This weekend (Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of August) the RSPB in collaboration with the Mull of Galloway Trust will be celebrating the International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend. There is a programme of events and talks on offer, taking place in the RSPB Visitor Centre. These are free of charge and booking is not necessary however due to limited spaces, please arrive early.
The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse will be open to the public from 10am until 4pm. They participate in the Association of Lighthouse Keepers Passport Scheme and passports can be purchased from the exhibition and stamped as a record of your visit.
History Chat
Saturday 15th August from 1pm until 2.30pm
John Ross CBE FRAgS, Commissioner of Northern Lighthouse Board chatting with two former lighthouse keepers about their life and work as keepers at various lighthouses throughout Scotland and the Isle of Man.
You are invited along to join in with the chat and listen as the keepers tell us about their work including the maintenance of the light and keeping the light and reflectors clean. There will be many other stories to tell including the running aground in 1982 of the Craigantlet container ship at Killantringan Lighthouse, a wild swim around Bell Rock Lighthouse and the rodent problem on Ailsa Craig.
Sunday 16th August from 11am until 12 noon
Julia MacDonald, a local historian, will be joining us with the story of the U-Boat Alley in the Irish Sea off the coast of Wigtownshire. Julia will discuss details of the ships lost, the U-boats and the men – as well as details of the regular sailings between Stranraer and Larne during the First World War.
Sunday 16th August from 1pm to 2pm
Join John Ross CBE FRAgS, Commissioner of Northern Lighthouse Board for a presentation about the history and the role of the Northern Lighthouse Board. The Northern Lighthouse Board is the General Lighthouse Authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man.
Sunday 16th August from 2.30 to 3.30pm
David R. Collin, DA(Edin), FSA Scot will tell us about the lives of the keepers and their families on Ross Island, near Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway. The talk will draw attention to the quiet and peaceful times enjoyed there by almost all of them but also, inevitably, describe the tragic murder that occurred there in 1960. The story will also cover the island post-automation.
Look out for pirates, scallywags, salty sea dogs and high seas buccaneers in Gallie Craig coffee house. There will be swashbuckling fun with the cap’n and quarter master and hearty pirate lunch boxes. Try your luck with the pirate treasure chest lucky dip for booty and riches with all the loot being donated to Drummore Primary school.
There will be guided walks on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August at 1pm with RSPB. Meet at the RSPB Visitor Centre at 1pm. The charge is £3 for adults, under 16’s are free and RSPB members half price.