Standing 65 feet tall, this 19th-century lighthouse is a prominent landmark on the coast of South Wales, guiding mariners safely into the harbor of Porthcawl. Its striking red and white stripes make it a visually appealing sight, while its rich history and importance to the region's maritime heritage make it a fascinating spot to explore.
Beautiful scenery at the lighthouse views out to see and across the bay. The cafe was very busy, so we did not go inside, but enjoyed the walk along the bay.
Nice views but with the tide being out wasn't that impressive unfortunately
Why spend thousands of pounds when you have all this so your door step
The lighthouse marking Porthcawl Point stands at the end of the breakwater. Constructed from cast iron, stands 30ft high and was gas-powered until 1997 when it was converted to electric. The lighthouse was built in 1860, has kept shipping safe in and out of the Bristol Channel and Porthcawl marina through two world wars. In the 21st century it has a PS12,000 lamp so powerful it reaches vessels between three and four nautical miles away at sea. The last coal and gas-powered lighthouse in the UK, the grade two listed building switched to using North Sea gas in 1974, before going electric in 1997. After a PS70,000 renovation in 2013 the light house was fitted with its new automatic low-energy LED lamp with red, white and green lenses.
Iconic image of Porthcawl. Famous on the news for waves crashing high above it over the breakwater. This can be slippy at times but worth the few steps to the end on a finer day. You can breathe in the sea air, chat to the sea anglers, and take in the fabulous views of the dunes, cliffs and dramatic waters. With all the changes in Porthcawl over the decades this has seemingly stayed the same and hopefully will be there in a hundred years from now.
Absolutely stunning place and the beach is fantastic great place for anyone to visit
Good for kids
Hello! I'm your AI guide for Porthcawl Lighthouse. I can help you with information about this attraction, including its history, best times to visit, and tips for your visit. What would you like to know?
Discover hotels in Porthcawl CF36 3XA
Searching for hotels...
Beautiful scenery at the lighthouse views out to see and across the bay. The cafe was very busy, so we did not go inside, but enjoyed the walk along the bay.
Nice views but with the tide being out wasn't that impressive unfortunately
Why spend thousands of pounds when you have all this so your door step
The lighthouse marking Porthcawl Point stands at the end of the breakwater. Constructed from cast iron, stands 30ft high and was gas-powered until 1997 when it was converted to electric. The lighthouse was built in 1860, has kept shipping safe in and out of the Bristol Channel and Porthcawl marina through two world wars. In the 21st century it has a PS12,000 lamp so powerful it reaches vessels between three and four nautical miles away at sea. The last coal and gas-powered lighthouse in the UK, the grade two listed building switched to using North Sea gas in 1974, before going electric in 1997. After a PS70,000 renovation in 2013 the light house was fitted with its new automatic low-energy LED lamp with red, white and green lenses.
Iconic image of Porthcawl. Famous on the news for waves crashing high above it over the breakwater. This can be slippy at times but worth the few steps to the end on a finer day. You can breathe in the sea air, chat to the sea anglers, and take in the fabulous views of the dunes, cliffs and dramatic waters. With all the changes in Porthcawl over the decades this has seemingly stayed the same and hopefully will be there in a hundred years from now.
Absolutely stunning place and the beach is fantastic great place for anyone to visit