cf-banner.jpg
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Flatholm in Wales #182145 03/30/08 04:53 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Lighthouse Duo Offline OP
Super Wacko
OP Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Well, I promised to share our first lighthousing for this year. So here we go….

Yesterday the weather was terrible and the trip was nearly cancelled. But it was decided to risk it and today… well you can see, the weather was perfect!!
We had wanted to visit the Island of Flat Holm for years since we see the lighthouse every day from the beach, but somehow it never worked out … until today. Part of the trouble is, that the only access to the Island is from Wales, from the other side of the Severn Estuary. Well today was the day!


Flat Holm Lighthouse A5426
Flat Holm is a small island in the middle of the entrance to the Severn estuary from the Bristol Channel. The island is a historical and natural reserve.

There has been a light here for a very long time. This station was established in 1737, but was altered in 1820. The light is active with an elevation of 50 meters (164ft)
This was originally a privately built light station. In 1819 Trinity House took over and redesigned the station by “wrapping” a new tower around the old one.



In 1867 the tower was altered again to accommodate the first order lantern

In 1908 a foghorn was added. And what a beast it is. It was de-activated in 1988. For the new millennium it was restored to work again.



Margret
Lighthouse Duo
Live Love Laugh ...
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182146 03/30/08 05:03 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Lighthouse Duo Offline OP
Super Wacko
OP Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Flat Holm has an amazing optic



You can even climb right to the inside of the lens



And I am always amazed how much light can be produced by a few tiny bulbs



Margret
Lighthouse Duo
Live Love Laugh ...
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182147 03/30/08 05:06 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Lighthouse Duo Offline OP
Super Wacko
OP Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
On the way home we got a special treat ...



Monkstone Lighthouse A5428

This unusual little lighthouse was first lit in 1839. This is a stone tower built on an underwater rock. It is topped with a red fibreglass tower on which sits the lantern.

We had passed this little tower on the way to Flatholm and the boatman kindly took the long way back, so we could have a closer look

Well there you go ! Our first lighthouse trip for this yeat!


Margret
Lighthouse Duo
Live Love Laugh ...
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182148 03/30/08 05:11 PM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 13,047
Webmaster Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 13,047
Great report LH-Duo!

Was this a day-trip? Over and back the same day?

Is there scheduled ferry service to Flat Holm?

Re: Flatholm in Wales #182149 03/30/08 07:05 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Lighthouse Duo Offline OP
Super Wacko
OP Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Yes, it was a day trip
and no there is no scheduled ferry
but they do go over often in the summer.
You have to book via their website


Margret
Lighthouse Duo
Live Love Laugh ...
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182150 03/30/08 07:36 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 194
Tybee_Sullivan Offline
Wacko
Offline
Wacko
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 194
Nice photos! I'd like to get across the pond some day. Those clouds would have made for a gorgeous sunset shot.


This space for rent. Inquire within.
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182151 03/30/08 08:26 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,962
MrsTLC Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,962
Great pictures and nice history, Margret. waytogo

Good to see you and Stan are starting your lighthousing early. cool


Ruthie
"Where words fail, Music speaks"
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182152 03/30/08 09:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,964
sandy Offline
Cruise Director
Offline
Cruise Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,964
Color me green with envy. Thanks for sharing. That optic certainly looks interesting and you got some great shots!!

Sandy

Re: Flatholm in Wales #182153 03/31/08 05:45 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Lighthouse Duo Offline OP
Super Wacko
OP Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Yes we started early with the lighthouseing. That was not really our doing, as the trip was organised by the "Association of Lighthouse Keepers" (ALK) and it depended on the wardens on the island to a degree.

The island is a nature reserve and only inhabited part of the year and then only by a team of wardens. Other than that ... chickens, rabbits and GULLS ...
We had to walk through the gull colony. Have you ever seen 10000s of gulls only interested in finding a mate and the best nest site? Well we found out why they had recommended we bring a hat. wink But the gulls were not really disturbed by us. They didn't seem to mind at all.

Quote:
Those clouds would have made for a gorgeous sunset shot.
I totally agree! We would have loved to have stayed for that, but we had to get off the island with the tide and that meant leaving at lunch time :rolleyes:

We see this island on our daily walks and even though it is on the Welsh side of the River Severn and we are on the English side, the sunsets are the same. They are just beautiful around here.


Margret
Lighthouse Duo
Live Love Laugh ...
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182154 03/31/08 07:38 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 12,331
Bob M Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 12,331
Great pics! I especially like the appearence of the sky in the first picture. Good job!

smile Bob

Re: Flatholm in Wales #182155 03/31/08 10:42 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 6,801
rscroope Offline
Saint
Offline
Saint
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 6,801
Very unique lighthouses and lenses, thanks for the photos and report Margret.
Bob


LONG ISLAND BOB
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182156 03/31/08 10:50 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,152
Lighthouse Loon Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,152
Great pics, Margret !!!

Thanks for sharing !!!


Stan M
New Jersey Lighthouse Lovers
------------------------------------
Harry Wishlist: Tinicum Rear Range, Miah Maull Shoal, Finns Point, Bergen Point, Cross Ledge, Old Ambrose Lightstation, Romer Shoal, Barnegat Lightship, Liberty Lightship.
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182157 03/31/08 11:01 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
Lighthouse Duo Offline OP
Super Wacko
OP Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,754
I just had an email from the guys on the island...
They do run ferries there now.
You can find out more here:
The Flat Holm Project

The island is well worth a visit - even though the lighthouse is not open to the public. We had special dispensation from Trinity House to enter and climb the tower. That may have had something to do with the fact that we had 5 ex-keepers with us.


Margret
Lighthouse Duo
Live Love Laugh ...
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182158 03/31/08 11:09 AM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,415
5lights Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,415
Great pictures and narration Margret!
I appreciate the history you gave to help us out.
Thanks for sharing your first lighthouse trip of the season!


Debbie
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182159 04/01/08 06:51 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,221
ericlighthouse Offline
Super Wacko
Offline
Super Wacko
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,221
Great report and pictures. Really like that first picture.


Eric, Florida Keys Reef Lights Foundation; Godfather of Jones Point River Lighthouse; member and District Commissioner of Florida Lighthouse Association et el
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182160 04/01/08 12:22 PM
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,681
MtnHkr Offline
Cruise Director
Offline
Cruise Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,681
Excellent pictures and a great report. Love to see photos of lights that I may never see otherwise. Thank you!!!!


Bert

No mountain is too tall if your first step is belief. -Anonymous
Re: Flatholm in Wales #182161 04/01/08 06:01 PM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 175
Bruce and Judy Offline
Wacko
Offline
Wacko
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 175
Thanks for sharing your lighthouse trip with us.
Really like the background clouds in the first picture that make the lighthouse seem to radiate.


Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics16,978
Posts184,640
Members2,579
Most Online10,155
Jan 14th, 2020
Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 1,037 guests, and 3 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
SafeHarbor, Toots, Bluffhill, phtate, TexLight2022
2579 Registered Users
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.2