Sunday, March 02, 2025

Land's End LightHouse. . .there was an issue with the "audible hazard warning signal" on Longships.

People living near Land's End have been advised to buy earplugs due to a lighthouse's broken fog alarm.
Longships Lighthouse has been sounding a loud beep every 13 seconds for the past week.

The high-pitched electronic beep of the foghorn is usually only heard during foggy conditions

David Hocking, of Land's End Landmark, told the BBC that the alarm was 'a bit of a talking point and conversation starter' in the area

Lisa Young

BBC News, Cornwall

Georgina Barnes

BBC News, South West

Trinity House, which manages more than 60 lighthouses across the UK, said there was an issue with the "audible hazard warning signal" on Longships.

The company is making plans to send technicians to fix the fault.

The high-pitched electronic beep is usually only heard during foggy conditions, most clearly at Land's End, and also by residents of places around the coast including Sennen and Cape Cornwall.

PA Media Longships Lighthouse is shrouded in mist and surrounded by a calm sea. Above the layer of fog is a pale blue sky filled with pale link clouds. — Longships Lighthouse has been monitored remotely since 1987

A spokesperson said: "It will likely be an issue with the visibility sensor not functioning as expected.

"The hazard warning signal indicates diminished visibility in the area, such as fog."

The weather conditions have not been foggy this week. . .

Simon Muth, deputy station manager at the national coastwatch station at Gwennap Head, said it was reported to Trinity House on Wednesday.

"Trinity House came back and said 'yes, we know there's a fault...we're waiting for a spare part'," he said.