Longships Lighthouse

Longships Lighthouse stands on Carn Bras, the largest of the Longships islets, roughly 1.25 miles (2 km) west of Land’s End. The granite tower rises 35 metres above the reef and is visible from the clifftop paths around Sennen and Land’s End. It marks one of the most dangerous stretches of water on the British coast, where Atlantic swells meet tidal currents running between the mainland and the Isles of Scilly.

History

The Longships reef was a notorious hazard for centuries before any light was built here. In 1790, Trinity House commissioned John Smeaton to survey potential lighthouse sites off Land’s End. A lease was granted to Lieutenant Henry Smith, and the first tower - a circular stone structure designed by Trinity House architect Samuel Wyatt - was completed in 1795. That original lighthouse was just 24 metres tall, with 18 parabolic metal reflectors and Argand lamps arranged in two tiers. It had three storeys: water tanks and stores at the base, a living room in the middle, and a cramped bedroom beneath the lantern.

By the 1860s the original tower was considered too small and too low. In 1869, Trinity House began building its replacement to the designs of Sir James Douglass (Engineer-in-Chief) with his son William Douglass as resident engineer. Construction reused equipment from the recently completed Wolf Rock Lighthouse, 8 miles to the south. The new tower was first lit on 31 December 1873, standing 117 feet (35.6 m) tall with walls of dovetailed granite blocks. It was equipped with a first-order catadioptric optic built by Chance Brothers of Birmingham.

How the Lighthouse Works Today

Longships was automated in 1988 when the last keepers were withdrawn. The light was converted to solar power in 2005 and is now monitored remotely from Trinity House’s Planning Centre in Harwich, Essex. It flashes a white light twice every 10 seconds, visible for approximately 15 nautical miles. A foghorn sounds during poor visibility.

The lighthouse is Grade II listed and remains an active aid to navigation, guiding vessels through the passage between Land’s End and the Longships reef.

How to See Longships Lighthouse

There is no public access to the lighthouse itself - it sits on a wave-swept reef that can only be approached by boat in calm conditions. The best vantage points are:

• Land’s End clifftops - the lighthouse is clearly visible from the Land’s End complex and the coast path on either side. Binoculars or a telephoto lens will pick out the tower in detail. Distance from the main viewpoint is roughly 1.25 miles.
• Sennen Cove - walking the coast path south from Sennen towards Land’s End, the lighthouse comes into view as you round the headland. The 1.5-mile walk takes about 40 minutes.
• Boat trips - several operators run wildlife and sightseeing trips from Sennen Cove that pass close to the reef, weather permitting. These also offer views of the Armed Knight sea stack and grey seals on the outer rocks.

Other Lighthouses Nearby

The stretch of coast around Land’s End has the highest concentration of lighthouses in Cornwall. Within a few miles of Longships, you can spot Wolf Rock Lighthouse (8 miles south-west, visible on clear days), Pendeen Lighthouse (8 miles north-east, open to visitors on guided tours), and Tater Du Lighthouse (4 miles east along the coast path, built in 1965 after the wreck of the Spanish vessel Juan Ferrer).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit Longships Lighthouse? No. Longships is on an exposed reef with no landing facilities for the public. Trinity House occasionally allows access for maintenance and filming, but there are no scheduled visitor trips. The best way to see it is from the Land’s End clifftops or on a boat trip from Sennen Cove.

Who built Longships Lighthouse? The current tower was designed by Sir James Douglass and built between 1869 and 1873. An earlier lighthouse on the same reef was completed in 1795 to a design by Samuel Wyatt.

Is Longships Lighthouse still active? Yes. It was automated in 1988 and converted to solar power in 2005. The light flashes twice every 10 seconds and is monitored remotely by Trinity House from Harwich.

How tall is Longships Lighthouse? The tower stands 35.6 metres (117 feet) from base to lantern, making it clearly visible from the mainland at Land’s End.

What is the difference between Longships and Wolf Rock? Both are offshore lighthouses near Land’s End, but Wolf Rock sits 8 miles further out to sea on a submerged reef. Wolf Rock was also designed by James Douglass and completed in 1870, 3 years before Longships. Both are automated and solar-powered.