The lighthouse was built in 1910 by David Stevenson, a cousin of the famous writer, Robert Louis Stevenson. The Stevenson family were famous UK lighthouse builders: In fact, had Robert not suffered ill health as a child he too would have gone into the family firm of engineers! The keepers house was built at the same time as the light tower and originally was built as three flats to house the three full time keepers and their families. A fourth, occaisional keeper, slept in a small bothy just outside the walls when he was on duty. The Lighthouse was designated a shore station for the first 50 years and saw many families live there. Until 1960 there was no road to the lighthouse and the only access, apart from on foot, was by sea. The little jetty was where boats offloaded their cargo to the lighthouse and provided little shelter from the north winds. Many of the keepers wives chose to walk the three miles of rough track to the next village fairly often to keep in touch with neighbours and friends. In 1962 a road was built to the lighthouse and the house was upgraded to provide indoor plumbing and toilets for the first time! It was also in 1962 the station designation was changed and Rua Reidh became a rock station which meant keepers did a duty of one month on and one month off with the wives and families living elsewhere. Rua Reidh was manned in this way until 1986 when the light was automated and the Keepers house sold off to a private buyer.

This private buyer was a friend of Fran’s, my business partner, and he left the house empty for 3 years after buying it until suggesting to Fran and I that we rent it from him. During the three years it was empty the weather had taken its toll and when Fran and I went to look at the property for the first time the roof was leaking and the house in a poor state of repair. However, before we had actually got to the house we had decided to take it on just from the fantastic views as we drove along the clifftop access road! We moved in one very cold day in Novemeber 1989 and set about repairing, renovating and re-decorating the eight bedrooms, two sitting rooms etc etc. 10 years later and the house is warm, dry, comfortable and homely although we are always keen to tell prospective guests, it is not a Hotel!

The wider area of Wester Ross houses a fragile community. Until 1960 population was dropping each year. The area is on the fringe or Europe with land which is only good for sheep and weather which is often harsh. Although tourism has helped provide a new wealth to the area, the population is still not up to the levels of the 18Century and villages are few and far between. The area is further north than the main tourism areas of the Highlands and the wealth and future of the people still marginal.

Rua Reidh lighthouse employs five local people as well as Chris and Fran who work full time ; Paul who helps Chris guide the walking, Angela, his partner who is originally from Germany and is a great cook, Dianne who also helps with the cooking and two summer girls who keep the house clean.

Both Fran and I are keen to improve the environmental awareness of the people of NW Scotland. The business has recently achieved a ‘Silver Award’ in the Scottish Tourist Boards ‘Green Tourism scheme’ and we are working towards the Gold award. We live in a fantastic area with good clean air, little pollution and unspoilt country side but we must work hard to keep it this way.