Pakefield Coastwatch

06/11/2026

Morning all.

A cloudy day, with just the chance of a light shower coming in off the sea.

10c rising slightly, maybe 12c this afternoon.

Rain overnight and into the early hours tomorrow.

Not much wind today, a very gentle easterly first thing, becomes calm by mid morning.

Low tide 13:15.

High pressure stays with us for a few more days yet.
Not much in the way of wind. So expect overnight mists and fog patches until Wednesday at least.

Grey seal pupping season has started, please follow the signs, guidance and advice given by the volunteers.
Hundreds of seals already at Horsey and Winterton.

Predictions are still rife for a colder spell towards the middle of November, that’s still a long way off in weather forecasts. I’m not seeing anything to suggest we need to worry but will continue to monitor.

Today’s lighthouse is the Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse, a historic and active coastal landmark perched on rugged cliffs at the southeastern tip of the island of Oʻahu in Hawai.

Built and Lit: 1909 (automated in 1974).
Structure: A 35-foot concrete/brick tower sitting on a 600-foot sea cliff, featuring a distinctive white tower and a red lantern roof.
The Lens: Houses a Paris-built first-order hyperradiant lens (weighing 12 tons with 1,188 prisms), which is the largest lighthouse lens in the United States.
Status: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the lighthouse itself is closed to the public, though the surrounding grounds are part of the Kaiwi State Scenic shoreline.

The lighthouse trail features
Panoramic views of the windward coast, Makapuʻu Beach, Koko Head, and offshore islets like Mānana (Rabbit Island).
Spotting migrating humpback whales from December through May.
Viewing local seabirds and utilizing free on-site telescopes.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

05/11/2026

Morning all.

A cloudy start, brighter later, becomes less breezy.

10c today but adding wind chill 7c.

No rain forecast but a cloudy start and end to the day.

The ever present easterly wind is with us again.
Gusts to 25 mph this morning decreasing to a gentle breeze by late afternoon.

Low tide 12:25.

High pressure will remain in charge for several days yet. The wind will continue to ease. Expect plenty of cloud, Sunday looks to be a little brighter.
Models are still predicting a colder spell from mid November. This is not a forecast but a maybe. Experience tells us Atlantic low pressure systems usually win in the battle over Western Europe.

I suspect a few foggy nights over the weekend as wind falls away to nothing.

V**e one of last season’s seal pups has been spotted on a beach in Belgium. Great job RSPCA East Winch.

I’d like to personally thank Lowestoft Town council, for their assistance, in the ongoing renovation work.
At nearly 200 years old, the list of routine maintenance jobs is endless.

For those planning crabbing at Southwold be aware media reports are suggesting you might want to consider an alternative venue.

We will be attending at Pakefield church remembrance service on Sunday.
I’ll be there for 10:15.

Today’s lighthouse is South Gare Lighthouse, a historic 13-meter-tall white cast-iron-clad stone lighthouse located at the end of the breakwater in Redcar, North Yorkshire.

Constructed in 1884 under engineer Sir John Fowler; opened in October 1888
It’s 43 feet (13 meters) tall; cylindrical cast-iron-clad stone tower painted white, featuring a helical internal staircase and an 8-window lantern housing with a copper dome
Focal Height: 53 feet (16 meters) above mean high water
Operated by PD Ports (Admiralty code A2626)
Grade II listed building (listed in 2007); closed to public access (site and tower)

The Breakwater: The 2.5-mile breakwater was built between 1861 and 1888 using millions of tons of Teesside industrial slag, ironworks, and concrete to protect the Tees estuary and deepen the shipping channel.
Public Access: While you can walk or drive along the South Gare peninsula to view the coast and shipping traffic, the immediate area around the lighthouse and pier is fenced off and not open to the public.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

04/11/2026

Morning all.

A cloudy start but sunny spells later.

11c is as good as it gets today.

No rain forecast today but still just a chance of a coastal shower, coming in off the North Sea.

Easterly wind gusting to 35 mph. today. This is giving a windchill factor, making it feel a cooler 8c, looking for more of a positive slant, no fog.

Low tide 11:25.

High pressure remains in charge for a few days yet. Easterly winds will continue to slowly ease. Night time temperatures will fall to around 6/7c with mist and fog returning Friday and over the weekend.

Looking slightly further ahead, cooler weather is now being forecast from the middle of next week by several models.

Further ahead still, weather experts are predicting a split in the polar vortex. I don’t pretend to understand the science behind this prediction but IF they are correct, there is a chance of early sleet and snow down the east coast early December.
All I can do is wait and watch with interest.

A choppy sea today, with the wind whipping up some bigger waves closer to the beach.
Please watch out for each other.

