Name and Location

Fidra Lighthouse is located on the small island of Fidra, an RSPB reserve off the coast of East Lothian, Scotland. The nearest town is North Berwick, with coordinates 56°04′23″ N, 2°47′06″ W (56.0732156, –2.7851069).

Construction and History

Fidra Lighthouse was designed and built in 1885 by the Stevenson engineering family for the Northern Lighthouse Board. It remains an active sea-light to this day, guiding shipping with a distinctive group-flash characteristic out to 24 nautical miles.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse tower is cylindrical masonry, with a gallery and lantern. The construction materials are ashlar sandstone (locally quarried stone). The tower height is approximately 29 meters (95 feet) above the base, with a focal height of 34 meters (112 feet) above mean high water.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse has a modern sealed rotating beacon and a nominal range of 24 nautical miles. The light characteristic is group flashing—Fl (4) W 30 s: four quick white flashes each lasting 0.7 seconds, separated by 2-second eclipses followed by a 21.2-second dark period.

Accessibility and Visiting

The island of Fidra is a protected bird reserve managed by the RSPB. Landings are by permit only; the lighthouse itself is closed to the public. Excellent views can be had from North Berwick promenade, Yellowcraig Beach (on the mainland), or by boat charters operating out of North Berwick Harbour.

Notable Views and Landscape

The view from the lighthouse gallery sweeps north to Bass Rock and Isle of May, east across the North Sea, and west toward the Bass Strait entrance to the Forth. The area is frequented by seals, porpoises, and migrating birds.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Robert Louis Stevenson, grandson of lighthouse engineer Robert Stevenson, holidayed in the area; "Treasure Island" is said to have been inspired in part by Fidra's shape. Local folklore recalls a phantom light that guided a lone fishing boat to safety in a 19th-century gale—later attributed to the newly lit Fidra beacon.

Technical and Operational Details

The lantern is powered by solar panels with battery backup. There is no AIS or radar installation on the island. Routine maintenance and inspections are conducted periodically by NLB's Northern Base at Granton, Edinburgh.

Further Information

• For more information, visit the Northern Lighthouse Board website at https://www.nlb.org.uk/lighthouses/fidra/ or the RSPB Fidra Island reserve at https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/fidra/.