St. Ann's Head Lighthouse

St Ann’s Head Lighthouse stands on the promontory of St Ann’s Head, a narrow tongue of land that juts into the Milford Haven Waterway in Pembrokeshire. The haven is one of Britain’s deepest natural harbours, and the lighthouse overlooks the narrow entrance where tides surge between the mainland and the islands. Below the cliffs lie rocky shoals that have claimed many ships over the centuries, so a guiding light has been needed here for a long time. The first tower was built in 1714, and the present white-painted tower dates from 1844. Trinity House commissioned the rebuild, and John Knott, the senior keeper, oversaw its completion. The lighthouse keeps watch over Crow’s Rock and the other reefs that lie across the channel. From its lantern, 13 metres above the ground, the beam can reach as far as Skokholm Island eight kilometres to the west. The low light once shared the headland with a high light, but only the white tower remains in use today. Trinity House still operates the station, and the light continues to warn vessels away from the hazards that lie hidden beneath the waves. Visitors walk along the headland paths that lead to the lighthouse gate. The white tower rises above gorse and heather, its lantern flashing every few seconds. From the cliff edge there are wide views across the haven entrance to the open Bristol Channel beyond. On clear days Skokholm’s low silhouette can be seen on the western horizon. The wind carries the sound of waves breaking on the rocks below, while seabirds circle between the headland and the offshore islands.