If you enjoy your own company and are looking for an interesting career change, there’s a job going on the Isle of Skye that could be perfect for you. But you’ll have to be quick, as applications close on January 20.
The role involves taking care of several lighthouses at the iconic Neist Point on Skye, Ornsay – a small tidal island to the east of Skye, and Rubha Reidh – near Gairloch on the mainland.
Christine Barrett, the current holder of the position, is set to retire after taking care of the lighthouses for 20 years. While there may be a lot of stairs to climb, Barrett promises that the views from the top are “spectacular”.
Posts for this unique job are extremely rare, as most retained lighthouse keepers (RLKs) serve for at least 10 or 20 years, and some work the role for as long as five decades, according to The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB). The successful candidate will be required to visit Neist Point and Rubha Reidh once a month and Ornsay every three months.
Each visit takes around a typical working day (eight hours) in order to carry out the necessary inspections and maintenance, including lens cleaning and reporting any damage. “It’s really just to check everything is in order, check the readings and keep things oiled,” Ms Barrett said.
The job advert said lighthouse keepers are also sometimes asked to accompany visitors to the sites. At Neist Point, Ms Barrett said she regularly met tourists visiting the popular location. “It’s an incredible sight,” she said. “I would say the attraction is similar to the number of people who go to the Fairy Pools.”
Despite the gorgeous views, the soon-to-retire lighthouse keeper warned that the 1.4-mile walk to the sites is challenging and takes about 40 minutes. She explained that the hilly path could be difficult for some.
The tallest of the three lighthouses for this job is Rubha Reidh, at 25m high and with 87 steps. “The job needs someone who is relatively fit and is happy to do that walk to Neist Point once a month,” Ms Barrett said.
Barrett explained that tourists she came across during her time had included lighthouse fanatics from around the globe. “You frequently meet people who have been to all sorts of different lighthouses and people who collect them,” she said. “And sometimes you get relatives or friends of keepers who were there.
“There’s also an Association of Lighthouse Keepers. They are definitely fanatics and go on a tour every year going round lighthouses, so I’ve had them visit.”
With a 140-mile journey between the three lighthouses, the NLB said an ideal candidate would live locally to the sites. While many of us imagine a lighthouse keeper living in the tower itself, the job only requires visiting the locations for inspections.
Asked how she went about getting the job two decades ago, Ms Barrett said: “I happened to walk past the technician at Rubha Reidh one day who said ‘why haven’t you applied for the job?’ And that was it.”
A spokesperson from NLB said about the ideal type for the post: “There isn’t a specific type and it really varies. We have people who are retired, employed, self-employed – former keepers, fishermen, outward-bound activity instructors, engineers, nurses, plasterers and former NLB technicians and contractors.
“It’s useful if the person has a technical background, but not essential. RLKs are our eyes and ears and the first line of defence should there be an issue, which they will report/escalate as necessary.”
NLB employs 18 RLKs. Depending on the location, the board can receive 60 applications for jobs that come up, but it can vary. The job will be part-time, around 200 hours for the year, with a starting salary of £2,797. Applications close on January 20.
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