Ouistreham Lighthouse, Ouistreham, Normandy, France

The tall (121') Ouistreham Lighthouse sits on the Quai Thierry near the mouth of the Orne River and adjacent to the set of locks of the Caen canal.  It is easy to park in the town of Ouistreham and walk across the locks to the tower. The light was built in 1905.  It's location was near the east end of the D-Day beaches and the area was liberated by British Troops on June 6, 1944 preventing the occupying German troops from destroying it. The light remains active and was believed to have been automated in 1993.  Photos were taken in April 2013.

Jetée de l´Ouest (West Jetty), Trouville-Sur-Mer, Normandy, France

This lighthouse is at the end of the west jetty at the entrance to the harbour at Trouville-Sur-Mer, France. It is the original lighthouse from 1875 and is one of the few surviving cast iron lighthouses from the 1800's. The bottom photo shows its proximity to the Jetée de l´Est Lighthouse which was constructed in the 1950's and was a copy of the west jetty light. Photos taken in April 2013.

Feu de la Jetée de l'Est (East Jetty), Trouville-Sur-Mer, Normandy, France

This lighthouse is located at the end of the east jetty at the entrance to the harbour at Trouville-Sur-Mer, France. There has been a station at this location since the 1860's. The light was destroyed in World War II and was rebuilt in the early 1950's. Photos were taken in April 2013.

Falaise des Fonds Lighthouse, Honfleur, France

This light which is a marker for the south side of the entrance to the Seine River was built in 1908 and replaced the Feu de l'Hôpital which was located closer to the town of Honfleur. It is also known as Lighthouse Butin (Le Butin). Photos taken in April 2013.

 

Feu de l'Hôpital, Honfleur, France

This light, a 82' masonary tower, is located just north west of the town of Honfleur, France. It was built in 1843 and although is now some distance from the water, it is believed that the estuary has been filled in since it was originally established. The light was deactivated in 1908 when the Falaise des Fonds lighthouse was built further to the north west. The lantern was removed at that time. The lighthouse is now a town landmark. The name of the light was derived from its proximity to the hospital. This light was a marker to the entrance to the Seine River which is west of it's location. Photos taken in April 2013.

Feu de la Jetée de l'Est (East Jetty Lighthouse), Honfleur, France

This light is situated on a jetty marking the entrance to the charming inner harbour of the town of Honfleur, France. The lighthouse is dated to approximately 1876 and it is believed that there was a light station here since the early 1800's. Photo taken in April 2013.

LV23 Lightship BAR, Liverpool, England

The LV23 is a Trinity Lightship that is currently moored near Albert Docks in the City of Liverpool, England. The ship was built in 1959 and decomissioned in 1989. It served as the BAR at the entrance to the Mersey River from 1960 to 1972 and later as the "Channel" at various locations from1979 to 1989. When photographed in March 2013 it was being operated as the Planet Bar Lightship, a cafe, bar and museum.

Perch Rock Lighthouse, New Brighton, England

The Perch Rock Lighthouse is a granite tower that sits just offshore near the mouth of the Mersey River near New Brighton Fort, New Brighton, England and is just West of the City of Liverpool. The light was built in 1830 to replace a tripod platform that had previously been at the site. The lighthouse has been inactive since 1973. Photos taken in March 2013.

Leasowe Lighthouse, Leasowe Common, Moreton, Wirral, England

The Leasowe Lighthouse was build in 1763 and is now located in the North Wirral Coastal Park, Moreton, Wirral, England. The light has been inactive since 1908. It was used for a time as a tea room after it was disactivated, but then was left abandoned for many years until approximately 1989. It is now maintained by the Friends of the Leasowe Lighthouse. A web cam at the top of the tower can be accessed on the internet. This light is one of several constructed by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and is west of the City of Liverpool.  It is 110 feet tall and is believed to be the oldest surviving brick build lighthouse in Europe. It was constructed from 660,000 hand made bricks. The area around the the lighthouse appears to be popular with hikers and dog walkers.  Photos were taken in March 2013.

Hoylake High Lighthouse, Hoylake, England

This light is located in a residential area in the town of Hoylake, England, near where the  River Dee meets the Irish Sea. It is West of the City of Liverpool.  The light was built in 1865 and was only used as a lighthouse for a short time before being deactivated and becoming a private residence. It is a bit difficult to find as it is several blocks back from the seaside.  Photos were taken in March 2013.

