Until 1971, the lens was a combination of shining brass and sparkling crystal revolving on beautifully made rollers. Paraffin for the lamps and lighthouse keepers’ cottages, came via ships, deposited at East Tarbet and stored in a stone building. These ships were also used to move lighthouse keepers around the coastline from post to post.

In 1971, the Lighthouse was converted to electricity and began to use a sealed-beam light, mounted on a gearless revolving pedestal. In early 2019 the Northern Lighthouse Board undertook a complete refurbishment and replaced the old light with a two-tier light of a total of 180,000 candelas. The 2 lights together make an 18 nautical mile range which is a reduction of 10 nautical miles.

The Lighthouse became automatic in 1988 and is now remotely monitored from the Northern Lighthouse Board’s headquarters in Edinburgh. The Lighthouse is open to the public in July, august, bank holidays and school holidays.