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Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse

Fl White 3s🇬🇧City of Edinburgh, GBOperational

Location & Light Range

About Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse

The Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse is a cylindrical, octagonal fiberglass tower, painted white, standing 10 meters tall with a focal height of 22 meters. Built in 1938, it replaced an earlier navigation aid and marks the entrance to Leith Docks on the Firth of Forth. The lighthouse is situated at the end of the west breakwater, formerly in an industrial dockyard area, now adjacent to a redeveloped park. Although operational status ended in 2008, the site remains open to visitors, though the tower itself is closed. Its white light flashes once every 6 seconds.

Why it matters: This lighthouse is significant as a tangible link to Leith's maritime and industrial past, marking the entrance to its historic docks. Its endangered status highlights the challenges of preserving industrial heritage amidst urban redevelopment.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl White 3s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Interval
3s
Raw Code
Fl.W
Focal Height
22m
Geographic Range
7NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1938

Significant events: Inactive since 2008, abandoned and vandalized, area redeveloped with a park next to it

Visiting

Open to public
Site open, tower closed

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
10m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
white
Material
fiberglass

Structure: octagonal cylindrical tower rising from a 1-story building, all painted white

Location

City
City of Edinburgh
Country
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Region
Scotland
Sea Region
Located at the end of the west breakwater in Leith, Scotland, formerly part of an industrial dockyard area, now adjacent to a redeveloped park. It marks the entrance to Leith Docks on the Firth of Forth.
Latitude
55.9892°
Longitude
-3.1847°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Leith(0.3 km)
Admiralty No.
A2885.5
NGA No.
2372
ARLHS No.
SCO-120
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse at night?+
Leith West Breakwater displays the characteristic Fl White 3s. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The white color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Newhaven/Edinburgh at 0.4 NM to the S. Other ports served include Leith (0.6 NM SE), Granton (1.3 NM WSW), Edinburgh (2.4 NM SSW), Cramond (3.6 NM WSW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
What shipping routes pass near Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse?+
Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse is located within the English Channel / North Sea corridor — one of the world's busiest maritime corridors connecting the Atlantic to Northern European ports. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Leith West Breakwater Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.