Visit

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse and Visitor Centre is open for the 2024 season. Check out our opening times here.

New for 2024 - The Observatory

The newly named ‘Observatory’ space, which was formerly the café, has been created to offer a place for visitors to soak up the stunning views of the surrounding cliffs, seabird colonies, waters and marine life.  Visitors will still be able to enjoy a cuppa and a home bake whilst speaking to our experts about marine mammals, seabirds, the geology, archaeology and the history of Sumburgh Head.

Sumburgh Head is run by Shetland Amenity Trust, a small heritage charity and we rely entirely on ticket sales and donations for the upkeep of this site. 

If you're planning a visit, have a look at this whistle-stop tour of our Visitor Centre; there really is so much to see!

Access

Your Sumburgh Head ticket provides access to the indoor visitor attraction areas of the Engine Room, Smiddy, Marine Life Centre and East Radar Hut.  All outdoor areas are freely accessible at all times of year.  Visitors are reminded not to drive up to the top of the Head unless they require use of the disabled parking spaces or are dropping off visitors who are unable to make the walk up.

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve restorations were carried out in full compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and all effort has been made to ensure that access is provided wherever possible to visitors with a disabilty. The Ticket Office and Gift Shop, Engine Room, Smiddy and Stevenson Centre are level access areas.  The Marine Life Centre has a lift to take visitors between the two levels. Access is also possible to the upper part of the outdoor space via the track road behind the buildings.  Paths have been provided between the Foghorn Tower and the Radar Hut, however due to the topography of the landscape, these are stepped in places so may not be suitable for wheelchair use. 

Access to the Foghorn Tower has been improved with the addition of a spiral staircase with handrail. The Tower and the East Radar Hut are only accessible by steps.

Parking

Free public car and bus parking is available in the car park.  Spaces for disabled drivers are also provided here, with an additional two disabled spaces available next to the Lighthouse Buildings at the top of the hill.  These upper spaces are restricted to visitors who are not able to make the walk up the hill and other visitors are asked to have consideration for these drivers.  There is additional parking at the west end of the Lighthouse buildings, specifically for guests staying in the self-catering accommodation.

customer Toilets

Accessible customer toilets are provided in the Stevenson Centre building. These facilities are open during our tourist season and are checked and cleaned regularly throughout the day.