Twelve people can rent this lighthouse as a self catering holiday home using the former two lighthouse keepers’ cottages.  Until the Barns Ness lighthouse was deactivated in 2005 it had guided ships since 1901 when it was built by the famous Stephenson family who were responsible for many lighthouses in Victorian times. It was staffed by two keepers until 1966  when it became electrified with a backup generator and emergency battery. Then only one keeper was required as it became semi-automated and then completely automated in 1986.   Unlike the majority of placements it must have been an easy posting as access is easy and it’s not far from the A1 and Dunbar.  It would appeal to birdwatching groups as it lies on a migratory route and there are inevitably birdwatchers with massive cameras. The sea really did look a deep blue studded with the white horse waves. High in the sky above, there were continuous sights and sounds of aircraft taking part in a large scale military multinational air exercise contrasting with sights of many seabirds on the water and rocks and the peace of the landscape.