Standing 92 feet tall, the Noup Head Lighthouse is a striking structure located on the island of Westray, Orkney Islands, Scotland. Built in 1893, the lighthouse features a distinctive red and white striped tower, guiding mariners through the treacherous waters of the North Sea. Its optic system, comprising a first-order Fresnel lens, casts a powerful beam of light 25 miles out to sea, warning of the rocky coastline and ensuring safe passage. The lighthouse's remote location adds to its allure, with visitors often reaching it via a scenic coastal path or by boat.
Lovely spot. Fantastic to see and hear the gannets, guillemots, and kittiwakes nesting in the sea cliffs. Also look out for the clifftop/ground nesting birds- oyster catchers, artic terns etc they form an early warning system and defence force to assemble the adults if a predator (great Skua or great black backed gull) enters the area. They will collectively dive bomb the predator to confuse or see off during spring time when nests are vulnerable. Spotted a pair of Great Skua, and watched one of the pair receive this coordinated treatment. The track up is a challenge, potholes, loose sharp rocks,l and small boulders, uneven and very bumpy, steep and narrow in places but if your vehicle has the clearance and you've got decent tyres you can make it up slowly in a low gear. Some vans might struggle with dimensions, as some narrow bridge crossings 3/4 of the way up. The pathways to the viewing spots on the cliffs require decent physical mobility, and not suitable for prams or wheelchairs, but the carpark has even ground so if you have a wheelchair or a buggy you can still enjoy the views out to sea even if you can't walk to the cliff edges.
Completed a circular coastal walk to get here but also accessible via vehicle along the track. Stunning views and a huge Gannet colony to see.
If the weather is right and you have a late sunset it is truly spectacular! There were a lot of nesting birds when i was there so quite fun to just sit and enjoy the location. The road up is a bit hard going and if you have a smaller car it may push it to the limit slightly. It is worth the trip.
Perfect location to view wildlife- gannets, fulmers, swallows... Sheep and cows (okay less wild but still cute). Be very careful of those cliffs however- I've been airlifted from cliffsides with broken bones before and I can tell you it's not worth it for a photo of a puffin! Great location however if at least to see the endless Atlantic and the southern Orkney islands stretching into the distance.
Amazing views.. There were puffin birds there too
Great place to visit. Booking of the lighthouse tour is highly recommended.
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
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Lovely spot. Fantastic to see and hear the gannets, guillemots, and kittiwakes nesting in the sea cliffs. Also look out for the clifftop/ground nesting birds- oyster catchers, artic terns etc they form an early warning system and defence force to assemble the adults if a predator (great Skua or great black backed gull) enters the area. They will collectively dive bomb the predator to confuse or see off during spring time when nests are vulnerable. Spotted a pair of Great Skua, and watched one of the pair receive this coordinated treatment. The track up is a challenge, potholes, loose sharp rocks,l and small boulders, uneven and very bumpy, steep and narrow in places but if your vehicle has the clearance and you've got decent tyres you can make it up slowly in a low gear. Some vans might struggle with dimensions, as some narrow bridge crossings 3/4 of the way up. The pathways to the viewing spots on the cliffs require decent physical mobility, and not suitable for prams or wheelchairs, but the carpark has even ground so if you have a wheelchair or a buggy you can still enjoy the views out to sea even if you can't walk to the cliff edges.
Completed a circular coastal walk to get here but also accessible via vehicle along the track. Stunning views and a huge Gannet colony to see.
If the weather is right and you have a late sunset it is truly spectacular! There were a lot of nesting birds when i was there so quite fun to just sit and enjoy the location. The road up is a bit hard going and if you have a smaller car it may push it to the limit slightly. It is worth the trip.
Perfect location to view wildlife- gannets, fulmers, swallows... Sheep and cows (okay less wild but still cute). Be very careful of those cliffs however- I've been airlifted from cliffsides with broken bones before and I can tell you it's not worth it for a photo of a puffin! Great location however if at least to see the endless Atlantic and the southern Orkney islands stretching into the distance.
Amazing views.. There were puffin birds there too
Great place to visit. Booking of the lighthouse tour is highly recommended.
