Holborn Head facts for kids
Holborn Head is a cool piece of land that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean on the northern coast of Caithness, Scotland. It's like a big nose on the map! The name Holborn might come from an old Norse word meaning hillfort. Long ago, a famous mapmaker named Ptolemy might have called this spot Tarvedunum promotorium. At the very tip of Holborn Head, you can still see what's left of an old promontory fort. This was a type of fort built on a high piece of land, often with cliffs, to make it harder for enemies to attack.
Exploring Holborn Head
You can take a walk around Holborn Head. There's a gate near the Principal Keeper's House that leads to paths. These paths have special steps and small bridges to help you get around. This lets you explore the part of the headland that isn't fenced off. From here, you can see amazing views! You can look across the water to Dunnet Head and even spot the Orkney Islands in the distance.
Holburn Head Lighthouse
Near Holborn Head, you'll find the Holburn Head Lighthouse. It's interesting because its name is spelled a little differently – 'Holburn' instead of 'Holborn'. This lighthouse is about one kilometer (half a mile) south of the main headland. It sits close to Scrabster Harbour on the western side of Thurso Bay.
Lighthouse Design and History
The famous engineers David Stevenson and Thomas Stevenson designed and built this lighthouse. It was finished in 1862. What makes Holburn Head Lighthouse special is that its light tower is actually part of the keepers' house. Most lighthouses in Scotland have a separate tower and house. Here, the keepers lived right inside the same building as the light!
The building had two homes for the lightkeepers and the tower all connected. There was also a separate house for the Principal Keeper. The lighthouse helped guide ships safely for many years. However, the light was turned off and stopped working in 2003.
