To the Lighthouse! The Mull of Galloway
Munro & Glen visits one of the most spectacular lighthouses in Scotland - The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse
7/27/20252 min read
We love lighthouses here at Munro & Glen and so to kick of the new department of this web site called 'To the Lighthouse!' - it made sense to write about one of most spectacular and little-known Scottish lighthouses - The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse. Situated on the headland right at the south-western tip of Dumfries & Galloway, it marks the most south-westerly point of Scotland.
It was built by Robert Stevenson in 1830 and the light is 99 metres (325 ft) above sea level and has a range of 28 nautical miles (52 km). The white-painted round tower is 26 metres (85 ft) high and the whole building is a Category A listed building.
The views from the headland are beautiful in all directions and on a clear day one can see Luce Bay, the Isle of Man and Ireland. When I visited, by luck it was the full moon and very clear, further enhancing what is one of the best coastal panoramas in the British Isles.
The strange thing is that before my visit, I had never heard of the place, though that is perhaps true of many interesting places in Dumfries & Galloway.
It is also great for bird-watching and has many hares. Not the easiest of places to get to, it is quite a way off the A75, the latter part leading up to the headland is several miles of single-lane, passing place road.
There is a nice little cafe and gift shop in the car park area - the Gallie Craig - open 5 days a week – Saturday to Wednesday from 10:30AM to 5:00PM with the last food order at 4:30PM. The cafe is closed on Thursdays and Fridays. They offer a nice cafe menu - including a great Scottish breakfast and a range of sandwiches, paninis, wraps, salads, sweets and a few beef dishes from the Mull of Galloway Farm. They also offer vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options and a range of coffees and soft drinks. On the side is a nice terrace overlooking the sea, which is great if you are with a dog.
Which all adds up to The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse being a great day out.
Full moonrise at the spectacular Mull of Galloway Lighthouse - Photo: Jonathan Mitchell