Covesea Lighthouse in Lossiemouth

Lossiemouth is one of the most beautiful towns in Moray in the northeast of Scotland and is famous for not one but two stunning beaches to its east and west.

West Beach's most famous feature is the Covesea Lighthouse, perched atop a small headland and once served to guide ships along the perilous waters of the Moray Firth. The light is no longer active today after being replaced by a navigational buoy. Still, Covesea Lighthouse continues to serve the local community as a major tourist attraction and heritage museum for the RAF Lossiemouth airbase.

As a child in Lossiemouth, my mother would often take me to the west beach for picnics; Covesea Lighthouse remains sharp in my mind, and 36 years later, it is still an iconic landmark on the Moray Coast.

History of Covesea Lighthouse

In the wake of a devastating storm in the Moray Firth in November 1826, which claimed 16 vessels, there were growing calls for establishing lighthouses at Tarbat Ness and Covesea Skerries. While initial sentiments from the Commissioners of Northern Light Houses and Trinity House leaned against the need for a Covesea beacon, public opinion strongly disagreed. A wave of petitions and impassioned letters reached their desks, pressing for action.

Ultimately, an expert team, including a renowned engineer and a committee from the Board, assessed the coastline. After careful analysis, they enlisted the insights of the Elder Brethren to pinpoint the ideal location. Their collective wisdom led to the recommendation of Halliman's Skerries.

1845 saw the installation of an iron tower on Halliman's Skerries (an area with many dangerous submerged rocks). By 1846, at an investment of £11,514 (£1,147,082 in today's money), the Covesea Skerries Lighthouse was completed.

This new marvel of Victorian engineering was designed by Alan Stevenson, whose family became famous for building the majority of lighthouses around Scotland. A building contractor from Inverness named James Smith completed the building works.

The lighthouse stands 36 metres tall and had a range of 24 nautical miles! I can see the lighthouse from my home near Buckie; it can also be seen from the top of the Bin of Cullen - 17.5 miles away.

The Covesea Lighthouse underwent significant modernization in 1984, transitioning to automated operations overseen by the Northern Lighthouse Board's Edinburgh office. Its original lens, once rotated by an intricate clockwork mechanism powered by descending weights, now finds its home in the Lossiemouth Fisheries and Community Museum.

2012 closure

In a significant transition, the lighthouse's guiding light was doused on 2 March 2012, having been effectively superseded by a North Cardinal navigational lit buoy equipped with X Band Radar Beacon, positioned strategically at the Halliman Skerries' northeastern tip on 21 February 2012.

Covesea Lighthouse Community Company Limited

Following the closure of the lighthouse complex, it was deemed redundant by the Northern Lighthouse board. This led to the formation of the Covesea Lighthouse Community Company (comprised of local businesses), which sought to take ownership of the lighthouse to turn it into a tourist attraction

With substantial financial support from the Scottish Land Fund, the Covesea Lighthouse Community Company triumphed in acquiring the entire Covesea Skerries lighthouse compound on the 4th of April 2013.

Their goal is to shine a spotlight on local history and celebrate the unique flora, fauna, and symbiotic relationship with the neighbouring RAF Lossiemouth airbase.

Wildlife at Covesea Lighthouse

There is much wildlife to be seen at the lighthouse and the wider Lossiemouth area.

Seals can be seen at all times of the year, either basking on the skerries or popping their heads out of the water further out at sea. Portgordon Beach is the best place locally to get a closer view as they bask there on the shingle beach and rocks.

Dolphins and whales are a common sight between Cullen, Lossiemouth and Inverness. Spey Bay is one of the best places, where dolphins frequently feed on salmon from the River Spey.

The River Lossie near Lossie East Beach is a brilliant place to see Osprey hunting for fish from about March onwards.

Staying at Covesea Lighthouse - The Lighthouse Cottages

With the entire lighthouse complex now within the ownership of the Covesea Lighthouse Community Company, the decision was made to modernise the Lighthouse keeper's accommodation into holiday cottages.

Two cottages are available:

• Halliman Cottage - 3 bedrooms.

• Covesea Cottage - 2 bedrooms.

Both cottages are self-catering with a kitchen, washing machine/dishwasher and a bathroom with separate shower cubicle and bath.

There are options to stay for an entire week or partial weeks, including the weekend or just weekdays.

The cottages would be an excellent place to stay if you are interested in the nearby airbase, the area's unique wildlife or just spectacular views of Lossiemouth and the Moray Firth.

