Name and Location

The Mossbank Navigational Light is an unmanned minor lighthouse situated on the Delting coast of Mainland, Shetland Islands, Scotland. Its official reference number is A 3812 and it is catalogued as a "light_major" seamark operated without on-site keepers.

Location

The light stands at coordinates 60°27′13.45″ N, 1°10′37.17″ W, with an address of FR3F+F6 Mossbank, Delting, Shetland Islands, Scotland, ZE2 9RB, UK. The nearest public access point is via a rough, unnamed minor road that runs along the coast and leads to the shoreline.

Construction and History

The exact construction date of the Mossbank Navigational Light is unknown, but it is believed to have been built in the early or mid-20th century as part of the sector-marking system. The light is not listed on national heritage registers and does not have a widely recorded "official" name.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a small coastal light tower made of likely reinforced concrete or masonry, typical of 20th-century minor lights. It stands at a height of 9 meters above the base and has a focal height of approximately 9 meters above mean high water.

Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is an occulting sequence of 6+2 seconds, with three sectors: white (range 15 nautical miles), green (range 10 nautical miles), and red (range 10 nautical miles). The light is automated and has no resident keeper.

Accessibility and Visiting

Public access to the lighthouse is limited due to its remote location. Visitors can approach the site by foot over uneven terrain, but there are no facilities or guided tours available. The nearest settlement is Mossbank, with a few small houses and fishing piers.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape features rolling peat moor and rugged shore typical of the west Delting peninsula, offering panoramic views across the entrance to Yell Sound. Coastal seabirds and occasional seals can be spotted along the shoreline.

Anecdotes and Folklore

There are no published anecdotes or keeper-stories specifically associated with this minor light, suggesting that it was established purely for sector-marking purposes rather than having any cultural significance.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is automated and likely powered by mains electricity with a standby battery. Remote monitoring via the Northern Lighthouse Board control systems is also possible.

Further Information

• For further information on the Mossbank Navigational Light, please consult the US NGA List of Lights, Pub. 114 (2011-05-26), Light A 3812, or the Northern Lighthouse Board website at https://www.nlb.org.uk.