Description
Round Island Lighthouse, perched atop a rugged granite islet north of St. Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, has guided mariners through the treacherous Atlantic since 1887. Designed by William Tregarthen Douglass, the 19-meter-high white granite tower stands 55 metres above sea level and emits a white flash every 10 seconds, visible up to 18 nautical miles. Built in a remote, wave-battered location with supplies once hoisted by aerial ropeway, the lighthouse was electrified in 1966, automated in 1987, and is now remotely managed by Trinity House. With its dramatic ocean setting and status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, access is restricted to protect its delicate ecology—making it not just a critical maritime beacon, but also a striking monument to human resilience and natural preservation.