My name is Sarah Kerr and I’m the author of The British Lighthouse Trail: A Regional Guide. Since 2012 I have been on a mission to visit every lighthouse in the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands.
I live on the north coast of Scotland (with views of Dunnet Head lighthouse flashing at night) having moved from London in 2013. I live with my husband, Bob, who I met on my 2012 lighthouse tour, and our young son and daughter. I was born and brought up on the Isle of Wight and lived in Weymouth and Southampton during my student years.
Since 2018 I have been the Events Coordinator for the Association of Lighthouse Keepers (ALK). ALK membership is open to anyone with an interest in lighthouses.
Favourite things: lighthouses and the coast, writing, cider in the sunshine, discovering new and beautiful places in the UK.
Favourite lighthouse: The more remote the better. Particular favourites are Sule Skerry, Hyskeir, The Needles…The list is endless.
Hi Sarah!
I love to visit lighthouses in the UK as well!
I can´t explain why but when I am arriving at a lighthouse, my soul trembles. It is such a powerful place!
Thanks for your beautiful blog. I will consider your list when planning my next trips!
Best wishes,
Dani
Hi Dani,
Thanks for your message. It’s always good to hear from likeminded lighthouse fans.
The list on the site was my original list, which was missing a lot and didn’t include lighthouses on islands. The more comprehensive list that I now work with can be found in my book The British Lighthouse Trail: A Regional Guide. There is a page about the book on this site if you were interested in finding out more.
Thanks again for your kind comments and for taking the time to get in touch.
Best wishes,
Sarah
Great site, Sarah! I’ve just read your Oxcars/Inchkeith blog entry. When I lived in Edinburgh in 1981-82 I recall hearing the siren on Inchkeith, and wishing I could visit Oxcars. I was able to get a bit closer to Oxcars in 2018 on the tour boat out of Queensferry. Thanks for your great work:)
Thanks so much Chris! That’s very kind. That must have been great to hear the fog siren. The old foghorn from Inchkeith is currently in the grounds of the National Museum’s large item store in Granton – not quite so noisy now! It’s a shame I came to lighthouses after most of the traditional foghorns had been turned off.
Oxcars is great. It was a wonderful experience to see it at low tide and get onto the rock.
Thanks again Chris for taking the time to comment.
Lighthouses are special and I had the ambition to see all UK lights some day. Had to give it up because of my ever increasing disability. But I am happy someone is doing it and would live to “come with you”
Good luck with the endeavour and have fun!,
Oh and my favourite Lighthouse in the British Isles is St Catherine’s onthe Isle of Wight where my father in law was relief keeper closely followed by the South Stack where my husband was nearly born (his grandfather was keeper there at the time and his pregnant mum had to climb the 432 steps twice to visit)
Keep your light shining
Margret
Hi Margret. Thank you so much for your lovely comment.
I’m sorry you had to give up on your ambition. A friend of mine “takes people with him” in his pocket or rucksack when they are not able to go themselves. I’m happy to do so for you and I’m pleased you’re now following my blog and can keep track of what I’m doing.
Is there anywhere in particular you would have loved to have got to?At Catherine’s is a special one to me too, coming from the Isle of Wight and getting married just up the road from it with our wedding photos taken inside the lighthouse. Such a wonderful place.
Wow, that would have been quite an undertaking for your mother-in-law. It’s tough going even on a good day.
Many thanks Margret.
Sarah
Hi Sarah
My name is Bonar, I’ve been a lighthouse Technician for nearly 8 years now based in Shetland. My dad was a keeper on the Flugga, I stayed at the shore station with mum, so I’m a lighthouse baby.
I’m impressed with the progress
you’ve made. Well worth the effort.
Hope you make it to Fair isle and Foula, they are both great places to stay when we do the maintenance. The weather can make it tricky to get into the islands as I’m sure you know, the ferry is a bit more reliable. If you need info I’d be happy to help.
Thanks
Bonar
Thank you so much for getting in touch Bonar. It’s great to hear from you. You must have some wonderful stories to tell.
Yes, Fair Isle and Foula have now risen higher up my to do list. I cannot wait to get back to Shetland again.