Get the MarineRadar appSatellite AISSatellite live trackingTrack any shipLive alerts112,000+ ships trackedDownload free

Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse

Fl White 15s🇬🇧Torridge District, GBOperational

Location & Light Range

About Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse

Built of brick and painted white, this 18-meter tower was first lit in 1874. It stands with a lantern and gallery, attached to a two-story service building. The lighthouse's focal height reaches 30 meters, and it originally projected a white light with a single flash every 15 seconds, visible for 15.3 nautical miles. A seawall was constructed in 1925 to address cliff erosion. The keeper's houses were removed in 1984. Although proposed for deactivation in 2010 and agreeing to continue at reduced power, the light was finally extinguished in early 2012. The tower itself has been on the market since 2015.

Why it matters: The lighthouse marked a sharp turn in the coastline at the southwestern entrance to the Bristol Channel, warning vessels of the navigational hazard.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl White 15s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Interval
15s
Raw Code
Fl W 15s
Focal Height
30m
Geographic Range
15.3NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1874

Significant events: Inactive since 2012, keeper's houses were demolished in 1984, seawall was built in 1925, Trinity House proposed that the light be deactivated in January 2010, agreed in May to continue the light at reduced power, light was finally extinguished early in 2012, Trinity House placed the lighthouse on sale for £450,000 in July 2015, historic Fresnel lens was stolen in January 2022

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Clovelly(5.1 km)

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
18m
Tower Color
white
Material
brick

Structure: brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white, attached to 2-story service building

Location

City
Torridge District
Country
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Region
England
Sea Region
Hartland Point, a right-angled turn in the coastline at the extreme southwestern entrance to Bristol Channel, located about 5 km northwest of Hartland.
Latitude
51.0221°
Longitude
-4.5263°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
Live tracking · 50,000+ mariners

Find Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse on the live nautical map

Plan voyages near United Kingdom, see nearby vessels in real time, and explore 14,900+ navigation aids in the app.

Nautical mapNearby vesselsVoyage planning
Get the App

Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse at night?+
Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses displays the characteristic Fl White 15s. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The white color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Buck's Cross at 5 NM to the ESE. Other ports served include Chillington (5 NM ESE), Clovelly (5 NM ESE), Bude (11.4 NM S), Bideford (12.2 NM E). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
What shipping routes pass near Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse?+
Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse is located within the English Channel / North Sea corridor — one of the world's busiest maritime corridors connecting the Atlantic to Northern European ports. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Torridge District: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.