Wolf Rock Lighthouse

Wolf Rock Lighthouse is a slender granite tower rising straight out of the sea off Cornwall, in south-west England. It stands on a lone rock about 8 nautical miles (roughly 15 km) south-west of Land's End, on the route between the Cornish coast and the Isles of Scilly. Trinity House runs it as a working navigation light, not a visitor attraction.

Can you visit Wolf Rock Lighthouse?

No. There is no public landing and no access to the interior. Engineers reach the station by air, so the lighthouse is something to spot from a distance or from the water rather than to tour.

Why is it called Wolf Rock?

Fissures in the rock are said to make a howling noise in gales, which gave the reef its name. The tower is about 41 m tall and built of Cornish granite, with the blocks prepared at Penzance. Its narrow profile against an empty horizon makes it one of the most recognisable offshore lights in the region.

How was it built?

Trinity House first allowed the rock to be marked in 1791. An iron daymark erected in 1795 was swept away by the sea, and a later beacon from the 1830s and 1840s was also damaged in a storm. The permanent tower was designed by James Walker. Work began in 1861 and progressed slowly, since crews could only work on the rock in calm weather. The tower was finished in July 1869 and the light entered service around the turn of 1869 and 1870 (sources give slightly different dates).

What makes it notable?

In the early 1970s a helicopter deck was added above the lantern. Trinity House dates this to 1972 and describes it as the first of its kind on a rock lighthouse; another source gives 1973. The lighthouse was automated in July 1988, when its last keepers left. It is now monitored remotely from the Trinity House centre in Harwich.

Where can you see it from?

• On the water: boat trips from the Land's End area and crossings towards the Isles of Scilly pass in the general vicinity; the rock sits in open sea, so views depend on weather and visibility.
• Scilly ferry or flight: the tower can sometimes be picked out on the crossing between the mainland and the islands.
• Land's End cliffs: a natural starting point for looking out to sea, though the lighthouse is distant and often hard to see.

Frequently asked questions

Is Wolf Rock Lighthouse open to visitors?

No. It is an active Trinity House light with no public access.

How tall is it?

About 41 metres.

Does anyone live there?

No. It has been automated and unmanned since 1988.

Where is it in relation to Land's End?

Roughly 8 nautical miles south-west of the headland, towards the Isles of Scilly.