Twelve Light Years

Two lighthouses – Stroma in the Pentland Firth and Buchan Ness off the Aberdeenshire coast – were Orkney-born Margaret Aitken’s life and home between 1954 and 1966, while her husband, Jimmy, was a lighthouse keeper. This is the story of the peculiar problems of everyday life which these strange homes threw up: shopping, cooking and keeping stores, having visitors and occupying leisure time – all acquired a new dimension. With just a handful of neighbours onStroma for comppany and a wild stretch of water separating the island from Caithness and Orkney, she and her husband became deeply interested in the natural history of their island home. She vividly recalls the abundant wildlife and flora and fauna around her and reveals much of the lore, legend and history of this now deserted island.

Reviews of Twelve Light Years

'… a revealing insight into the daily responsibilities and relationships of those make sure the warning beam never falters… captivating, extremely informative' – The Orkney View '… an essential chapter in the history of the lighthouse service' – The Orcadian 'This is a book to treasure' – The Shetland Times