Sumburgh Head Lighthouse
United Kingdom
*As with any wildlife, there is never any guarantee that you will see any specific species on the day of your visit!
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Sumburgh Head, the southernmost point of the Shetland Mainland and home to the oldest lighthouse in these islands. Rising majestically above the 'Sumburgh Head cliffs,' this lighthouse has been a vital navigation aid…
Listen in the app2Robert Stevenson’s Engineering Masterpiece
Standing directly before the lighthouse, we can appreciate the architectural elegance of Robert Stevenson, the patriarch of a famous dynasty of lighthouse engineers (and grandfather to the author Robert Louis Stevenson). The…
Listen in the app3The Nature Reserve — A Seabird Metropolis
As we walk along the cliff-top paths, we are in the heart of the Sumburgh Head Nature Reserve. This area is a 'bird watcher’s paradise,' drawing visitors from 'all around the globe' to see its spectacular colonies. …
Listen in the app4Ancient Rock Fences and Land Management
One of the most striking features of the walk around Sumburgh Head is the presence of 'ancient rock fences.' These dry stone walls are everywhere, a 'staple of Shetland' because traditional building materials were so 'expensive…
Listen in the app5The Radar Station — A Secret Wartime History
Sumburgh Head played a critical, though often overlooked, role during the Second World War. High on the headland, a 'radar station' was established to monitor the approaches to Shetland and the northern Atlantic. …
Listen in the app6Where Oceans Collide — The Sumburgh Roost
Looking down from the cliffs at the southernmost point, you can witness the 'Sumburgh Roost' in action. This is where the 'North Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean,' and the result is often a turbulent, frothing mass of water known as…
Listen in the app7Sumburgh Head and the Iron Age Connection
The history of human habitation at Sumburgh Head doesn't start with the lighthouse; it is deeply connected to the nearby site of Jarlshof. In the late Iron Age, people built a 'large broch' here, similar to the one we see at…
Listen in the app8Final Reflections at the Light’s End
As we conclude our walk around Sumburgh Head, we stand at a point where history, nature, and engineering converge in a truly spectacular way. We have explored the 'Robert Stevenson lighthouse,' witnessed the 'spectacle of the…
Listen in the app9Closing
Our scholarly exploration of Sumburgh Head has come to its close. We have stood where 'two oceans meet' and where 'generations of lighthouse keepers' stood before us. …
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What is Sumburgh Head Lighthouse?
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is a place in United Kingdom with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 59.8542, -1.2748 |
| Last updated |