Point Lynas Lighthouse, Llaneilian, Holy Island, Anglesey, Wales

The Point Lynas Lighthouse sits on a high bluff near the village of Llaneilian on Holy Island in Anglesey, North Wales. The sight was established in 1779 with the current lighthouse being built around 1835. As one can see, the lighthouse is unusual as the light is at the base and not in a tower. It was originally build by Mersey Docks and Harbour Board as one of several lights guiding ships into the Mersey River which is north of the area. The lighthouse is advertized as a bed and breakfast, however when I visited and photographed it in March 2013 signs indicated that it and two adjacent houses were for sale.

South Stack Lighthouse, Holy Head, Anglesey, Wales

The South Stack Lighthouse is situated on South Stack Rock (Ynys Lawd) a small island on the Western tip of Anglesey in Northern Wales near the town of Holy Head. This lighthouse was constructed in 1809 and is still active. It was automated in 1984.  To reach the lighthouse, which is open to the public, one must descend 400 steps to the island. The trek is well worth it as the staff at the lighthouse are friendly and informative about the history of the light as well as the area.  The view from the top of the 91' tower is impressive.  The area is also popular for viewing the colonies of sea birds (puffin, guillemot, rasorbills, etc.) and the nearby Ellin's Tower is open for bird watching.  Photos were taken in March 2013.

Nakalele Light, Maui, Hawaii

The minor light of Nakalele is located at the most North West point on the island of Maui, Hawaii. It is found along the coastal highway in the Honokohau area which is North East of Kapalua.  A light was originally established here in 1908. Photos taken in October 2012.

McGregor Point, Ma'alaea, Maui, Hawaii

 

 

This minor light of Maui is located on the South West part of the island of Maui, Hawaii, just one mile South West of Ma'alaea Harbour on Highway 30 (Honoapiilani Highway).  A light was originally established here in 1906 and the current light is from 1915. Photos taken in October 2012.

Lahaina Lighthouse, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

 

 

 

The lighthouse at the town of Lahaina on the South West side of the island of Maui, Hawaii is located at the main boat harbour adjacent to the wharf directly in front of the Pioneer Inn.  The first light at Lahaina was constructed in 1840. The current light was built in 1917.  Photos taken in October 2012.

Nootka Lighthouse, Yuquot (Friendly Cove), British Columbia

Yuquot, also known as Friendly Cove, is situated at the entrance to Nootka Sound on the West side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The location has a long history and was the place that European explorers first had contact with First Nations peoples in what is now known as British Columbia.  Friendly Cove is the traditional home of the Mowachaht peoples. Both the Spanish and British explored the area, with Captain James Cook being the first in 1778. The Spanish established a naval post here for a number of years prior to 1795. The Spanish and the British squabbled over ownership but both eventually abandoned the site after the signing of the 3rd Nootka Convention and the Mowachaht peoples reoccupied the cove. In 1906 the local store keeper established a light at the site to assist mariners entering the sound.  A petition was sent to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia requesting a light be built on the site and in 1910 construction began with the light being turned on in March 1911.  Today it remains as one of the few remaining staffed lighthouses in Canada.  I visited the site on a day trip aboard the Uchuck III, a working coastal vessel that also takes tourists to some of the remote places in Nootka Sound.  The Uchuck III is a wooden hulled converted American Yard Minesweeper (1942).  In addition to visiting the Nootka Lighthouse, the visit to Yuquot  also afforded me the opportunity to learn some of the history of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht people. Friendly Cove was declared a National Historic Site by the Canadian Government in 1923 and the signifance of the First Nations history was further recognized in 1997. The photos were taken in July 2012. Many thanks to Joanne and Mark the resident lightkeepers for their hospitality. It was great to hear first hand a bit about the lifestyle of lightkeepers.

Bandon South Jetty, Bandon, Oregon

The Bandon South Jetty Light is an automated beacon and fog signal that sits on a stone breakwater on the South side of the Coquille River where it enters the Pacific Ocean in the town of Bandon, Oregon. This small light replaced the Coquille River Lighthouse in 1939. The Coquille River Lighthouse is on the North Side of the Coquille River just upstream from the South Jetty Light.  Photos taken in June 2012.