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England & Wales Scotland Ireland

Rathlin West Lighthouse

Antrim, Northern Ireland

Location Guide

This is some setting for a lighthouse. Building the station took three years and cost £400,000, a huge sum for 1919.

The light is on a concrete pad built into a notch on an almost-vertical cliff. Rising behind the light is a square cylindrical tower 18 metres high, attached at its upper end to a two storey keeper's residence set into another, higher notch. Unusual for a lighthouse but the keepers here had to climb down to the light. All the buildings are painted white for best contrast against the dark cliff face.

It is located at the western end of the island. It is not possible to get to the light itself but visitors can get close enough to take photos over the edge of the cliff. Getting to the lighthouse locations is via a 4 mile walk.

The RSPB has a seabird observation platform on top the cliff close to the lighthouse.

The Light at Rathlin West Photo by Paul McIlroy

The lightkeepers residence, above the light. Photo By Ross


Lighthouse information Grid

Name:

Rathlin West Lighthouse, Antrim, Northern Ireland

Current status:

Working

Geographic Position:

55°18.052' North  006°16.815' West

Grid Reference:

D093517

Ceremonial County:

Antrim

Appearance:

 

Map Link:

Maps

Aerial photo:

 

Other photos:

Geograph

Originally built:

1919

Current lighthouse built:

 

Height of Tower:

18 metres

Height of light above mean sea level:

18 metres

Character of light:

Fl R 5s

Character of fog signal:

 

Range of light:

22 nautical miles

Owned / run by:

Commissioners of Irish Lights

Getting there:

 

Access:

 

Website:

CIL

Other Useful Websites:

 

Routes:  
Other Relevant pages:

For more articles, lists and other information see the Lighthouses Section

Lighthouse Map of Ireland  

Featured list of lighthouses - Ireland

Notes:

 

Please let us know any other information that we can add to the Grid or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you quote both the Page Ref and Topic or Section references from the Grid below. To print the planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.

Please submit information on locations you discover so that this system continues to grow.

 


By: Tracey Park    Section:  Lighthouses Section Key:
Page Ref: rathlin_west Topic: Lighthouses Last Updated: 06/2010

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