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Photo from UK payphone directory

Hartland Point is a 325ft (99m) high rocky outcrop of land on the north western tip of the Devon coast. It is three miles (5km) north west of the village of Hartland. The point marks the western limit (on the English side) of the Bristol Channel with the Atlantic Ocean continuing to the west. This location was known to the Romans as the "promontory of Hercules".

The Lighthouse

Trinity House have a lighthouse on the tip of the peninsula. Built in 1874 under the direction of Sir James Douglass, the tower is 18m tall with the lamp being 37m above mean high sea level.

The lighthouse is on large rock at the tip of the point, and was threatened by the undermining action of the sea to such an extent that rock had to be broken from the cliff head behind the lighthouse, to fall on the beach, and form a barrier against the waves. An action that had to be repeated at frequent intervals as north westerly gales washed away what had been deposited when they coincided with a high spring tide. A permanent barrier, and a sea wall 30 metres long and 6 metres high was built in 1925 to overcome this need.

The tower was automated in 1984 and is now controlled from Trinity House Operations Centre at Harwich in Essex.

  Dave Wilkinson

Prior to automation the lighthouse was built with accommodation for four keepers and their families.

The keepers' houses have since been demolished (1984) to make room for a Helipad to be constructed. This was necessary due to the precarious nature of the access road which is liable to frequent rock falls and landslips.

In January 2010, Trinity House proposed that the light be deactivated, but after many protests it agreed in May to continue the light at reduced power.

Vehicular access is now very difficult and the gates tend to remain locked. The road to the lighthouse is gated at a parking area for the South West Coastal Path.

The large concrete structures immediately to the south of the lighthouse were to provide the keepers with fresh water.

From Wikipedia  Image shows lighthouse, point and Lundy Island in the distance,
 Lundy has 2 lighthouses, Lundy Island North and Lundy Island South

Old postcard, probably 1930's, shows the lighthouse before the residential units (houses)
were demolished in 1984 to make room for a helipad

Coastal Path

The South West Coastal Path  was formerly an aid to the Coastguard who needed to be able to travel from station to station on foot while being able to keep an eye on the sea to spot for smugglers. The path stays close to the edge of the cliffs on its journey through Hartland Point and it is an ideal way to explore the point, its landmarks and the scenery.

A View from below   Dave Wilkinson

Coastguard lookout and radar golf ball

A coastguard lookout station is on top of the point near the lighthouse but this is usually unmanned.

Also above the point is a a radar station controlled from nearby RAF Hartland Point. This is used for air traffic control of both military and civilian aircraft. The unusual white dome topped structure can be seen from distances of up to 10 miles (16km) from the point.

Photo from Flickr 

Photo by Steve Thoroughgood  

Shipwreck

On 31 December 1982 the Panama-registered, Dutch owned MS Johanna was driven aground on rocks less than 400m from the lighthouse during strong gales. The cargo ship was carrying wheat from The Netherlands up the Bristol Channel towards Cardiff. Four of the crew were rescued by a helicopter from RAF Chivenor. Three officers were taken off later in the day by the RNLI lifeboat from Clovelly. The decaying remains of the hull can still be seen.

The MV Johanna, January 1983, as she looked when first wrecked
Photo by Bob Parkes

Less of the ship survives but parts can still be identified
Photo by Richard Greenwood

Lighthouse information Grid Name: Hartland Point Lighthouse, Devon Current status: Currently in use Geographic Position: 51 01. 3 N 04 31. 4 W Grid Reference: SS229277 Ceremonial County: Devon Appearance: white block with tower on side of cliff Map Link: Get-A-Map    StreetMap  Aerial photo: Google satellite view Other photos: Geograph    photo     photo Originally built: 1874 Current lighthouse built: 1874 Height of Tower: 18m    59ft Height of light above mean high sea level: 37m    120ft Character of light: White Group Flashing 6 Times Every 15 Seconds Character of fog signal: One 5 Second Blast Every Minute Range of light: 25 nautical miles Owned / run by: Trinity House Getting there: Can view from coastal path Access: The road to the lighthouse is gated at a parking area for the Southwest Coast Path. Website: TH Other Useful Websites: Wiki  Routes: South West Coastal Path Other Relevant pages: For more articles, lists and other information see the Lighthouses Section Lighthouse Map of England and Wales Featured List of Lighthouses - England and Wales   List of Minor Lighthouses and Lights - England and Wales Notes: Visitors can find out about the lighthouse in the nearby Hartland Quay Museum.

Please let us know any other information that we can add to the Grid or page and any errors that you discover. Before making a long trip to any location it is always wise to double check the current information, websites like magazines may be correct at the time the information is written, but things change and it is of course impossible to double check all entries on a regular basis. If you have any good photographs that you feel would improve the illustration of this page then please let us have copies. In referring to this page it is helpful if you quote both the Page Ref and Topic or Section references from the Grid below. To print the planning grid select it then right click and print the selected area.

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By: Keith Park	Section:  Lighthouses Section	Key:
Page Ref: Hartland_Point_Lighthouse	Topic: Lighthouses	Last Updated: 01/2012

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