Lady's Rock facts for kids
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Lady's Rock with Isle of Mull in the background. | |
Location | Lady's Rock Argyll and Bute Scotland United Kingdom |
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Coordinates | 56°26′55″N 5°37′02″W / 56.448515°N 5.617230°W |
Year first constructed | 1907 (first) |
Year first lit | 2001 (current) |
Automated | 2001 |
Construction | lower stone tower and upper skeletal tower covered by aluminium panels with light on the top |
Tower shape | square frustum tower |
Markings / pattern | white tower, red aluminium panels on the top |
Height | 12 m (39 ft) |
Focal height | 12 m (39 ft) |
Range | 5 nmi (9 km) |
Characteristic | Fl W 6 s |
Admiralty number | A4172 |
NGA number | 4068 |
ARLHS number | SCO-118 |
Lady's Rock is a small, uninhabited rocky island. It is also known as a skerry. You can find it southwest of Lismore in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.
This rock is often covered by water when the tide is high. It has a special light on it. This light helps boats find their way safely. Another small island, Eilean Musdile, is located to the northeast, close to Lismore.
The Story of Lady's Rock
Lady's Rock is famous for an old story from 1527. It involves a man named Lachlan Maclean of Duart. He had a big disagreement with his wife, Lady Catherine Campbell. She was the sister of Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll.
One night, Lachlan Maclean took his wife to the rock when the tide was low. He left her there, hoping she would not survive. The next day, he looked from Duart Castle. He thought the rock was empty.
Maclean then sent a message to Lady Catherine's brother, the Earl of Argyll. He said he would bring his wife's body for burial. Maclean arrived at Inveraray Castle with his men and a coffin.
He was taken to the dining hall for food. To his great surprise, Lady Catherine was waiting for him! She had been rescued during the night. A boat from Tayvallich (or possibly Lismore) had passed by the rock and saved her.
No one spoke about what had happened during the meal. Maclean was allowed to leave. However, he later faced serious trouble for his actions. He was killed in Edinburgh by Sir John Campbell of Calder. Sir John was Lady Catherine's brother.