Rattray Lighthouse – Aberdeenshire

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Written by Scott K Marshall
Rattray Point, is a headland in Buchan, Aberdeenshire, on the north-east coast of Scotland. The dunes at Rattray Head beach can be up to 75 feet (23 m) high and stretch 17 miles (27 km) from St Combs to Peterhead. The 120 feet (37 m) Lighthouse was built in 1895 by the engineering brothers Stevenson David Alan Stevenson and Charles Alexander Stevenson. In February 1982 it became unmanned and self-working.[2][3] The lighthouse is accessible by way of a causeway that is usually underwater being only visible at low tide. It is wide enough for a vehicle to cross. Remains of several shipwrecks can still be seen on the beach. (wikipedia)
Rattray Point, is a headland in Buchan, Aberdeenshire, on the north-east coast of Scotland. The dunes at Rattray Head beach can be up to 75 feet (23 m) high and stretch 17 miles (27 km) from St Combs to Peterhead. The 120 feet (37 m) Lighthouse was built in 1895 by the engineering brothers David & Charles Stevenson. In February 1982 it became unmanned and self-working. The lighthouse is accessible by way of a causeway that is usually underwater being only visible at low tide. The causeway is wide enough for a vehicle to cross. Remains of several shipwrecks can still be seen on the beach. (wikipedia)

38 Comments

  1. Magical, Scott – like it always is with your photos. The colours, light, movement, patterns…all melted together like a picture perfect. 🙂

      1. It’s a little overcooked but not impossibly so. I guess you tried highlight recovery with Lightroom or Photoshop. I wouldn’t attempt this kind of shot without ND Grads now because of the exposure headache with that pesky bright white lighthouse in the way ;- ) but, it’s still a lovely picture and the warmth of the light on the sand is gorgeous.

  7. Such lovely warm colours, Scott, though I imagine it was cool. 🙂 It makes me feel wistful. Nothing quite like a walk on the dunes, but the days are so short now.

    1. definately add the location to the to do list David – I will definately be back for a sunrise with the tide on the way out – it has a lot of promise.

  10. Oh yes! Gorgeously moody, but totally natural and believable. Funny I should see this right now as I was just saying to my daughter that I miss the coast. Her response was ‘we’re not moving’, which is true. But still…

  12. I was going to say that’s a keeper but I’m guessing you were planning on keeping it anyway! Truly wonderful shot with many elements coming together but I can’t stop looking at the lighthouse reflection.

  15. Someone once told me you have to love the subject you shoot, sublime shot Scott, great use of foreground and the golden light on both back and foreground makes it an excellent picture, liked

    1. Cheers Gunta – but hang on I haven’t caught up with the comments on my previous post. The reader is not accepting comments from me (just keeps cycling round – teasing me) we went out and checked out this location and wow we were not dissapointed. Unfortunately the sun was so powerful I overexposed the majority of shots I had taken – it doesn’t take much in digital as you know to do that (especially with white). But what a location I will be back for some stormy stuff- low tide sunrise and sunset. Inside my last month in uniform and just cant wait to get out there – I have so many ideas to pursue…

      1. Those sun kissed dunes distract the eye enough where the very slightly overblown lighthouse isn’t noticed (unless you’re looking for it). I’d say it’s definitely worth more visits in different sorts of weather. A lovely location indeed!

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