Nash Point Lighthouse

Nash Point Lighthouse sits on a clifftop along the Glamorgan Heritage Coast in the Vale of Glamorgan, on the south Wales coast near the villages of Marcross and Monknash. Two white towers from the 1830s, both Grade II listed, make it one of the most recognisable landmarks on this stretch of shore.

Why was a lighthouse built at Nash Point?

The reason was the Nash Sands, a dangerous shoal at the mouth of the Bristol Channel. In 1831 the passenger steamer Frolic was wrecked on it, with the loss of roughly 78 lives. Trinity House, the body responsible for lighthouses in England and Wales, responded by building a station with two towers. It was lit on 1 September 1832. The towers worked as leading lights: a ship's crew saw one directly above the other only when the vessel was on a safe line past the shoal.

What happened to the station afterwards?

The lower, western tower (the Low Light) was taken out of use in the 1920s, around 1924 according to its listing. A siren fog signal was added in the early 20th century; sources give 1904 or 1906. Nash Point was the last manned lighthouse in Wales. The final keepers left on 5 August 1998, and the light has run automatically since.

What is there to see?

• The taller eastern tower (High Light) and the lower western one, set among walls and former keepers' houses.
• Limestone cliffs with their characteristic flat layers, above a pebbly beach where wide rock platforms are exposed at low tide.
• The meadow around the lighthouse, protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
• Views across the Bristol Channel, with the English shore visible on a clear day.

How do you get to Nash Point?

By car is easiest. Narrow lanes lead in from Marcross and Monknash, and there is a car park by the beach. A path runs from the car park to the lighthouse and the cliff edge. A café where the beach path begins serves hot Welsh cakes and drinks. Public transport options are limited, so plan on a car or taxi.

When should you visit?

Pick a clear day for the long views, or an evening before sunset when the light brings out the white of the towers. Visit the beach and the lower cliff base only at low tide, and check a tide table first, because the water returns quickly. The cliffs are unstable, so keep away from the base of the rock face.

Can you go inside the lighthouse?

Sources disagree on access. Some say the interior is not open to the general public, while others mention guided tours. Check the current position with Trinity House or Visit The Vale before you travel. The grounds and the clifftop views can be enjoyed either way.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Nash Point Lighthouse? On the Glamorgan Heritage Coast in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, near Marcross and Monknash.

When was it built? The station was lit on 1 September 1832, after the Frolic was wrecked on the Nash Sands in 1831.

Why are there two towers? They formed a pair of leading lights that helped ships avoid the shoal. The lower tower was retired in the 1920s.

Is the lighthouse still staffed? No. The last keepers left in 1998 and the station has been automatic since.

Is there anywhere to eat nearby? Yes, a café at the Nash Point beach site sells drinks and Welsh cakes.