The Northern Lighthouse Board is responsible for navigation aids on over 6,000 miles of coastline, including 790 islands. This comprises half the waters and coastline of the United Kingdom, including some of the most beautiful and treacherous in Europe.   

The area is subject to severe weather conditions for many months of the year. Responsible for a network of over 200 lighthouses, 160 buoys, 37 beacons, four Differential Global Positioning System Stations, 25 Racons and one GLA shared eLoran system, the Board relies heavily on its two service ships, NLV Pharos and NLV Pole Star for maintenance and supply.  

Skilled technicians are also based in Edinburgh, Oban, Inverness, Orkney and Shetland to carry out maintenance and provide rapid response to ensure the lights meet the stringent international performance standards for the safety of navigation around the Scottish and Isle of Man coasts.   

Access to some of the more remote lights, such as the magnificent Skerryvore, which is a pillar rock lighthouse marking a very extensive and treacherous reef of rocks some 11 miles south west of Tiree, is only feasible by helicopter at certain weather and tidal windows which makes the work of the organisation even more challenging.  

Following hot on the heels of the recent publicity, the seventh International Lighthouse Weekend (16-17 August) intends to raise the profile of lighthouses, light vessels and other navigational aids, featuring an amateur radio event with over 350 lights in 50 countries getting onto the airwaves to foster international relations. For further information visit http://www.alk.org.uk.