A Lighthouse Home With Connections To Treasure Island Author

Ever romanticised a quiet life as a lighthouse keeper? Now you can man – or rather pretend to – your very own lighthouse in this Shetland Islands home. 

This Lighthouse Home Is A Safe Harbor From The Storm

Living in a lighthouse sounds like a strange adventure straight out of a storybook – the sort of book that you could imagine being penned by Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson (though hopefully with more of Treasure Island’s adventure and less of the blood-sucking creatures of his Dracula). Where better to dream of buccaneers and buried gold than in your very own coastal tower cut off from the world?

Sitting on a rocky outcrop in the Shetland Islands, Bressay Lighthouse was built in 1858 by lighthouse engineers David and Thomas Stevenson – the father and brother of Robert Louis Steveson. Constructed of stone, the lighthouse features a cylindrical white tower with a black lantern and ochre trim. 

If the prospect sounds claustrophobic – or you’re having horrific flashbacks to the Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe film of the same name – besides the central tower, the keeper’s building includes an engine room, a living room, kitchen, toilet, shower and three display rooms. The property also boasts two adjoining semi-detached cottages, East and West, each with their own entrance halls, living rooms and adjoining kitchens, three bedrooms, bathrooms and shared laundry room. The keeper’s building has previously been adapted to support the Bressay Lighthouse Artists’ Residency scheme which offers accommodation and studio space to visiting artists looking to get lost in the natural solitude of the island. Meanwhile, the East and West cottages have been used as holiday lets in the past. 

Do You Need To Be A Lighthouse Keeper?

With the light made automated in 1987, the lighthouse is no longer staffed and you will not be required to spend your nights flashing the beacon to approaching ships. Though no longer active, however, the lighthouse remains an important symbol of Shetland’s maritime history.

‘This has to be one of the most unusual sales I’ve ever been involved in!’ says Iona Lamont from Savills. ‘Rich in seafaring heritage and in an extraordinary location, what an incredible opportunity for an adventurous and imaginative buyer to create something amazing.’

The Surroundings

Known for their rugged landscapes, expansive coastlines and rich biodiversity, the Shetland Islands include wildlife such as puffins, fulmars, seals, orcas and native species like the Shetland pony. Alongside nature reserves, such as the nearby Noss National Reserve, the remote setting offers coastal walks and access to historical sites. From Iron Age brochs (a unique type of drystone tower found almost exclusively in northern Scotland) to Viking settlements, the local environs are rich in culture. The local population of around 23,000 maintains strong ties to the land and sea through industries such as fishing, farming, renewable energy, and aquaculture.

Where Is It? (And How Do I Get There?)

Located at Kirkabister Ness, on the southwestern tip of the island of Bressay, the lighthouse was built to safely guide vessels through Bressay Sound, the sheltered channel separating Bressay from Lerwick. The island is easily accessible via a seven-minute ferry crossing from Lerwick, making it one of the most conveniently reached of Shetland’s outlying islands.

If you’re worried about being stranded in the middle of nowhere, the area is accessible by both air and sea. Direct flights operate year-round from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness, arriving at Sumburgh Airport, located at the southern end of Mainland. NorthLink Ferries also run a daily overnight service from Aberdeen to Lerwick. The crossing takes approximately 12–14 hours and includes options for cabins, lounges, and vehicle transport.

How To Buy

Bressay Lighthouse and adjoining cottages is on the market for £350,000. Find out more at savills.com