4 lighthouse buildings for sale in Scotland

Many are now out of commission but these historical lighthouses used to be important lifesavers and are ingrained in Scottish history.

Occasionally these lighthouses and their buildings comes on the market, giving buyers a chance to snap up a unique home. Here are four of the most recent.

Noss Head Lighthouse, Caithness

Picture: Noss head Lighthouse, http://lighthousesforsale.co.uk

This Principle Lighthouse Keeper's home consists of three bedrooms with an option to turn a reception room into a fourth bedroom.

This 19th century lighthouse is situated near Wick in Caithness in the Highlands. It is located at the end of Noss Head, a peninsula on the north-west coast of Caithness that overlooks Sinclairs Bay and the lighthouse is notable as being the first that was built with a diagonally-paned lantern room.

This lighthouse keeper’s home is on the market at offers over £85,000 and consists of two reception rooms, three bedrooms and a spacious kitchen, all with beautiful coastal views. Any budding investors could potentially buy to let and turn this unique home into a holiday rental.

Stoer Head Lighthouse, Sutherland

Pixture: Stoer Head lighthouse, http://lighthousesforsale.co.uk

Constructed in 1870 by the Stevenson family, the Stoer Head Lighthouse boasts all the typical hallmarks of a Victorian lighthouse construction, and continues to be used as an (automated) navigational aid for ships crossing from the Scottish mainland to Stornoway even now.

The Lighthouse was designed and engineered by David and Thomas Stevenson, Thomas being the father of Robert Louis Stevenson.

The property sits in the most westerly point of Assynt in north-west Sutherland and has increased in value by over £150,000 from 2013, when it was up for sale at just £210,000. Offers of over £371,500 are now being welcomed.

Since last on the market, the property, made up of two two-bedroom apartments, has undergone renovation. Included in the sale along with the two flats - which feature a “spiral staircase” - is an external bothy set within the lighthouse walls.

Both flats are fully self-sufficient and offer two twin-bedrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, a bathroom and a cosy living room, whereas the annex serves as separate guest accommodation with two single beds and a WC.

Cantick Head Lighthouse, Orkney

Picture: Cantick Head Lighthouse, http://lighthousesforsale.co.uk

These lighthouse keepers cottages are currently up for sale, offering a unique home or holiday rental (which two currently are).

The three properties - the First Assistant Lighthouse Keeper’s House, Second Assistant Lighthouse Keeper’s House and the Principal Lighthouse Keeper’s House are welcoming offers from £79,000 or the whole lot can be purchased from £300,000.

The Principal Lightkeeper’s house and Second Assistant Lightkeeper’s two-bedroom cottages are set in an elevated position offering views over the Pentland Firth, and are currently being run as holiday lets.

The detached Principal Lightkeeper’s house has three-bedrooms together with a living room, dining room, office, bathroom and kitchen with pantry.

Rattray Head Lighthouse, Aberdeenshire

Picture: Rattray Head Lighthouse, http://lighthousesforsale.co.uk

Another set of Lighthouse keepers dwellings has become available to buy, this time in Buchan Aberdeenshire.

Currently the lighthouse buildings at Rattray Head are being run as a bed and breakfast with home attached. The guide price for the whole lighthouse compound is £490,000.

But buyers looking to just invest in one property are looking at a guide price of £79,000 for a two-bedroom lighthouse keeper’s house.

The main Lighthouse keepers five-bedroom house is also available to buy as a separate sale, with offers over £249,500.

Although not included in the sale, the 120-foot Rattray Head lighthouse is nearby and was built in 1895 by the engineers and brothers David Alan Stevenson and Charles Alexander Stevenson. In February 1982 it became unmanned and self-working.

The lighthouse is accessible by way of a causeway that is usually underwater and only visible at low tide where remains of several shipwrecks can still be seen on the beach.