Please see the Covesea Lighthouse website for booking options; there is a 15% discount for booking directly.

If you are unable to get the dates you wish for the lighthouse, Silver Sands Holiday Park can be found directly next to the lighthouse and offers caravans, static lodges and camping pitches.

Visitor information

Opening times:

Saturdays at 11 am and 12 pm, between April and October. Tours should be pre-booked with a minimum of 48 hours' notice by contacting the lighthouse volunteers.

Contact details:

Covesea Lighthouse, Covesea, Lossiemouth, Moray, IV31 6SP

Email: info@covesealighthouse.co.uk
Telephone: 01343 810664

Google maps location
What3words: 
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FAQs on Covesea Lighthouse

Here are a few frequently asked questions about the lighthouse:

Is it possible to visit Covesea Lighthouse?

Yes, the lighthouse is open for guided tours on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. between April and October. The tours can be popular, so it's best to pre-book by calling 01343 810664 or emailing. It is also possible to arrange other visiting times by contacting the volunteers.

Is it possible to stay at Covesea Lighthouse?

Yes, two Covesea Lighthouse cottages are available to book for short weekend stays or Saturday-to-Saturday week-long stays. You can book via my affiliate link too!.

How do I get to Covesea Lighthouse?

Here are the directions:

1. Follow the B9040 west out of Lossiemouth.

2. Follow signs for Silver Sands Holiday Park.

3. Take the right turn to Silver Sands Holiday Park; it's marked with small walls and blue flags, as well as the common brown tourist sign.

4. Instead of driving into the holiday park, take the immediate left to the lighthouse.

When was Covesea Lighthouse built?

Covesea Lighthouse was completed in 1846.

Is the lighthouse complex still manned?

No, the lighthouse is no longer used to help sailors; it's possible to stay at the CoveSea Lighthouse Keepers Cottages if you are looking for a unique holiday experience.

Who built Covesea Lighthouse?

Alan Stevenson designed the lighthouse; interestingly, he was the uncle of Robert Louis Stevenson, the famous Scottish writer. James Smith from Inverness built the lighthouse.

What else is there to see near Covesea Lighthouse?

There are endless places to visit near the Lighthouse; here are my top suggestions:

Lossiemouth East Beach - After you've taken in the delights of West Beach, why not head over to the east beach, grab an ice cream and cross the brand new Lossiemouth Bridge to another stunning stretch of coastline?

The Sculptor's Cave - Found some distance west on the coast is the mysterious Sculptor's Cave, which has links to Bronze Age tribes and, more recently, the Picts. The cave gets its name from the Pictish engravings at the cave entrance. The mysterious cave can only be accessed at low tide and is a more adventurous option. There are many other caves and impressive sea stacks to be seen near the cave too.

Duffus Castle - This motte and bailey-style castle is south of the lighthouse on the other side of the airbase. This is my favourite castle ruin to visit locally. There are many other castles in Moray if Duffus Castle whets your appetite.

Moray Golf Club - Found between Lossiemouth and the lighthouse itself, Moray Golf Club offers seven par fours over 400 yards.

Plane spotting - West Beach and the vicinity of the lighthouse are excellent places to see aircraft take off and land at RAF Lossiemouth. The two most common types are the Typhoon FGR4 and Poseidon MRA1.

The end of one of the runways lines up with the dunes just east of the lighthouse. Every July, there is an RAF friends and family day (Lossie Fest), which includes a fantastic airshow, this year included the Red Arrows. You can learn about 2023's airshow in this article.

Key information on Covesea Lighthouse

• Covesea Lighthouse is located on Lossiemouth West Beach, Moray, northeast Scotland.

• Covesea Lighthouse, on West Beach, once served to guide ships along the Moray Firth.

• Built after a devastating storm in November 1826 that sank 16 vessels.

• Completed in 1846 for £11,514.

• Automated in 1984 and decommissioned in 2012.

• Purchased by the Covesea Lighthouse Community Company Limited in 2013.

• The lighthouse is now a major tourist attraction and heritage museum for RAF Lossiemouth airbase.

• It's possible to stay at the two available cottages.

Conclusion

Lossiemouth is one of the nicest places you can visit while exploring Moray, and Covesea Lighthouse on the West Beach is a lovely place to spend a morning or afternoon. Learn some history, scale the 145 stone steps and two ladders to reach the top and take in the beauty of Lossie West Beach.

Many thanks to Alan Butterfield for the majority of images in this article.