Pakefield Coastwatch

Pakefield Coastwatch We are a coastal watch station manned by volunteer men and women.

Operational 7 days a week and happy to welcome visitors but please check with the lighthouse before visiting as operational activity may prohibit it. Pakefield Coastwatch is part of the Sea Safety Group, an Association of independent coastal surveillance stations. We are one of the growing number of stations, manned by volunteer men and women, located around the coast of mainland Britain. All stat

ions carry out the same task, which is to assist Her Majesty's Coastguard in their task of helping people in trouble, on or near the sea.

Morning all. A bright day, cloudy for late afternoon. 15c rising to 21c. No rain today but clouding over mid afternoon. ...
05/09/2026

Morning all.

A bright day, cloudy for late afternoon.

15c rising to 21c.

No rain today but clouding over mid afternoon.

Wind from the west or WNW, but not much more than a light breeze. It’s still an offshore breeze so please take care.

High tide is at 16:20. 2.3 metres.
Low tide 09:45.

Getting lively along the western coast USA.
Out Atlantic weather not so much. The Atlantic low heading towards the UK is tracking more NE now, just clipping the western isles of Scotland.

Emergency services day on Sunday 6th September Nicholas Everitt Park.

Today’s lighthouse is the Corsewall Lighthouse, a 19th-century Category A listed building located at Corsewall Point near Kirkcolm in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
It’s at Corsewall Point, marking the northern entrance to Loch Ryan and the North Channel where it meets the Irish Sea.
Designed and built by civil engineer Robert Stevenson, the masonry tower was first lit in 1817.
The cylindrical white tower stands approximately 34 meters (112 feet) tall, featuring a black lantern and ochre-trimmed keeper'squarters.
The light was automated in 1994 by the Northern Lighthouse Board, and the adjacent former keepers' buildings now operate as the Corsewall Lighthouse Hotel.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

04/09/2026

Great job guys.
Missing you all and the farm already

Morning all. A blustery, cloudy and sometimes wet day. 17c rising to 22c. Rain showers, sometimes heavy this morning, br...
04/09/2026

Morning all.

A blustery, cloudy and sometimes wet day.

17c rising to 22c.

Rain showers, sometimes heavy this morning, brighter later this afternoon.

A stiff offshore breeze, from the west or SW, gusting to 38 mph, that’s a force 7, first thing decreases during the day.

High tide is at 15:00. 2.4 metres.

An Atlantic low pressure system is still tracking towards the UK, Tue/Wed look most likely. The jet stream will no doubt deepen this system. Currently tracking towards the southwest, Cornwall/ Devon.

Lots of media coverage about a stormy and mild autumn, then a bitterly cold winter, due to El Niño. Plenty of speculation by weather experts based on previous events.
For the first time in many years 3 hurricanes are approaching the Western USA, which is a rare occurrence.

These offshore winds can quickly sweep the unwary out to sea. Wear the right equipment and stay bright. Visibility can quickly fall away in rain and high seas.

Today’s lighthouse is the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse, a prominent cylindrical tower marked by alternating black and white horizontal bands.
Situated at the tip of the Old Head Peninsula in County Cork, Ireland.
Conical stone tower featuring a white lantern and double gallery, standing approximately 30 meters (98 feet) tall.
Built in 1853 to replace an earlier, higher light, its red bands were repainted black with two white bands in 1930.
Located near the Old Head Golf Links and the nearest point of land to the 1915 sinking of the RMS Lusitania.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

Morning all. A bright and breezy day in store. 18c rising to 24c. Some scattered cloud but no rain, possibly overnight s...
03/09/2026

Morning all.

A bright and breezy day in store.

18c rising to 24c.

Some scattered cloud but no rain, possibly overnight showers.

Westerly offshore winds today gusting to 30 mph that’s a force 6.

High tide is at 14:05. 2.6 metres.

One or two of the computer models predicting our first autumn storm Tuesday of next week.
It looks colourful but it’s a long way off and may not intensify as much as suggested. The track may also go towards NW Scotland. I will continue to monitor.

Merchant navy day today. We will be flying the red ensign.

Merchant Navy Day is an annual observance held on September 3rd to honor the brave men and women who serve in the Merchant Navy, remembering those who lost their lives at sea during times of war and recognizing modern seafarers who keep global trade and supply lines running.

We had the tug Seadog out yesterday with some huge fenders, used when two tankers do a ship to ship oil transfer.
We currently have 4 tankers in the Southwold parking lot.

A good offshore breeze at times today. Please don’t put yourself at risk. Wear the right equipment and clothing, don’t go alone and keep an eye on each other.

Today’s lighthouse is the Petit Minou Lighthouse (Phare du Petit Minou) standing on a rocky promontory in Plouzané, Brittany, France. It sits on the coast of Finistère overlooking the roadstead of Brest.
The stone tower features a red lantern at the top and stands next to a modern radar tower.
A stone bridge connects the rocky islet to the mainland fort (Fort du Minou).

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

Morning all. A bright start but clouding over by lunchtime, with the chance of a shower later. 15c rising to 23c.Cloud a...
02/09/2026

Morning all.

