Holyhead Breakwater Lighthouse, Square lighthouse at the end of Holyhead Breakwater, Wales
Holyhead Breakwater Lighthouse is a white square tower standing 19 meters tall at the end of the longest breakwater in the United Kingdom. The structure sits atop a massive stone barrier that stretches far into the sea and creates a distinctive silhouette on the horizon.
The lighthouse was completed in 1873 as the final piece of a massive breakwater project that started in 1846 under engineer John Hawkshaw. This Victorian construction improved navigation for ships entering one of Wales most important maritime harbors.
This lighthouse serves as a visual landmark that shapes how people perceive Holyhead's connection to the sea and maritime trade. Visitors walking along the breakwater encounter a white tower that has guided countless journeys and remains part of the local identity.
The walk to the lighthouse follows two different routes: an upper flagstone path and a lower gravel path, each offering different walking conditions. Choose your route based on weather and tide levels, as both pathways remain accessible throughout most of the year.
The tower originally housed a fog bell and received signals from the nearby North Stack fog station before becoming fully automated in 1961. This connection between two structures reveals how maritime safety systems worked together across the Holyhead coastline.
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