Souter Lighthouse

Souter Lighthouse

Souter Lighthouse is a 19th-century lighthouse overlooking a 2 mile stretch of beach, grasslands, and cliffs. The lighthouse was the first electrically powered lighthouse in the world and was built to ease passage for ships entering the Wear. Climb the 76 steps to the top of the tower for excellent views out to sea.

History

The red and white striped lighthouse was built in 1871 by Sir James Douglas and pioneered the use of AC (alternating current) power.

Visitors can access the engine room, living quarters, and the light tower, while a special exhibit in the Compass Room has displays covering the history of the lighthouse and the seafaring heritage of the area. You will lean about life at sea, how ships communicate with the land, smuggling, shipwrecks, and pirates.

To the south of the Souter Lighthouse is Whitburn Coastal Park, leading to the Whitburn Point Local Nature Reserve.

In an interesting sidenote, the lighthouse does not stand on Souter Point, which is the next headland to the south, but rather on Lizard Point. The lighthouse was named for Souter Point to avoid confusion with an earlier lighthouse on Lizard Point, Cornwall.