lighthouses
LIGHTHOUSES
why bag lighthouses?
Lighthouse bagging, or pharology, will take you some of the most dramatic locations on Scotland's coastlines, islands and seas. Many of the structures are physically impressive in their own right with great stories regarding their construction, operation and in many cases their life beyond use as navigational aids. There are many debates to be had over what the definition of a 'lighthouse' might be but few can argue around the striking sight of these structures within our landscapes.
HOW DO I BAG A LIGHTHOUSE?
How you choose to 'bag' an item is entirely up to you but there are some helpful suggestions;
You are extremely unlikely to be able to enter all of the lighthouses with many being in private possession or still operating via the NLB (Northern Lighthouse Board). Some hardcore pharologists might insist you make physical contact with the structure, but with some being in remote and difficult to access locations, and with access being further limited by weather and tidal conditions we would suggest that simply making a 'visual sighting' in person is sufficient to have understood the nature of each structure and it's relationship to it's surrounding geography.
WHAT DEFINES THE LISTS?
Any list of lighthouses is likely to be defined by the following characteristics;
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Purpose of Structure; was it originally designed for use as a lighthouse?
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Status of Light; active / decommissioned / etc
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Location; mainland / island / rock / etc
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Dimensions of Structure; height / girth
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Internal Space; Is there internal space / how large is it / what is it's purpose?
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Engineer; structures designed by notable engineers
THE BAGGIST LIGHTHOUSE list
notes on the lists
Any list of lighthouses is likely to be defined by the following characteristics;
-
Purpose of Structure; was it originally designed for use as a lighthouse?
-
Status of Light; active / decommissioned / etc
-
Location; mainland / island / rock / etc
-
Dimensions of Structure; height / girth
-
Internal Space; Is there internal space / how large is it / what is it's purpose?
-
Engineer; structures designed by notable engineers
references
UK Lighthouse Tour – The single best blog we have read for lighthouse baggers. Charting the progress of Sarah Kerr and her mission to visit every lighthouse in the UK. Sarah is also the author of a soon to be published book on UK lighthouses. Sarah puts our efforts at lighthouse bagging to shame.
Northern Lighthouse Board – The official site of the operator for Scotland (and the Isle of Man's) most impressive lighthouses.
Online List of Lights – A very comprehensive catalogue of lighthouses around the world.
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More coming...