Standing at the tip of the Chanonry Ness, this lighthouse was first lit in 1846. It was designed by Alan Stevenson, a member of the legendary “Northern Lighthouse” family. Alan was the uncle of Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island, and the family’s influence can be seen in the elegant, curved stonework of the tower. The lighthouse was built to guide ships through the narrow entrance of the inner Moray Firth, a passage that is notoriously difficult due to shifting sandbanks and powerful tides.

The site is steeped in a dark and tragic legend involving Kenneth MacKenzie, better known as The Brahan Seer. In the 17th century, the Seer predicted that the line of the Seaforth MacKenzies would end in tragedy. Outraged by his prophecies, the Countess of Seaforth had him executed right here at Chanonry Point. Legend says he was pushed into a spiked tar barrel and set on fire. A commemorative stone marks the spot where Scotland’s most famous “prophet” met his end.

While the lighthouse is the historical landmark, the modern draw is the Bottlenose Dolphins. Chanonry Point is widely considered the best place in Europe to see dolphins from the shore. This is due to a deep underwater trench just off the point. As the tide comes in, salmon are funneled through this narrow channel, and the dolphins wait in the shallows to hunt them. It is not uncommon to see these massive animals breaching just a few meters from the beach.

The lighthouse has been fully automated since 1984, meaning no lightkeeper lives there today, but the light remains a vital aid to navigation. The structure stands 13 metres high and flashes a white light every six seconds that can be seen for 15 nautical miles. Despite the automation, the tower remains perfectly preserved and stands as a guardian over the Moray Firth, watching over both the naval vessels heading to Fort George and the pleasure boats chasing the dolphins.