Visitor centre opens
SHETLAND’s latest tourist attraction, the refurbished Sumburgh Head Lighthouse visitor centre and nature reserve, will open its doors for an extended summer season on Wednesday.
To mark the occasion, the recently restored foghorn will sound its distinctive seven second blast every 90 seconds from 12 noon.
Opening hours and dates of the 5.4 million visitor centre have been extended this year from 11am to 5.30pm daily from 1 April to 30 September.
In addition to the usual exhibitions, tours inside the operational lighthouse tower will be available for the first time during this summer.
A spokeswoman for Shetland Amenity trust said that a range of events would be held at Sumburgh Head during the summer including talks and presentations.
There will also be talks by Chris Dyer as to mark the 75th anniversary of the Sumburgh Head radar hut thwarting the German air raid on Scapa Flow on 8 April 1940.
“Sumburgh Head staff will work alongside colleagues from RSPB Scotland to deliver informative tours on the wildlife, focussing on the puffins, fulmars, guillemots and other feathered favourites.”
The Sumburgh Head Lighthouse was designed by Robert Stevenson and built in 1821.
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