The Kinnaird Head lighthouse was the first to be built by the Northern Lighthouse Board in 1787. The light was added on top of an existing 16th century tower house that was built by the Fraser family, after which the town where it is located is named. The present tower was rebuilt in 1824 by the renowned lighthouse engineer Robert Stevenson.

Fraserburgh is also the location of Museum of Scottish Lighthouses. A second automated lighthouse was established on the same headland in 1991.