A bright start but clouding over by lunchtime, with the chance of a shower later.

15c rising to 23c.

Cloud arrives from the west with light showers forecast for early afternoon.

A WSW breeze picks up this morning gusting to 30 mph this evening.

High tide is at 13:20. 2.6 metres.

The met office have given names for this years storms. Strangely some computer models are now showing an Atlantic weather system for next week.
Way too early to make predictions but well worth keeping an eye on its track.

Great job by Lowestoft’s lifeguards, the bank holiday training session was fully booked and a fun time was had by all.

A shout out to litter free Lowestoft, who continue to make a big difference locally. Well done guys may you go from strength to strength.

More seal pups reported on local beaches. Southwold, Covehithe and Kessingland. Dogs are their biggest issue now the beaches are less crowded. Please give them a wide berth.

Today’s lighthouse is the Phare de la Vieille, a historic stone lighthouse perched on a remote rock in the Raz de Sein strait off the coast of Finistère in Brittany, France.
Built on the Gorlebella rock in the perilous Raz de Sein passage between Pointe du Raz and the Île de Sein.
Erected between 1882 and 1887 from squared granite and kersantite blocks.
Stands approximately 27 meters (89 feet) tall with a black lantern and unpainted stone finish.
Locally referred to as "The Old Lady" (La Vieille), and historically classed among the lighthouses known as "hells" due to its treacherous, wave-lashed isolation.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

Morning all. Probably the brightest and warmest day of the week. 15c rising to 25c. Light cloud and no rain forecast tod...
01/09/2026

Morning all.

Probably the brightest and warmest day of the week.

15c rising to 25c.

Light cloud and no rain forecast today.
Maybe an overnight shower.

A light westerly offshore wind all day.

High tide is at 12:45. 2.7 metres.

Thank you Richard Cook. For your mid 1970s information on the Needles lighthouse. UK Lighthouses.
What a fantastic start to your career.
,with a start pay of £93 pounds a month.

Many thanks Richard Dudley, UK Coast Photography she’s one of ours, I’m certain I’ve seen her at Thornham before, years ago up by the old coal barn.
Thought to be Solo, LT 268. Definitely not the city of London which was a sailing fishing smack at the start of the 1900s.

As we approach the autumn storm season I thought it might be useful to know where on the shipping forecast areas actually are.
We are in Thames.

Today’s lighthouse is the the iconic red-and-white Needles Lighthouse, standing at the end of dramatic white chalk stacks off the western tip of the Isle of Wight.
It sits on a small rock at the western edge of the Isle of Wight near Alum Bay.
The Chalk Rocks: Known as The Needles, these tall pillars are made of pure white chalk.
A sharp needle-like rock that originally gave the group its name fell into the sea in 1764.
Built in 1859, the striped tower guides ships past the dangerous rocks.
It has run on automatic controls since 1994.
A metal platform sits on top of the lighthouse so workers can land by helicopter for maintenance.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.



Morning all. A damp start, cloudy much of the day, some showers this evening. 16c rising to 22c. Plenty of cloud about,...
31/08/2026

Morning all.

A damp start, cloudy much of the day, some showers this evening.

16c rising to 22c.

Plenty of cloud about, occasional light showers early morning, further rain predicted for T time.

An offshore westerly wind gusting to 25 mph.

High tide is at 12:05. 2.7 metres.

Reports of water quality issues, once again at Gorleston but more locally Bakers Score Corton and the inner harbour Lowestoft.

Tomorrow looks to be the driest, brightest day of the week as the weather remains unsettled.

Sadly I missed the East Coast trucking convoy yesterday but hear the turnout was huge.

We now have 4 tankers in the Southwold parking lot. As tanker contracts remain unfulfilled and the Straight of Hormuz remains closed I expect more to arrive.

A busy weekend for the friends of Horsey seals rescue team, call outs to Walcott, Bacton and Hemsby.
As the summer holidays draw to a close the seals should get more peace and quiet, maybe even some space.

Today’s lighthouse is the Rubha nan Gall Lighthouse, also known as the Tobermory Lighthouse, located on the northeastern coast of the Isle of Mull in Scotland.
It sits on a rocky point just north of the town of Tobermory, overlooking the Sound of Mull.
Famous lighthouse engineers David and Thomas Stevenson designed the tower, and it was first lit in November 1857.
The structure features a white cylindrical stone tower, an ochre-trimmed gallery, and a black iron lantern.
You can reach the site by boat or by taking a 1.3-mile scenic walking path from Tobermory.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

Morning all. A cloudy morning, brighter later, some light showers this evening. 18c rising to 23c.Plenty of cloud today,...
30/08/2026

Morning all.

A cloudy morning, brighter later, some light showers this evening.

18c rising to 23c.

Plenty of cloud today, chance of a light shower first thing. More in the way of rain T time.

A light westerly offshore wind, becomes a SSW this afternoon.

High tide is at 11:30. 2.7 metres.

An unsettled week in store, showers at times with temperatures to mid 20c’s.

Not local I know but it’s still surprising what we find alive on our beaches.

