Rhinns Lighthouse Festival
Friday, 8 August-Sunday 10 August 2025
Rhinns Lighthouse Festival: A weekend of community celebration to mark the bicentenary of the Stevenson Lighthouse on Orsay, and the part it has played in the community over the past 200 years. A collaboration between the Rhinns Hall, The Friends of Portnahaven Church, Bun Othan Harbour Association and The Rhinns Playing Field.
Opening with a traditional Ceilidh at the Rhinns Hall, the weekend of events to mark the Bicentenary of the Rhinns Lighthouse includes and Exhibition, Sports Gala, Storytelling & Song, Live Music at An Tigh Seinnse and a Street Party and Island trips from Bun Othan Coastal path.
Friday, 8 August: traditional Ceilidh
Saturday. 9 August: exhibition, sports Gala and Storytelling
Sunday, 10 August: Street Party and trips to Orsay
For more information see Rhinns Lighthouse Festival on Facebook and Instagram.
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Port Wemyss
Port Wemyss was initially called Wemysshaven, named after the 8th Earl of Wemyss, father in law of Walter Frederick Campbell, the laird of Islay. The village dates from 1832 , and was designed and built to clear the people from the land and to encourage fishing. From earliest times there have been close links between Islay and Ireland. The fish caught here were cured and traded in Ireland where most of the village's goods came from. Even today many Ilich still travel to Ballycastle for the old Lammas Fair in August.
The Lighthouse
Just off shore sits the island of Orsay, on which stands the Rhinns of Islay Lighthouse. The lighthouse was designed and built by the famous Scottish engineer Robert Stevenson in 1825, and stands 29m tall. It was constructed from granite quarried on the Isle of Mull - which coincidentally is where this cache owner now lives.
Ràthas nan Lasgairean
The cache can be found via a beautiful coastal path which is very well maintained by some of the locals. The path is called Ràthas nan Lasgairean, which is Gaelic for The Path of the Fisherman. It is a great place to see (and hear) grey seals, lounging on the rocks or fishing in the harbour.
Many thanks to Christine "Lady of the Isles" for looking after this cache. :)