Green peace currently in at Gt Yarmouth. They are a friendly bunch and will stop what they are doing for a chat about marine conservation issues.

With some big news happening across the pond this morning, I thought maybe an American lighthouse would be suitable.

Today’s lighthouse is the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is a historic 1874 light station and maritime museum located on the north end of Anastasia Island in St. Augustine, Florida.

Stands 165 feet (50 meters) tall with 219 steps to the top, offering panoramic views of St. Augustine and the Atlantic coastline.

Less a lighthouse more a museum and tourist attraction now.
The Lighthouse Tower: Built between 1871 and 1874 to replace an older coquina tower that fell into the sea, featuring its original first-order Fresnel lens.
Maritime Museum & Keepers' House: Restored 19th-century keeper's quarters, maritime history exhibits, and the Conservation Lab.
LAMP (Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program): The museum's research arm, which investigates local shipwrecks such as a 1782 British Storm Wreck and a 1764 sloop.
WWII Coast Guard Lookout Building: Preserved military heritage structure from the Second World War.
Special Tours: Offers guided daytime history tours and nighttime ghost tours ("Dark of the Moon").

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

03/11/2026

Never ceases to amaze me.

03/11/2026

An interesting read for you lighthouse fans

💡The latest episode of the ALK podcast, Keeping Watch, is out now!

🌊In this episode:
💬 Ed Peppitt and Mel Charles talk about the 70th-anniversary celebration marking the saving of Belle Tout Lighthouse near Eastbourne
🛠 Discussion about BBC report about the refurbishment of Leasowe Lighthouse on Wirral
🎙️ Interview with historian Martin Rose, author of "Henry Winstanley, the Last Renaissance Engineer", who work as engraver, clockmaker, clerk of works at Audley End, and creator of mechanical "wonders," as well as building the world's first offshore rock lighthouse at Eddystone!

🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform and join us for another fascinating look into the world of lighthouses and lighthouse keeping.

https://alk.org.uk/resources/keeping-watch-podcast/

# See less

03/11/2026

Morning all.

A damp start, occasional showers with a few brighter skies later.

11c rising to 14c if the sun breaks through in sheltered spots.

Some cloud first thing, with the chance of showers clipping the coastal strip most of today.

Wind from the NNE, becomes an easterly by late T time, so feeling chilly.

Low tide 10:20.

With high pressure the dominant feature for several days, we will have an easterly airflow with some sunshine during the day, cooler nights and overnight mists and fog.

Colder temperatures are kept well away for the time being at least.

With decreasing winds expected from today until Sunday and low tide during daylight hours, now is a good time to join one of the local sea swimming groups. Please don’t go on your own, remember there are no lifeguards at this time of year.

Today’s lighthouse is the Neist point lighthouse.

Neist Point Lighthouse is a historic landmark located at the most westerly tip of the Isle of Skye in Scotland, near the township of Glendale.

Designed by engineer David Alan Stevenson, the 19-metre (62-foot) white cylindrical masonry tower was first lit on November 1, 1909.
It was manned until 1990, after which it was automated and is now remotely controlled by the Northern Lighthouse Board from Edinburgh.
The light sits 43 meters above sea level with an intensity of 480,000 candela and a visible range of about 16 nautical miles (29.6 km).
It is a Category B listed building, and while the tower and grounds are closed to public interior access, the surrounding area remains a popular destination.

Visitors follow a paved, concrete path with steps and metal handrails that runs from the car park at the end of the single-track road down toward the headland.
The round-trip walk is roughly 2.2 to 3 kilometers (about 1.75 miles) and takes around 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Safety Warning: The trail features steep sections and drops off sharply along unfenced, sheer cliffs; caution is advised, especially in windy or foggy weather.

The waters around Neist Point are prime viewing areas for minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and basking sharks, particularly during the summer months.
The dramatic sea cliffs host numerous seabirds, including gannets, shags, razorbills, and black guillemots.
The location has appeared in films such as Breaking the Waves (1996) and 47 Ronin (2012).

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

02/11/2026

Morning all.

Nice to be back in Blighty but can someone please turn the heating on, brrrrrr.

Light showers this morning but the chance of some sunshine this afternoon.

12c at the moment and that’s as good as it gets.

Plenty of cloud first thing, showers for the school run but nothing to heavy.

NNE wind giving a slight chill factor making it feel more like 8/9c.

High tide is at 15:50. 2.3 meters.

High pressure remains the dominant factor for a few more days. Damp today and tomorrow but brighter from Wednesday.

Bit of a wind chill today, take some time acclimatising in the sea and take those dry robes for when you get out.

To many points of view and contradictory information to even make a guesstimate on a mid November cold spell.
I’m seeing temperatures around 11/13c for the next Severn days at least, which is slightly above average for the time of year.

