Skerries Lighthouse

Skerries Lighthouse sits on The Skerries, a small rocky island off the north-west coast of Anglesey in Wales, a few nautical miles north of Carmel Head. Its light guides ships heading for Holyhead and the Liverpool approaches. It is also a protected monument, listed Grade II* and recognised as a national monument of Wales.

Which Skerries is this?

There are several places called Skerries, including towns and islets in Ireland and Orkney. This lighthouse is only on the Welsh island off Anglesey, at roughly 53.42 N, 4.61 W. The island covers around 46 acres and has no permanent residents, only seasonal RSPB wardens.

What is the history of the lighthouse?

The first light shone on 4 November 1717. William Trench, the island's leaseholder, had been granted a patent for it by Queen Anne in 1714. The venture did not make him rich and he died in debt. For well over a century the light stayed in private hands, funded by dues paid by passing ships. At first the beacon was an open coal fire on top of the tower.

Around 1759 the heirs of the early owners rebuilt the tower. Morgan Jones inherited the light in 1778, raised the tower by about 6.7 metres and added an iron balcony around the lantern. An oil lamp replaced the coal fire in 1804. After an 1836 Act ordered private lights to be bought out, the process dragged on, and Trinity House acquired Skerries in 1841, the last privately owned lighthouse in the British Isles to change hands. Electricity arrived in 1927. The station was automated and its keepers withdrawn in 1987, and it is now monitored from the Trinity House operations centre at Harwich.

What can you see here?

The lighthouse is a white tower with a gallery, easy to spot from the sea. For many visitors the island's wildlife matters more. It holds the largest Arctic tern colony in Wales, estimated at 2,000 to 4,000 pairs depending on peregrine predation. The surrounding waters are good for spotting grey seals, porpoises, dolphins and occasionally basking sharks.

How do you get there?

The only way onto the island is a chartered boat from an Anglesey harbour, and sailings depend on weather and tides, so keep your plans flexible. For a view from land, look out from the Carmel Head area on a clear day. The light is operational rather than a museum, and the interior is not generally open to the public.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and early summer, when the terns are nesting. Bring waterproofs and a hat, as the birds defend their colony and will dive at anyone walking nearby. The sea is usually calmer than in autumn and winter.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go inside Skerries Lighthouse?

No. It is a working Trinity House station run by remote control. You can visit the island only by boat, weather permitting.

Does anyone live on the island?

Not permanently. Seasonal RSPB wardens stay during the breeding season.

Is this the same Skerries as the one in Ireland?

No. The Irish Skerries is a town in County Dublin. This lighthouse is in Wales, north of Anglesey.

Why is the lighthouse historically important?

It has been lit since 1717, and in 1841 it became the last privately owned lighthouse in the British Isles to be taken over by Trinity House.