Mull of Galloway
Encyclopedia
The Mull of Galloway is the southernmost point
of Scotland
. It is situated in Wigtownshire
, Dumfries and Galloway
.
A lighthouse
is positioned at the point 54°38′06.30"N 04°51′22.81"W. Built in 1830 by engineer Robert Stevenson
, the white-painted round tower is 26 metres (85.3 ft) high. The light is 99 metres (324.8 ft) above sea level and has a range of 28 nautical miles (51.9 km).
During World War 2, a French member of the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), Cladius Echallier, died by striking the Lighthouse in a Beaufighter, while making a low landfall from the Irish Sea.
The Mull has one of the last remaining sections of natural coastal habitat on the Galloway coast and as such supports a wide variety of plant and animal species. It is now a nature reserve
managed by the RSPB. Mull
means rounded hill or mountain.
The lighthouse
is now automatic, and an old outhouse
has been converted into a visitor centre, run by the South Rhins Community Development Trust
(a group of local people and businesses). In the summer, the lighthouse is open by the Trust every weekend between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm; an additional day, Monday, is added to these opening times during July and August. There is a minimal charge for entry. In 2004 a new café was built at the Mull of Galloway, called the "Gallie Craig". Its design incorporates into the landscape with a turf roof, giving views across to Ireland
and South to the Isle of Man
.
Extreme points of the United Kingdom
This is a list of the extreme points of the United Kingdom: the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location. Traditionally the extent of the island of Great Britain has stretched "from Land's End to John o' Groats" .This article does not include references to the...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is situated in Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire
Wigtownshire or the County of Wigtown is a registration county in the Southern Uplands of south west Scotland. Until 1975, the county was one of the administrative counties used for local government purposes, and is now administered as part of the council area of Dumfries and Galloway...
, Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
is positioned at the point 54°38′06.30"N 04°51′22.81"W. Built in 1830 by engineer Robert Stevenson
Robert Stevenson (civil engineer)
Robert Stevenson FRSE MInstCE FSAS MWS FGS FRAS FSA was a Scottish civil engineer and famed designer and builder of lighthouses.One of his finest achievements was the construction of the Bell Rock Lighthouse.-Early life:...
, the white-painted round tower is 26 metres (85.3 ft) high. The light is 99 metres (324.8 ft) above sea level and has a range of 28 nautical miles (51.9 km).
During World War 2, a French member of the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), Cladius Echallier, died by striking the Lighthouse in a Beaufighter, while making a low landfall from the Irish Sea.
The Mull has one of the last remaining sections of natural coastal habitat on the Galloway coast and as such supports a wide variety of plant and animal species. It is now a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
managed by the RSPB. Mull
Mull (geographical term)
Mull is an Anglicization of the Gaelic Maol, a term for a rounded hill, summit, or mountain, bare of trees . As an adjective, the word is used to indicate something which is bare, dull, or bald...
means rounded hill or mountain.
The lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
is now automatic, and an old outhouse
Outhouse
An outhouse is a small structure separate from a main building which often contained a simple toilet and may possibly also be used for housing animals and storage.- Terminology :...
has been converted into a visitor centre, run by the South Rhins Community Development Trust
South Rhins Community Development Trust
The South Rhins Community Development Trust is a local enterprise hroup based in the South Rhins, and area within Wigtownshire. The group is based in the village hall of Stoneykirk.The aims of the Trust are:...
(a group of local people and businesses). In the summer, the lighthouse is open by the Trust every weekend between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm; an additional day, Monday, is added to these opening times during July and August. There is a minimal charge for entry. In 2004 a new café was built at the Mull of Galloway, called the "Gallie Craig". Its design incorporates into the landscape with a turf roof, giving views across to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and South to the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
.
External links
- Area website
- Webcam of the views from the lighthouse
- http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/guide/5,en,SCH1/objectId,SIG49689Svs,curr,GBP,season,at1,selectedEntry,home/home.htmlProfile on VisitScotlandVisitScotlandVisitScotland is Scotland's national tourism agency. It is a public body, with offices in Edinburgh, Inverness, London as well as other parts of Scotland...
website]