Todays lighthouse is Phare des Baleines (Lighthouse of the Whales) is a historic 19th-century maritime landmark located on the western tip of the Île de Ré in Saint-Clément-des-Baleines, Charente-Maritime, France.

Height 57 to 60 meters (approximately 187 feet)
257 spiral staircase steps to the 360-degree viewing platform.
Visual for up to 27 nautical miles (over 50 km)
Built between 1849 and 1853 by architect Léonce Reynaud and inaugurated in 1854. It replaced an older 30-meter tower built by Vauban in 1682 (which still stands next to it).
Named after the high number of whales historically stranded on this part of the coast.
Automated in 2001 and designated as a historic monument.

Visitor Information & Attractions

On-Site Features: Includes the main lighthouse, the historic old tower, a maritime museum with interactive exhibits on lighthouses and navigation, souvenir shops, and a 2-hectare English-style landscaped park.
Located about 2 km out to sea is the smaller Phare des Baleineaux.
Open daily year-round (closing times range from 5:30 PM in winter to 7:00–9:00 PM in spring and summer).
Ticketing: Individual lighthouse climbs and combined museum/old tower passes are available on-site.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

01/11/2026

Morning all.

Thick fog patches and coastal mists will be slow to clear. Clearing skies and brightness after mid morning.

6c rising to 12c.

After a damp and misty start, some sunshine this afternoon, with the chance of showers this evening.

A calm and still morning allowing fog to linger but a gentle NW will slowly move it away.

High tide is at 14:10. 2.3 meters.

High pressure remains in charge, so the chance of more overnight mist and fog patches.
A cooler feel, with top temperatures 12/13c this week. Plenty of wintery sunshine with just the chance of a light shower mon/tue.

Blessing the Herring at the Oddfellows this afternoon. Sing along with the Longshoremen.

Today’s lighthouse is the New Brighton Lighthouse—also known as Perch Rock Lighthouse or historically Black Rock Lighthouse—is a famous 19th-century coastal landmark on the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside.

Situated on an outcrop called Perch Rock at the mouth of the River Mersey where it meets Liverpool Bay.
Built from interlocking Anglesey granite and designed by John Foster Jr., the white-painted tower stands roughly 29 meters (95 feet) tall and is modeled after the trunk of an oak tree.

A primitive wooden beacon ("perch") was first set up here in 1683.
Construction of the present granite tower started in 1827 and it was first lit on March 1, 1830.
It was decommissioned in October 1973.
The light was restored and relit with an LED system in 2015/2016.

It is a Grade II listed building*, privately owned, and sits right next to the historic Fort Perch Rock.

You cannot go inside the lighthouse. However, during low tide, you can walk across the sand and rocks right up to the base of the tower.
It is a popular spot for coastal walks, sunset views, and photography overlooking the Mersey toward Liverpool and Crosby.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.

31/10/2026

Yesterday’s lighthouse location. Still looks a bit lumpy to me.

31/10/2026

Morning all.

Another bright late autumn day.

11c rising to 15c

Occasional cloud drifting in from the sea but no rain expected. Chance of coastal mist or fog patches overnight.

A gentle ESE breeze all day.

High tide 12:55. 2.4 meters.

Looks dry tonight for trick or treat. Enjoy your haunted and ghostly adventures.
Tomorrow similar to today weather wise but light showers arrive early evening and will stay for much of Monday.

High pressure staying in charge for a few days yet. The jet stream looking like a perfect omega loop.

Some reports suggest a much cooler feel from mid November. This is not a weather forecast as there are far to many ifs, buts, and maybes to take it to seriously yet.
I will of course track this and keep you all updated.

Nice one Craig at Pakefield Pantry, what a great gesture, hope it goes well.

Today’s lighthouse is the Aniva lighthouse.

Probably the scariest lighthouse I have seen pictures of.
The Aniva Lighthouse (also known as Nakashiretoko) is an abandoned and remote maritime landmark located on Sivuchya Rock off Cape Aniva at the southern tip of Sakhalin Island, Russia.

History & Construction: Built between 1937 and 1939 by Japan (designed by engineer Shinobu Miura) when the southern part of the island was under Japanese control. It was later taken over by the Soviet Union after World War II.
Structure: A 31-to-41-meter-tall round concrete tower with a 7-to-9-story attached residential and service building.
Power & Abandonment: Originally diesel-powered, it was automated in 1990 using a Strontium-90 nuclear radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). The generator failed/was removed in 2006, and the site was fully abandoned.
Current Status: The structure is heavily weathered, vandalized, and dilapidated, yet it remains a popular destination for adventurous travelers and boat tours from Sakhalin.

Have a great day.
Take care and stay safe.