Instow Rear Lighthouse

Instow Rear Lighthouse stands on the east bank of the Taw-Torridge estuary in north Devon, beside the quiet village of Instow. The estuary mouth opens to Bideford Bay, and the rivers carry ball clay from local pits. A pair of leading lights has guided ships here since 1820, first at Braunton Burrows and then at Instow after 1957. The rear light now rises on a steel lattice tower, while the front light stands lower on the foreshore. Trinity House keeps both lights operational and maintained. The lights are worth the journey for anyone interested in maritime history and simple engineering. Joseph Nelson designed the original pair in 1820, and the move to Instow shows how technology adapted to shifting sands. The 1990 storm destroyed the wooden front tower, proving how exposed the site remains. Trinity House’s care keeps the lights reliable for vessels entering the estuary every day. The nearby railway signal box, also Grade II listed, tells another part of the story. Visitors find the rear tower standing beside the South West Coast Path and Tarka Trail. From the top platform there are wide views upriver to Bideford and down to the Bristol Channel. The beach below reveals sandbanks that calm the water, making the estuary popular for small boats and watersports. Rare orchids grow in the dunes, and the 14th-century Church of St John the Baptist overlooks the scene from higher ground. The contrast between the working light and the peaceful village shows Instow’s quiet charm.