Royal visit to Sumburgh Head

The Princess Royal is to visit Sumburgh Head on Tuesday 3rd June – to open the newly-restored lighthouse buildings and visitor centre.

Her Royal Highness will take a tour of the new facilities, which have undergone a £5.4 million refurbishment, with representatives from Shetland Amenity Trust and the RSPB, along with Lord Lieutenant Bobby Hunter and Northern Lighthouse Board commissioners.

Following this, a private ceremony will take place to formally open the new facility. Further details of the visit will be announced late next month.

Shetland Amenity Trust is the lead partner in the development of the project. General manager, Jimmy Moncreiff, said: “We are very proud of what has been achieved with the new facilities at Sumburgh Head.

“These will significantly enhance the visitor experience and help to attract visitors to Shetland.

“To have Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal officially open the buildings is an honour, especially given her long standing dedication to, and involvement with, the Northern Lighthouse Board.”

Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve will open its doors to the public for the first time on Friday 2nd May.

The two-year renovation project has seen a transformation of the lighthouse buildings, and the addition of a new education centre in a £5.4million redevelopment.

Shetland Amenity Trust sourced 68 per cent of this sum from national and european funders.