Lighthouse on Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde in Ayrshire Scotland
Ailsa Craig island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland is also known as "Paddy's Milestone" being almost half way between Belfast and Glasgow by sea. The lighthouse was completed and the oil lamp first lit on 15/6/1881. The engineers were Thomas & David A Stevenson (Thomas was the father of Robert Louis Stevenson). Over the years the lighthouse has been updated and it became fully automated in 1990 and converted to solar-electric power in 2001. A volcanic plug of acres and 1110 feet high, It is currently uninhabited. Previously, in the 16th century it was a haven for Roman Catholics during the reformation and it was also a prison during the 18th and 19th century. More recently, from mid 19th to mid 20th century, it was quarried for it micro-granite and as of 2004, 60 to 70% of all curling stones in use were made from granite from the island. Currently a bird sanctuary, the RSPB has leased the island until 2050 from it's owner the 8th Marquess of Ailsa, 19th Earl of Cassilis and at the time of taking the photograph the island is up for sale.
Size: 5616px × 3744px
Location: Ailsa Craig, Firth of Clyde, Ayrshire, Scotland
Photo credit: © PictureScotland / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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