Name and Location

The Lundy South Lighthouse, also known as "South Light", is located on the southeastern coast of Lundy Island, parish of Bideford, Torridge District, Devon, England, EX39 2LY, United Kingdom. The coordinates are 51°09′43″ N, 04°39′21″ W (decimal 51.1620559, –4.6558294). The lighthouse can be found on Google Maps at https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=51.1620559&mlon=-4.6558294&zoom=15.

2. Construction and History

The Lundy South Lighthouse was constructed by Trinity House in 1897 to guide vessels through the Bristol Channel. It remains an active aid to navigation, complementing the slightly higher North Lighthouse to the island's west.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a square-plan tower with a projecting gallery and lantern, built using rubble stone and cement rendered white. The tower height is 16 m above concrete base, while the focal height is 53 m above mean sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is single white flash every 5 seconds (Fl W 5s: 0.5 s flash, 4.5 s eclipse), with a range of 15 nautical miles. The sector is white light covering 170°–073° true. Additionally, the lighthouse features a horn of Category 1, producing one blast every 25 seconds in foggy conditions.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The tower and lantern are not open to the public; external viewing only is available. Visitors can access the helipad and then follow a short cliff path from the island's village (Marisco Tavern). No on-site café or toilets are provided, but facilities are available in the island's visitor centre or village for refreshments and interpretive displays.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers dramatic sunrise shots capturing its silhouette against sea spray. Southwest-facing camera angles show the Bristol Channel expanse and distant Welsh coast. The surrounding landscape is characterized by rugged granite cliffs, grassland moors, and seabird colonies; vantage points over Lundy's rugged south coastline are available.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

According to local folklore, a "haunting white beam" draws stray vessels towards shelter on foggy nights when the light fails. Seals are said to slip ashore under its silent watch. Historical notes record dramatic winter storms and tales of keepers' bravery, including one instance where a keeper rowed eight miles at night to rescue a wrecked crew off the island's north side (unverified anecdote).

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is managed by Trinity House and was automated in the mid-20th century. It features mains and standby generators, with solar-battery back-up implemented in recent decades.

9. Further Information

Further information can be found on the Trinity House website, as well as through references such as "Lighthouses of the Bristol Channel" by T. Stevenson (1998), UK Hydrographic Office: Admiralty List of Lights volume 7, and Lundy Field Society bulletins (www.lundy.org.uk).