lighthouse

Rattray Head Lighthouse at Sunrise – Coastal Photography in Aberdeenshire

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photograph of Rattray Head Lighthouse at sunrise, captured from the Aberdeenshire coast of Scotland.

Scotland’s lighthouses have long been designed to face harsh seas, but few look as striking in first light as Rattray Head Lighthouse. Built in 1895, it still stands strong off the Aberdeenshire coast.

Photographed at sunrise, the tower rises above calm water with warm light catching its surface. The scene captures the balance of engineering and isolation that defines Scotland’s coastal navigation points.

Rattray head lighthouse was constructed in 1895 and stand 120 feet (37m) tall.

This lighthouse is part of my continuing focus on maritime Scotland, documenting structures that combine function, history, and striking design.

Arbroath Harbour — Coastal and Historical Harbour Photography

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Red sandstone sea walls and calm reflections at Arbroath Harbour at sunrise, capturing historical coastal architecture.

Arbroath Harbour has carried centuries of history in its red sandstone walls, medieval origins and weather-worn docks. I’ve visited this place several times; when the sky clears and the water calms, the textures of sea, stone, and light combine in ways a single visit can’t capture.

Open wrought iron dock gate at Arbroath Harbour under dawn sky, showing wet dock heritage and structure.
Boats moored inside Arbroath Harbour with pier and sea wall at first light, reflecting maritime roots.

The harbour, medieval in origin, was improved by John Gibb in 1838-39 and extended by James Leslie in 1841-46 to include 2.4 hectares enclosed by red sandstone sea walls. The old 1725 harbour was converted into a wet dock in 1877 — the wrought iron gates remain, now kept open to the North Sea.

Today’s shoot shows weathered stone, calm reflections, the contrast between structure and water, and the soft lines of dawn light reaching the sea wall and boats. Where light hits the sandstone wall or the gates, there’s depth; in the shadows and water, quiet shapes. These images are about material, history, and stillness.

Close-up textures of stone harbour walls and weathered masonry at Arbroath Harbour, photographed in soft light.
Harbour structure reflections in still water at Arbroath Harbour at sunrise, showing symmetry and calm.

Harbours like this connect past and present, where centuries of maritime life continue in stone, wood, and tide. For more harbour and coastal photography with structure and mood, see my Places and Drone galleries.

Arbroath Coastal Walk — Weather, Harbor & Cliffs by the Sea

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Arbroath harbour wall under stormy skies, rough sea, waves breaking against stone.
RNLI station and lifeboat at Arbroath harbour, shot from coastal walk, rough weather.

Walking the coast around Arbroath often means facing the sea, sky, and whatever weather brings — and that’s exactly what this set of images shows. Storm-light, crashing surf, softened cliffs — all blending into the rugged edges of the harbour and coastline.

The image on the right makes me smile, as you can guess, I got absolutely soaked!

These photos were taken during rough weather; salt spray, wind, and sudden cloud cover influenced how each frame looked. The harbour walls stood weathered; waves broke against jetties; the cliffs loomed overhead, cliffs and textures highlighted where light managed through the cloud. Some shots show the RNLI, lifeboat station, or pilot office—places shaped by sea. Others are just of the way waves hit rock, or how boats hover between calm and chaos. It was more about mood than precision.

The coast around Arbroath always shows something new — in structure, texture, or weather. If you like rugged coastal scenes and harbour life, take a look at my Places and Travel galleries.