Name and Location

The Gairlochy Lighthouse is a small man-made navigation aid situated on the banks of the Caledonian Canal at Gairlochy, near Spean Bridge in the Scottish Highlands. Its official name is Gairlochy Lighthouse, sometimes referred to locally as "Gairlochy Light". The lighthouse can be found at W286+RX Gairlochy, Spean Bridge PH34 4EQ, Highland Council, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Construction and History

The exact construction era of the Gairlochy Lighthouse is unknown, but it is likely to have been built in the late 19th or early 20th century, contemporaneous with canal improvements. The architect responsible for the structure is not recorded, and the Scottish Canals archives list it as a standard canal-side beacon rather than a bespoke tower.

Architecture and Materials

The Gairlochy Lighthouse has a small cylindrical tower/column mounted on a concrete base, painted white with contrasting bands. Most sources describe the structure as having a cast iron or steel shell with a masonry or concrete foundation, although this information is not confirmed.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse remains an active navigation light, fully automated, with a focal plane approximately 5-6 meters above water level. The light color and pattern are white with a flash every 2 seconds (Fl(2) 5s). The range of the light is approximately 3 nautical miles.

Accessibility and Visiting

The site is reachable on foot via the Great Glen Way or by a minor access road off the A82. Visitors may walk around the lighthouse, but cannot enter the lantern room. There are parking and picnic spots available at nearby Gairlochy Lock Visitor Area, managed by Scottish Canals.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape offers stunning views of Loch Lochy and Loch Oich, popular for fishing and hillwalking. The Commando Memorial and Ben Nevis mountaineering routes can be accessed from the west (10 km away).

Anecdotes and Folklore

There are no widely published tales of shipwrecks or keeper-involved rescues at Gairlochy Lighthouse. Former lock-keepers' memoirs mention the light being painted white each spring and batteries replaced by hand until the 1980s automation upgrade.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by Scottish Canals (formerly British Waterways) and is unattended, monitored remotely from Inverness control centre. It does not have AIS or radar installed on site, and vessel traffic is not monitored by local radar here. The nautical chart reference is UKHO Admiralty Chart 2617 (Fort William to Loch Ness and Caledonian Canal).

Further Information

For further information about the Gairlochy Lighthouse and the Caledonian Canal, please visit Scottish Canals – Caledonian Canal amenities or the UK Hydrographic Office, Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals. The lighthouse is also listed on OpenStreetMap.