Old Law Beacons On Guile Point

If you have visited Holy Island and looked out over the harbour, then no doubt you will have noticed two obelisks on the beach opposite.

These are the Old Law Beacons on Guile Point and similar to the Emmanuel Head Daymark on the north of the island, they were a navigational aid for boats entering the estuary.

They were designed by Newcastle architect John Dobson, famous for many buildings in including Eldon Square and Central Station. The 21 metre tall beacons were to be used solely during the day as it was considered too dangerous to enter the harbour at night. 

Although they look solid stone, then are actually wooden with a stone cladding on the outside. They were built in 1826 by Trinity House, who continue to manage lighthouses and navigational aids in the UK.

The way they worked is that a vessel entering the harbour would line up the two beacons on a bearing of 260° and then turn sharply northward as they approached the tip of the sandy spit on the south side of the entrance to Holy Island Harbour.

In 1992, solar panels lights were added to the east column to illuminate the channel at night.

We haven't managed to visit this one ourself, however our Fabulous North friend Chris Welch kindly supplied us all of these amazing photographs.

Although here is one photograph we took of them from our visit to Holy Island.

NOTE: Please be aware to avoid visiting the beacons in the summer months as the beach immediately to the south of the obelisks is an important haul out area for the Grey seals. So walking along the beach during the summer can disturb them. There are also Little Terns nest on the small islet to the east and are a protected species. RSPB Wardens are normally present then.

Thanks to Active 4 Seasons for this information.