Lighthouses in Scotland have been in existance in some form or another since way back in 1635. In this year on the Isle of May a light beacon was lit and this was nothing more than a naked flame.

In 1786, Kinnaird Head Castle was purchased from the Fraser Family and was to become the first lighthouse on mainland Scotland. The lantern was made in Edinburgh and shipped to Fraserburgh and erected in the top of the Tower at Kinnaird Head Castle. The lantern was lit in 1787 on the 1st of December.

The Northern Lighthouse Trust was formed in 1782 after fierce storms that led to shipping losses. The Scottish coastline needed to be illuminated. It was decided that Kinnaird Head near Fraserburgh, Mull of Kintyre, Point of Scalpay and North Ronaldsay was to be where these lights were to be.

The trust is now known as the Northern Lighthouse Board today.