). The lighthouse is fully automated and remains an operational aid to navigation. It has a listed building status, categorized as Category B by Historic Environment Scotland.

Further Information

For more information on the Bressay Lighthouse, please visit the Northern Lighthouse Board website or refer to Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals Vol. K (NP 197), UKHO.