Rose Ness Lighthouse, Orkney

Rose Ness Lighthouse, located in Orkney, is a solar-powered minor light that was constructed in 1983. The lighthouse features an octagonal concrete base and a cylindrical tower made of glass reinforced plastic (GRP), topped with a metal gallery. The lantern has a conical roof and is fitted with triangular-shaped storm panes and astragal bars. The automatic LED light emits a white flash every six seconds and has a visibility range of eight nautical miles.

On the northern side of the lighthouse, there are two entrance doors, one at ground level and another at balcony level. An external metal ladder provides access to the balcony, and solar panels are mounted on the southern side of the structure.

Inside, the lighthouse is divided into two sections. The lower section contains electrical and communications equipment, along with banks of batteries, and features small porthole windows. The upper section houses the light itself.

Historically, a stone beacon was established at Rose Ness in 1867 to be visible from the clifftop during the day. In 1905, a cast-iron light beacon was constructed to the southwest by David A and Charles Stevenson. This minor light operated throughout much of the 20th century, originally powered by acetylene gas, as indicated on the Ordnance Survey map of 1965. The use of acetylene gas required a significant maintenance program, complicated by the remote locations of many Scottish lighthouses.

In the 1980s, there was a shift from older designs of minor lights to newer gas-powered and solar-powered versions to reduce costs. The original 1905 cast-iron light at Rose Ness was replaced in 1983 with the current GRP tower, which was initially gas-powered.