Sumburgh Head Lighthouse Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve will open for the 2017 season this weekend with a customary blast of the restored Foghorn.
The Visitor Centre facilities at Sumburgh Head will open at 11.00am on Saturday 1st April and will then be open daily until end September, to 5.30pm each day. The Stevenson Centre ‘tearoom’ will again be open this year from 11.00am to 4.30pm daily, except Wednesdays when the building will be used for educational events.
The Foghorn will be sounded at 12.00noon on Saturday by Brian Johnson, the Lighthouse Engineer who carried out the restoration work to bring the impressive sound back to life. The power behind the horn is generated by the 3 K-series Diesel Kelvin engines in the Engine Room which generate the 25psi of pressure required to make the powerful sound.
The Foghorn was restored during the renovation of the site in 2013/14 and received an Engineering Heritage Award from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, as it is the last remaining example of this Foghorn known in the UK.
Ticket prices for the visitor centre remain the same as last year and give entry to the Engine Room, Smiddy, Marine Life Centre and Radar Hut displays. Visitor entry fee: £6 adult, £2 child, £12.50 family, £4 concession.
A selection of coffee, speciality teas and locally baked cakes will be available in the Stevenson Centre.