Construction masonry tower Admiralty number A4326 Opened 1790 Focal height 40 m Year first constructed 1790 | Characteristic Fl (3) W 30s. Height 29 m Range 31,484 m Automated 1990 | |
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Location PladdaFirth of ClydeScotland Tower shape cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern Markings / pattern white tower, black lantern, ochre trim Similar Ailsa Craig Lighthouse, Ushenish Lighthouse, Hyskeir Lighthouse, Barra Head Lighthouse, Cantick Head Lighthouse | ||
A kayak trip to the isle of pladda lighthouse arran
Pladda Lighthouse is an active 18th century lighthouse situated at the southern end of the island of Pladda. The lighthouse dates from 1790 and was designed by Thomas Smith. It was the first light on the Clyde to be commissioned by the Commissioners of the Northern Lights. It had both an upper and a lower light to distinguish it from the three other lighthouses in the Firth of Clyde. In 1876 Pladda was about the third station to have a foghorn. The 'double lights' were replaced by a powerful flashing system in 1901. Lightkeepers were withdrawn in 1990 when the lighthouse was automated; it is now remotely monitored from the Northern Lighthouse Boards Headquarters in Edinburgh.
The lighthouse tower is 95 feet (29 m) in height; there are 128 steps to the top. Under normal conditions, its light (3 white flashes every 30 seconds) is visible for 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi).
Pladda and its lighthouse feature extensively in Peter Hill's book Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper.