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This was the third lighthouse built by the Commissioners of Northern Lights, after NJ9967 : Kinnaird Head Lighthouse, Fraserburgh and the NR5808 : Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse, and is the oldest surviving purpose-built lighthouse tower in Scotland.

The architect was Ezekiel Walker, the engineer Thomas Smith, assisted by his stepson Robert Stevenson, and the masons John White and James Sinclair. The tower is 21.3 metres tall, and cost £199 12s 6d. It was first lit on 10 October 1789.

The Beacon was short-lived; it extinguished in 1809 after the construction of other nearby lighthouses was thought to have made it redundant. This decision was reversed when the new lighthouse was built nearby.

The round stone tower was retained as a sea-mark, however, and the original beacon chamber at the top was replaced by a vaulted roof capped by a remarkable ball finial.

In 2006, it was one of the neglected buildings selected for the 'Restoration' TV series.

It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument; see Link for details.