Golden Light at Kildonan – Pladda Lighthouse and Arran’s Southern Edge
There’s something timeless about standing on the shoreline at Kildonan, gazing out towards the low, flat shape of Pladda Island with its solitary lighthouse rising defiantly against the sky. These photographs were taken on one of those still evenings when the light wraps the land in a soft, golden glow, and the landscape feels suspended between earth and sea, day and night.
The top image captures Pladda Lighthouse in all its quiet dignity. The structure has stood sentinel since 1790, guiding vessels through the Firth of Clyde with its distinctive twin lights—a rarity among Scottish lighthouses. I was struck by how the last rays of daylight lit the grassy top of the island, casting warm tones across its rocky base and enhancing the lighthouse’s stark white outline. Above it, a lone pink-tinged cloud drifted across a deepening sky—a moment of calm that seemed to echo the isolation and purpose of the lighthouse itself.
The lower two photographs explore the wider surroundings of Kildonan. To the left, the sun begins to drop behind the southern slopes of Arran, bathing the hills in rich coppery tones. The cloud above the headland was dense and dramatic, adding contrast to the otherwise soft palette. It was a scene of contrasts—light and dark, warmth and cold, land and sea—all balanced in that fleeting time just before dusk.
To the right, the shoreline stretches away toward the cliffs beyond, the tide retreating to reveal bands of seaweed and stone. The scene is raw and rugged, the rocks slick with seawater and the last of the light skimming the cliff edges. There’s a peaceful solitude here—nothing hurried, nothing forced—just the slow rhythm of the coast and the ever-changing sky.
Kildonan remains one of my favourite places on Arran for evening photography. It’s never crowded, and the views across to Pladda and Ailsa Craig beyond are endlessly captivating. Whether it’s the lighthouse drawing your eye or the rich textures of shoreline and hillside, there’s a quiet grandeur to this part of the island that never fails to inspire.
These images were made with my Nikon Z9, which handled the low, shifting light with ease. What really mattered, though, was simply being there—watching the last of the day unfold with camera in hand, listening to the hush of the sea, and taking time to appreciate the beauty of this special corner of Arran.
