A tall tale?

This is the 35 metre high granite-built lighthouse that stands in the village of Boddam on the tip of the Buchan Ness Peninsula, the most north-easterly point on the British Mainland. The area around the headland of Buchan Ness has long been busy with shipping and many vessels have run aground in poor weather. Consequently, in 1819 petitions were sent to the Northern Lighthouse Board to erect a lighthouse in the vicinity. As Engineer to the board, Robert Stevenson decided upon the present location; the granite-built construction was completed in 1825 and the light established in 1827. The red band was painted in 1907 to help passing ships determine their location during daylight.

A traditional song relates how a monkey was the only survivor from one early shipwreck at Boddam. 

A ship went out along the coast,
And all the men on board were lost,
Except the monkey, who climbed the mast,
And the Boddamers hinged the monkey O!

The villagers of Boddam could not claim salvage rights as these only applied when all onboard had perished in the incident. So, being a pragmatic people, they hung the unfortunate monkey and claimed the salvage!

You can read more about the lamented Boddam monkey here!