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Inchkeith Lighthouse

2VM7+9H Burntisland, UK

Name and Location

The Inchkeith Lighthouse is located in Burntisland, Scotland, UK, serving as an important maritime aid to navigation on the East Coast of Scotland.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was built in 1907 by the Scottish Lighthouse Commissioners. It stands at a height of 67 meters (220 feet) above sea level, with a focal plane elevation of 32 meters (105 feet). The tower is constructed from granite, a common building material in Scotland.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse was built using granite as its primary construction material.

Light and Navigation

The Inchkeith Lighthouse exhibits a Fog Signal characteristic, with a horn sound period of 15 seconds every 1 minute. The light itself is a white light with a range of 22 nautical miles (40 kilometers).

Accessibility and Visiting

  • Visitors can access the lighthouse site through guided tours, which provide insight into the history and operations of this important maritime structure.
  • The site is located near Pettycur Road, Kinghorn, Burntisland KY3 9RP, UK.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape offers scenic views of the sea and the nearby Fife Coast.

Anecdotes and Folklore

While there are no specific stories or legends associated with this lighthouse, its history as a vital aid to navigation has earned it a place in the hearts of many mariners.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse was automated in 1994, marking the end of an era of manual operation by lighthouse keepers. Today, the light remains operational, serving as a vital aid to mariners navigating the North Sea.

Further Information

  • The Inchkeith Lighthouse is listed on the Wikipedia page under Category: Lightships and lighthouses of Scotland, and it also appears on the Scottish List of Classified Buildings as a Grade C (S) listed building.
  • The managing authority for the lighthouse is the Northern Lighthouse Board, a non-profit organization responsible for maintaining Scotland's coastal aids to navigation.

Details

NameInchkeith Lighthouse
CityBurntisland
CountryUk
Coordinates56.0334981, -3.1360931
Year of construction1907
ArchitectScottish Lighthouse Commissioners
Construction materialgranite
Focal height32
Tower height67
Access descriptionguided tours
Accessibletrue
View descriptionscenic views of the sea and the nearby Fife Coast
Guided tourstrue
Nearby attractionsFife Coast
AIS Radarfalse
Light characteristicFog Signal
Light range22
Automatedtrue