Calvay lighthouse

Calvay is a solar-powered minor light (light beacon) dating from 1985. Standing on a square concrete base, Calvay is a square aluminium open lattice tower 6 metres in height. It is topped by an open gallery with a small solar powered lantern and it has white glass-reinforced plastic panels on the three seaward (east, west and north) sides of the tower. The automatic LED lights flash white, red and green every ten seconds and has a range of seven nautical miles for the white light and four nautical miles for both the red and green lights. There is a metal ladder mounted inside the aluminium lattice frame leading up to the gallery and solar panels are attached to the southern side of the lighthouse.

Historical development

In 1890, the West Highland Commission called for steps to be taken to improve the provision of navigation lights in the West Highlands and Islands to facilitate trade, including the development of the fishing industry (Scotsman 6 September 1890). The report made the case for 'a light on Calvay to mark the entrance to Loch Boisdale'.

A light was first built at Calvay in 1891 designed to be visible on the clifftop during the day. In 1985 the Northern Lighthouse Board replaced this light with the present Solar Powered Lattice Aluminium Tower (SPLAT) example, as part of a transition from older designs of minor light to new gas-powered and solar-powered examples intended to reduce costs. A SPLAT lighthouse was also placed in 1985 on the nearby island of Gasay (or Gasaigh) (LB52576).