Welcome back to another episode of the Lighthouse Explorers podcast!
This week, I had the great fortune to talk to Ed Peppitt to ask him about his travels around England and Wales. These included cycling 3,500 miles, spotting over 300 lighthouses, and raising over £15,000 for Shift MS.
Ed's book, 'The Beacon Bike', is absolutely brilliant. In it, he shares the highs and lows of this huge undertaking. His love and appreciation for the lighthouses jumps off of the page, and he doesn't shy away from the emotional hardships which come with such a challenge. (Ed hadn't ridden a bike in twenty years before completing this endeavour!)
I've been keen to get Ed on the podcast for a while, and I am so pleased with how this episode turned out.
Enjoy!
I've been gone for a while! Let's catch up! It's been an amazing summer for lighthouse trips, from our group adventures to Southwold and Point of Ayr lighthouses, the cancelled Spurn Point trip and what it taught us, a 1000km cycle ride exploring Ireland’s coastal lights, and a lovely chat with a Leasowe Lighthouse volunteer.
Today we travel to Tynemouth, to delve briefly into the history of its 3 lighthouses.
Today we travel together to Southwold Lighthouse in Suffolk, touching on its unusual placement within the town and its TV fame.
If you’re interested in visiting this lighthouse, I’m hosting a group trip on the 28th June 2025. Tickets are available at www.lighthouseexplorers.com.
Ahead of our group trip in June 2025, I discuss the ghostly past of the Point of Ayr Lighthouse. An infamous ghost hunting spot on the North Welsh coast.
I hope you enjoy. If you fancy coming along on the trip, please consider signing up to our group trip at www.lighthouseexplorers.com.
See you next Sunday for the next episode; we’ll be chatting about Southwold Lighthouse, of ‘Grandpa in my Pocket’ fame.
South Foreland Lighthouse, perched on the white cliffs of Dover, is a beacon of innovation. Built in 1843, it became the world’s first electrically lit lighthouse in 1859, thanks to experiments overseen by Michael Faraday. Later, in 1898, Guglielmo Marconi used it for groundbreaking wireless communication experiments, paving the way for modern radio and the internet.
Join our 2025 group trips to explore South Foreland Lighthouse with fellow lighthouse lovers! Visit www.lighthouseexplorers.com to book your spot.
In today's episode, Gerry shares his incredible journey as a lighthouse keeper for over 20 years, highlighting this unique maritime tradition's many highs and challenges. (He was even a keeper on Fastnet during the 1979 yacht disaster!)
If you enjoyed this episode and loved hearing from Gerry about his experiences, check out his book: The Lightkeeper!
Welcome to the brand new series: '5-Minute Light(house) Bites. Today's episode dives into the Great Lakes, their graveyard, and of course their lighthouses.
If you like the episode, why not check out these resources?
Jodie. “Whitefish Point Light Station - Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society.” Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, 18 Apr. 2023, shipwreckmuseum.com/visit/whitefish-point-light/.
rampancyproductions. “Graveyard of the Great Lakes (1988).” YouTube, 7 Nov. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbfvFglq5Ek.
“Great Lakes Lighthouses.” GREAT LAKES CRUISES, www.greatlakescruises.com/great-lakes-lighthouses.html.
Today’s episode is a little different, as I delve into a recent excursion to Lowestoft lighthouse, and Lowestoft Maritime Museum. With that in mind, I also argue for the importance of local museums and why they should be preserved.
Why should you go lighthouse exploring? Stay tuned!
Welcome back Lighthouse Explorer! I hope I find you weary from lighthouse travels, but if not... there's a group trip to Beachy Head and Belle Tout on the 12th May!
Group trip marketing aside, I hope you enjoy today's episode on lighthouse sustainability. If you're interested in finding out more, I'd recommend looking at the Northern Lighthouse Board's or the Irish Light's website!
The final lighthouse in Great Britain to have keepers, and its story!
For additional reading, head over to the Trinity House website for a wealth of information about lighthouse automation and more.
Have you ever wanted to know way too much about Fresnel lenses? Look no further! Just kidding, this barely scratches the surface (but I hope you enjoy it anyway) 🌊
Additional Reading:
This little cutie was built in response to the shipwrecks during the Gold Rush era between 1896 and 1899.
Supplementary Nuggets of Gold:
Welcome back lighthouse explorer! Today's episode covers the heroism of some prominent women in lighthouse keeping history.
Today's very special guest is Geoff Saunders, who applied to become a lighthouse keeper in 1984.
We talk about his expectations of becoming a lighthouse keeper, the future of lighthouses, and lighthouses which are special to us.
Lighthouse keeping was dangerous!! Let's discuss.
Cape Wrath Lighthouse... the one who got away...
