Biography

International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend 17th - 18th August 2019

SADARC (Sutherland and District ARC activated Tarbat Ness Lighthouse on HF and 2m bands
GB0TNL Digital Modes - Icom 7000 in to a G5RV 25 Watts
GB2TNL SSB and CW Modes - Yaesu FT2000 to a G5RV - 40m Vertical 100 Watts 20m - 400 Watts 40m
Maidenhead IO87CU - WAB NH98 - Lighthouse No UK0151
Please QSL via GS0IYP Sutherland & District ARC club station callsign.
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View Our profile on Eqsl :- GB0TNL EQSL Profile



Information on Tarbat Ness Lighthouse.
Location Tarbat Ness Nr Portmahomack, Highland, Scotland
Coordinates 57°51.8’N 03°46.6’W
Year first lit 1830
Automated 1985
Construction Brick
Tower shape Conical tower
Markings / pattern White with 2 red bands
Height 41m
Focal height 53m
Range 44 Km (white), 37 Km (red)
Characteristic Flash. (4) white every 30 secs

History of Tarbat Ness Lighthouse
The loss of sixteen vessels in the Moray Firth storm in November 1826 brought many applications for lights on Tarbat
Ness or Covesea Skerries, and the former was given priority as it had been named in 1814, and was regarded by the
Caledonian Canal Commissioners as important to that undertaking.

Tarbat Ness Lighthouse was engineered by Robert Stevenson and the light was first exhibited on 26 January 1830. James Smith
of Inverness was the contractor responsible for the building of the lighthouse. The lighthouse tower is the third tallest in Scotland
(North Ronaldsay and Skerryvore being taller) and bears two distinguishing broad red bands.

The navigation light was an Argand Paraffin Lamp with 4 burner until 1907 when it was changed to an incandescent pressurised
lamp with 55mm mantles. The lightroom machine in use at the present time was installed in 1892 and remained in use until the
automation in 1985. The lens and machine are now on show in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

Earthquake shocks were sometimes reported and Tarbat Ness once shook so that the shades and lamp glasses rattled.

Most of the Tarbat Ness peninsula is farmland, but it remains an attractive amenity area, and an asset of East Ross. It has geological
and ornithological significance. The geological interest lies chiefly within the foreshore stretch between Rockfield and the lighthouse,
especially east of Wilkhaven Farm. The sedimentary structures in the Upper Old Red Sandstone, intertidal weathering in calciferous rock
and deeply weathered rock are well displayed here. There are also Jurassic outliers on the shore. Oyster plants and other interesting
coastal plants occur. Tarbat Ness is the stopping-off point for migratory birds during the autumn migration. It is of special interest for
the observation of seabird passage through the Moray Firth, and Manx and Sooty shearwaters, great arctic and pomarine skuas as well
as other seabirds may be seen. There are also considerable falls of Scandinavian migrants, including redwing, meadow pipit and wheatear.

According to Highland folklore the site of the lighthouse was used as a meeting place for witches covens and prior to that it used to be a Roman Fort.


Information provided from The Northern Lighthouse Board web site www.nlb.org.uk/

Equipment

GB0TNL Digital Modes - Icom 7000 in to a G5RV 25 Watts
GB2TNL SSB and CW Modes - Yaesu FT2000 to a G5RV - 40m Vertical 100 Watts 20m - 400 Watts 40m