Wolf Rock
Granite lighthouse 8 miles off Land's End, automated since 1988
Wolf Rock is a partially submerged reef 8 miles south-west of Land’s End in west Cornwall, marked by a 41-metre granite lighthouse built in 1870 and automated in 1988. The reef is one of the most exposed offshore lighthouse positions in England. The surrounding waters are known for grey seals, basking sharks and ocean sunfish, and the area is popular with experienced divers exploring nearby wrecks.
The lighthouse stands 41 metres tall and was automated in 1988, ending over a century of manned operation in one of the most exposed positions of any lighthouse in England. The seas around Wolf Rock are notoriously rough, and the reef has claimed numerous ships over the centuries. Today the waters around the rock are known for their marine wildlife, including grey seals, basking sharks and ocean sunfish, and the area is popular with experienced divers exploring the reef and nearby wrecks.
Wolf Rock isn’t somewhere you visit on foot - it’s a landmark best seen from boat trips out of Penzance or Sennen, or from the cliffs near Land’s End on a clear day. But it’s a powerful reminder of the dangers that the Cornish coast has always posed to mariners, and the extraordinary lengths people went to in order to make these waters safer.
Things to Do in Wolf Rock
Attractions, activities, and experiences.
