Rattray Head
{{Short description|Headland in eastern Scotland, with a lighthouse}}
{{for|the village|Rattray, Aberdeenshire}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
File:The Hassy, Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire.jpg
Rattray Head ({{Audio|Rattray Head.ogg|listen}}),{{Cite web |url=http://www.scots-online.org/dictionary/read.asp?letter=R&CurPage=33 |title=The Online Scots Dictionary |access-date=9 March 2013 |archive-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021002528/http://www.scots-online.org/dictionary/read.asp?letter=R&CurPage=33 |url-status=dead }} historically Rattray Point, is a headland in Buchan, Aberdeenshire, on the north-east coast Scotland. To north lies Strathbeg Bay and Rattray Bay is to its south. The dunes at Rattray Head beach can be up to {{convert|75|ft|0}} high and stretch {{convert|17|mi|km}} from St Combs to Peterhead.{{cite web|url=http://www.world66.com/europe/unitedkingdom/scotland/rattray_head|title=Rattray Head Travel Guide|publisher=World 66|access-date=2007-07-06}}{{cite book|title=The Bard O' Buchan Vol 1'|author=Stanley Bruce|date=2005|isbn=0-9547960-2-0|publisher=Bard Books}}
Rattray Head lighthouse
{{Infobox lighthouse
| qid = Q17777585
| image = Rattray Head lighthouse, Aberdeenshire.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = Rattray Head Lighthouse
| location = Rattray Head
Buchan
Aberdeenshire
Scotland
| coordinates = {{coord|57.610123|-1.816557|display=inline}}
| yearbuilt = 1895
| automated = 1982
| foundation = granite basement
| construction = brick tower
| shape = cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern on a conical frustum basement
| marking = unpainted basement, white tower, black lantern
| height = {{convert|34|m|ft}}
| focalheight = {{convert|28|m|ft}}
| intensity = 156,000 candela
| range = {{convert|24|nmi}}
| characteristic = Fl (3) W 30s.
| fogsignal = 2 blasts every 45s.
| managingagent = Rattray Head B&B and Ratty's Tearoom {{Cite rowlett|scte|accessdate=2016-05-11}}[http://www.nlb.org.uk/LighthouseLibrary/Lighthouse/Rattray-Head/ Rattray Head] Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 11 May 2016
}}
The {{convert|120|ft|m|adj=on}} Rattray Head lighthouse was built in 1895.[http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/rattray.htm The lighthouse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102222438/http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/rattray.htm |date=2 November 2006 }}[http://www.webhistorian.co.uk/pages/index.php?id=52 Rattray Head Lighthouse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021200231/http://www.webhistorian.co.uk/pages/index.php?id=52 |date=21 October 2007 }} It was built by the engineers and brothers David Alan Stevenson and Charles Alexander Stevenson. In February 1982 it became unmanned and self-working.
The lighthouse is accessible by way of a causeway that is usually underwater and 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.
Access to the beach is by a narrow track with deep ruts, potholes and limited passing places which leads to a carpark and a short walk through the sand dunes (high ground clearance and good reversing skills required).
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Scotland|Engineering}}}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.nlb.org.uk/LighthouseLibrary/Main/ Northern Lighthouse Board]
- [http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst5735.html Rattray Head in the Gazetteer for Scotland]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080514050151/http://www.robinwilson.net/rattrayhead/rattrayhead.html Panorama of Rattray Head Lighthouse] (QuickTime required)
{{commons category|position=left|Rattray and Rattray Head}}
{{Buchan, Aberdeenshire places|state = collapsed}}
{{Lighthouses of the Northern Lighthouse Board}}
{{coord|57.61187|N|1.82425|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(NK106580)|display=title}}
{{Authority control | additional=Q17777585}}
Category:Headlands of Scotland
Category:Category B listed lighthouses
Category:Landforms of Aberdeenshire
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