A turtle found cold-stunned on a Welsh beach in 2023, was flown 5,000 miles back to the United States after being rehabilitated by the Anglesey Sea Zoo. Found near death on an Anglesey beach by a dog walker in December 2023.
Rhossi a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle was nursed back to health over two years at the Anglesey Sea Zoo, where he tripled in size.
Flown in a special temperature-controlled crate (and coated in Vaseline to prevent his shell from drying out) via helicopter and cargo flight to the Houston Zoo in Texas. Now being prepared for release into the Gulf of Mexico near Padre Island National Seashore.

Talking about the tides recently, many people don’t appear to be aware the sea can have a strong current.
Tides are the regular rise and fall of sea levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun combined with the rotation of the Earth. Tides come up the beach for high tide, then retreat back to low tide.
The sea also has a left and right tidal current.
It’s easy to see the current in a river not so the sea, unless you are on a pier or in a boat.

Only a few yards from shore the current can be felt if not seen only a few knots but enough to move you yards down the beach from where you entered the sea.
On the incoming tide, the current runs in excess of 6 knots in the channels between the sandbars, swiftly taking the unwary towards Southwold.
On the outgoing tide the current is reversed and will take you towards Gorleston.
This is important information for marine emergency services when doing a sea search.

Nice wave from shearwater yesterday Jet Adventures.

Today’s lighthouse is the Eddystone Lighthouse standing on the dangerous Eddystone Rocks in the English Channel off the coast, 13 miles (21 km) southwest of Plymouth. It’s the 4 th Eddystone light.
A tall, cylindrical granite tower with a red lantern room at the top. The visible stone stump next to the main tower belongs to the foundation of Smeaton's historic third lighthouse, which was partially dismantled and moved to Plymouth Hoe.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

Morning all. A bright start but don’t be fooled, cloud on the way, showers by mid morning, more persistent and sometimes...
29/08/2026

Morning all.

A bright start but don’t be fooled, cloud on the way, showers by mid morning, more persistent and sometimes heavy this afternoon.

16c rising to 23c

Cloud and rain moving in from the west. The occasional heavy burst towards T time.

This mornings gentle SW becomes a SE with gusts in excess of 30 mph mid afternoon accompanied by some heavy rain showers towards early evening.

High tide is at 10:55. 2.7 metres.

Today we start the Lowestoft maritime festival. There is plenty to see and do locally as we move towards the end of the summer period.

An unsettled week is forecast, with a good chance of another warm spell from next weekend. An Indian summer is not at this time predicted.

There are still the occasional seal pups resting on local beaches. I know they look cute but absolutely they are not cuddly.
One of the trained volunteers from Horsey Seal rescue found this out to her cost. They are very supple and have lighting quick reflexes. They have to, to catch fish.
Please give them space and look from a distance.

Today’s lighthouse is the Saint-Valery-en-Caux Lighthouse (Phare de Saint-Valery-en-Caux) standing on the western stone pier of the harbor in Normandy France.
A white cylindrical masonry tower topped with a bright green lantern room.
Perched on a high stone block pier wall overlooking the English Channel (La Manche), adjacent to the local pebble beach and marina.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

Morning all A clear bright and sunny morning. Chance of a shower around T time. 19c rising to 25c Some cloud this aftern...
28/08/2026

Morning all

A clear bright and sunny morning. Chance of a shower around T time.

19c rising to 25c

Some cloud this afternoon with occasional showers around late afternoon, early evening.

Not much wind to speak of first thing but a WSW breeze will pick up mid morning, more in the way of a breeze later today.

High tide 10:20. 2.6 metres.
Calmer today with less wave action. The incoming tide will still reach the rock cliff defences at least 2 hours before high tide.

We are entering a period of spring tides which are brought about by tonight’s full moon.

The full moon in August 2026, known as the Sturgeon Moon, peaks on Friday, August 28, 2026.
Named Sturgeon Moon (also called the Corn Moon or Harvest Moon).

Lunar Eclipse: last night. This full moon coincides with a deep partial lunar eclipse, where Earth's shadow covers up to 96% of the lunar disk, giving the moon a rusty red "blood moon" hue.
Eclipse Timeline (ET): Begins at 9:23 p.m. on Aug. 27, peaks at 12:12 a.m. on Aug. 28, and ends at 3:01 a.m.

Some of the UK received substantial amounts of rain and some pretty impressive thunderstorms. Here on the east coast the rain sadly was minimal at best.
The jet stream continues to become more active, so the weather will remain unsettled for us well into next week.

This little lady was rescued from Gorleston beach. Evidence of lung worm, so she’s off to East Winch for some health care.

Today’s lighthouse is the Rathlin East Lighthouse tower on Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland.
It stands on Altacarry Head at the northeastern tip of Rathlin Island, County Antrim.
The tall stone tower is painted with a distinct black upper section and a white lower section, featuring a unique lower light structure built at its base.
Designed by engineer George Halpin, the lighthouse was first lit on November 1, 1856.
It was built with two light levels to help ships navigate the dangerous waters of the North Channel.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

Address

Pakefield Lighthouse, Pontin’s Leisure Centre, London Road, Pakefield
Lowestoft
NR337PF

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm
Sunday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+447522483022

Website

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