Name and Location

Reserve Light, Buckie Harbour West Breakwater is a minor harbour beacon located at 36 Marine Place, Buckie AB56 1UT, Moray, Scotland, UK. The coordinates are 57° 40′ 49″ N, 2° 57′ 39″ W.

2. Construction and History

The Reserve Light was constructed in the 19th/early-20th century as part of harbour improvements. Although the exact construction date is unrecorded, it is listed as a Category C building by Historic Environment Scotland (Ref. LB22724). The light has played an important role as a navigational aid under poor visibility or when the principal West Breakwater Lighthouse is offline.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Reserve Light is a small cylindrical tower of painted masonry or cast-iron plating, with a square plinth base and topped by a simple lantern and gallery. The tower stands approximately 5 meters above its base, while the focal plane (light height) is 15 meters above mean high water.

4. Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is occulting red, with a group sequence of 7+3 eclipses every 10 seconds (Oc.R.10s, sequence 7+(3)). The nominal range is 15 nautical miles. It is charted on UK Admiralty charts covering the Moray Firth approaches.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The interior of the light tower is not open to visitors. However, the public can walk the breakwater at low tide or on high-tide footways; sturdy footwear is recommended. There are no on-site facilities, but nearby amenities can be found in Buckie town centre.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The surroundings offer extensive vistas along the Moray Firth coastline, with distant views of Cullen Bay and Fochabers to the east. The environment features rocky breakwater, sea-wall grasses, harbour basins, and wildlife such as guillemots, razorbills, seals, and occasional porpoises.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Fishermen still refer to this beacon as the “Red Friend,” noting that when the main light went dark during wartime blackouts or mechanical faults, this smaller light kept skippers safely in touch with the harbour entrance.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Reserve Light is automated, powered by mains electricity with battery backup. It is an active reserve light, illuminating automatically if the principal West Breakwater Lighthouse is unlit or during harbour emergencies. There are no AIS or radar installations on site.

9. Further Information

Further information can be found at Historic Environment Scotland (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB22724), UK Admiralty List of Lights, Pub. 114, heading A 3394, OpenSeaMap seamark entry: node 241788412 (“Reserve Light F.W”), and Wikidata: Q28803324 (light node).